Question

The Project Manager website wrote an article about the concept that project success is determined by the attitudes of the key stakeholders. It notes three general classes of communications that are needed for effective stakeholder communications:

(1) reporting

(2) public relations and marketing

(3) purposeful communication.

After reviewing the details provided by the author, which type of stakeholder communications do you think is most difficult to achieve or most time-consuming?

Answer 1

It is true that the rate of success of a project is determined by the attitudes of its stakeholders. The three general classes of communication with stakeholders for effective stakeholder communication are listed as - Reporting, Public Relations and Marketing, Purposeful communication

1. Reporting: Stakeholder reporting is a way of keeping the stakeholders engaged with the working of the organization. Stakeholders are an invaluable asset to the organization, without whose contribution, the organization itself would not exist. Stakeholder reporting enables the stakeholders to report to the organization regarding various factors that directly affect the organization.
2. Public Relations and Marketing: It is very important to determine the public relation strategies using stakeholders as a route to accomplish that goal. The stakeholders should be the ultimate ambassadors of the organization. This will ensure effective marketing of the brand such that it sells itself. People will start associating the company to its stakeholders. This will improve brand recognition through effective stakeholder relations.
3. Purposeful Communication: To ensure project success, it is of utmost importance to have a well established, purposeful communication with the stakeholders. The communication must be a two-way communication that allows the organization to communicate with the stakeholders authentically. The stakeholders too must be in a position to give feedback to the company that can help it in having a competitive advantage.

Out of all these three general classes of communication, the one that is the most difficult to achieve is - Public Relations and Marketing. This is because the general public does not associate the company with its stakeholders. It would be a time taking process to ensure stakeholders contribution towards the marketing of the organization and to use stakeholders services effectively to market the product or service rendered by the brand.