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Project Management Practices – Stakeholder Analysis

Assignment Overview:

For this assignment, you will be drafting a project stakeholder analysis and a stakeholder register.  A stakeholder register template is provided for you, and you will find some examples of how to conduct a stakeholder analysis in your reading and in the instructor perspective folder.

Learning Connection:

This assignment is directly linked to the following key learning outcomes from the course syllabus:

Using real world examples of projects, demonstrate an ability to manage critical components of the Initiating process group by:

  1. Reviewing the business case, project charter, and understanding its linkage to the stakeholders
  2. Preparing a stakeholder analysis and stakeholder register
  3. Assessing what roles stakeholders play and how their influence impacts projects

In addition to these key learning outcomes, you will also have the opportunity to evidence the following skills through completing this assignment:

  • Critical thinking
  • Professional writing
  • Problem solving

Assignment Instructions:

For this assignment, you will be using the case study introduced in Week Two, and the Stakeholder Analysis Overview attachment above  to prepare a stakeholder analysis and a stakeholder register. A specific template with instructions in each column have been provided for the stakeholder analysis.   In addition, you will be submitting a one page overview of the process that you will use as project managers to identify stakeholders based upon the readings and lecture material.

Stakeholder Analysis:

  • At this point, we are performing a comprehensive stakeholder analysis to identify key constituencies, so remember that there will be many other stakeholders in a project such as this in addition to those mentioned in the case study. For this analysis, focus on those specifically mentioned or directly implied in the case study, and also consider other stakeholders that may not be listed.  You can research common stakeholder groups and add additional categories based upon your readings or additional sources that should be cited according to AP. You will have to make some reasonable assumptions to complete the analysis and register, but this is often the case this early in a project.
  • Ensure you complete each column of the stakeholder register template fully for each stakeholder that you identify.
  • Please include a one page written introduction that outlines the process you utilized to identify all stakeholders and why you selected those approaches.
  • Ensure that the stakeholder register is properly formatted and that there are no text wrap issues, spelling issues, or grammatical gaps.
  • Remove the verbiage that is already contained in the template prior to submitting.
  • Cite all sources properly per APA guidelines.

Part 2: Stakeholder Analysis

As noted above, Acme Company, your employer, has made delivering projects more efficiently and effectively one of its strategic priorities over the past couple of years. Prior to a couple of years ago, they talked about projects as a priority but realized they were distributing the project management role to many functional leads like accountants, IT developers, product managers, research managers, and a range of other functionally oriented titles. Ms. Jackson realized that most of the company’s work was really project work, and they have sought to become a more project-oriented organization by assigning project managers, who had received formal training, to lead these projects.

Realizing the importance of becoming a more mature project oriented organization, your CEO, Ms. Jackson, charged you with creating a business case for whether or not your company should invest in the expertise and training necessary to adopt a more mature project management approach. Your company’s Board of Directors, who has a high level of influence and interest in this project, has approved the business case and the charter, and you are now charged by Ms. Jackson with creating an initial Stakeholder Analysis.

Upon doing a little research about current project management practices in the organization, you discover that your company already has two really standout project professionals who have been underutilized: Stephanie Smith and Marcus Lopez. Ms. Smith recently completed a Master’s degree in Project Management, which greatly enhanced her ability to perform, while Mr. Lopez, who only joined the company last year, is veteran project manager who is certified as a project management professional (PMP®). Individually, they have outperformed their counterparts in the organization by an average of 8 percent in terms of efficiency and use of resources.

Initially, you thought the best route would be to hire Ms. Xin to perform the training and implementation consulting, but now you think you may have the internal talent that could be used. So in chartering the project, you want to perform a detailed stakeholder analysis to ensure that you understand all the various stakeholders and can develop a strong communication plan.

Present Situation:

As the Board of Directors has approved the business case your focus will be creating a stakeholder analysis to facilitate the development of a communication plan. Based on a conversation with the CEO, you will provide one day of classroom training each week for eight weeks, which is a total of eight days of classroom instruction. You will use space and resources (technology, classroom space, etc.), so there is direct cost associated with the location where the training will be held.1

This is the charge of your project: to implement a training program for project based workers (initially 40 persons) within your organization at a direct cost of $40,000 for the training portion of the project. This is the scope that you are currently chartering.

Your first order of business is to develop the Stakeholder Analysis.

Stephanie and Marcus would act as co-instructors, as they have the most project management experience.

During the eight weeks that the class is running, they will be devoting no more than 50% of their time teaching the class, preparing for instruction, as well as, providing coaching to various colleagues. In order to be prepared to deliver the instruction, they will need to spend one week at a ‘training the trainer’ seminar. You believe Stephanie and Marcus will be supportive of the project.

Outsource Option:

Alternatively, your team can recommend to hire an external trainer who is very experienced with the PM model that your company is adopting. As part of your contract with her, she will provide the one day a week classroom instruction for the eight weeks, and she will also provide an additional day of coaching each week on-site. Her fee is priced at $17,500. Even though you would be using an external trainer, Marcus and Stephanie would still need to devote roughly 25% of their time over the eight weeks to support the trainer and the project, so there is also cost associated with them in this model, as well, which you will need to account for. You believe if you outsource the function, that Stephanie and Marcus may not be supporters.

These are the two options for you to consider. Regardless of the option selected, you have been charged with having the training completed prior to the end of this year, so that the new processes can have a fresh implementation in the coming year.

As with any case, not all questions are directly answered, which is very similar to the realities of real world projects, therefore, you will need to use good judgment and make reasonable assumptions, reading between the lines to find those logical connections.

Finally, a special note about the stakeholder analysis. You will complete the stakeholder register taking into account the stakeholders listed throughout the entirety of this case study document, the case study document from the week two assignment, and any additional information you included with your business case. You will have to make certain assumptions to complete this, as you will not have complete information for all stakeholders, and this is often true for projects at this point. You would continue to refine and sharpen this analysis throughout the project, so make reasonable assumptions when you don’t have complete information. Please ensure each column of the template is filled out in detail.

Week 4 Assignment: Stakeholder Register

Grading Rubric

Failing Below Average

Average Above Average Superior

0 – 60 (F range)

70 – 79 (C range)

80 – 89 (B range)

90 – 93 (A- range)

94 – 100 (A range)

Topical Content & Focus (65%)

Stakeholder Analysis & Register does not include all Six key columns, and/or does not includes accurate data from the Stakeholder Analysis & Register Requirements assignment. The appropriate material, as outlined in the assignment guidelines is not covered in the Stakeholder Analysis & Register, and the Stakeholder Analysis & Register requirements

Stakeholder Analysis & Register includes all Six key columns, and includes accurate data from the Stakeholder Analysis & Register Requirements worksheet. A cursory description is provided outlining the process the student utilized to identify stakeholders. Most of the appropriate material, as outlined in the assignment guidelines is covered in the Stakeholder

Stakeholder Analysis & Register includes all Six key columns, and includes accurate data from the Stakeholder Analysis & Register Requirements worksheet. A high level description is provided outlining the process the student utilized to identify stakeholders. All the appropriate material, as outlined in the assignment guidelines is covered in the Stakeholder Analysis & Register, and

Assignment meets the expectations of ‘Average’ column, but shows a higher degree of understanding of in the interconnectedness between the various Stakeholder Analysis & Register attributes and integrates information from the readings in a supportive manner. A detailed description is provided outlining the process the student utilized to identify stakeholders.

Assignment meets the expectations of ‘Above Average’ column, but shows a stronger integration with the details of the overall and provides concrete and realistic interpretations of the case study stakeholders that are appropriately defined and defended given the details of the customer’s requirements and clearly outlines the overall expectations of the client.

may or may not be accurate and accurately interpreted and explained.

Analysis & Register Requirements assignment are accurate and accurately interpreted and explained.

the Stakeholder Analysis & Register requirements are accurate and accurately interpreted and explained.

Personal Competencies (15%)

  • Critical thinking
  • Professional Writing
  • Quantitative analysis
  • Problem Solving

Submission reflects little to no applicable personal competencies

Submission reflects a minimal applicable personal competencies

Submission reflects both applicable personal competencies in an acceptable manner

Submission strongly reflects applicable personal competencies integrated throughout the assignment

Submission reflects an excellent use of applicable personal competencies integrated throughout the paper in a way that synthesizes the personal competencies

Grammar (10%)

Writing contains numerous errors in spelling, grammar, sentence structure, etc. that interfere with comprehensio n. The reader is unable to understand some of the intended meaning.

Frequent errors in spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and/or other writing conventions that distract the reader.

Minimal errors in spelling, grammar, sentence structure and/or other writing conventions but the reader is able to understand what the writer meant.

All work grammatically correct with rare misspellings.

All work grammatically correct with rare misspellings.

Formatting (10%)

NOTE: Gross failure to provide PROPER citations and references – particularly with regard to direct quotes – will result in sanctions as outlined in the academic honesty policy.

Multiple errors in formatting and document is not formatted in a manner consistent with the guidelines provided.

A few errors in formatting and presentation of material is mostly well done, but either lacks professional formatting or clarity.

Rare errors in formatting and formatting is consistent through the submission and in alignment with the guidelines by being presented in a clear and professional format.

Virtually no errors in formatting and makes good use of tables appropriately.

Virtually no errors in formatting and makes good use of tables appropriately.