Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Management
| Module title | Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Management |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEM2051DA |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 50 |
|---|
Module description
This module will enable you to understand how to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders to build and maintain their support for successful project outcomes. You will also explore how to manage the dynamics of stakeholder relationships and needs during the project and develop appropriate and proactive project communication plans to ensure that all the multi-skilled, cross-disciplinary stakeholders are aligned.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module will enable you to develop the skills and knowledge required for successful stakeholder engagement and strong communications management through the lifecycle of the project, in both academic and employment contexts. This will be achieved be exploring the role and importance of successful approaches and models in ensuring stakeholders remained engaged to enable effective delivery of the project outcomes. You will also engage in practical, employability-orientated skill sessions focused on: stakeholder mapping, influencing techniques, communications planning, negotiation, and risk management. Once completed, you will be able to recognise your own skills and the roles you can perform in bringing a successfully group of stakeholders on a project journey through the entire lifecycle.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Analyse how to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders to build and maintain their support for successful project outcomes. (Knowledge 3)
- 2. Evaluate the dynamics of stakeholder relationships and needs during the project and develop appropriate and pro-active project communication plans to ensure that all of the multi-skilled, cross-disciplinary stakeholders are aligned. (Knowledge 3)
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Analyse the identification of internal and external stakeholders and evaluate their needs and impacts on the project. (Skills 3)
- 4. Construct an effective project communication plan across stakeholders with different cultural and physical barriers. (Skills 3)
- 5. Analyse information and communicate with stakeholder incorporating elements of feedback to understand and measure the effectiveness of planned communications. Demonstrate the handling of change within different project management methodologies. (Skills 3)
- 6. Recommend approach to effective listening and influencing of others through negotiation and persuasion. (Skills 3)
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Justify and apply a drive for results with the ability to inspire and support project team members and manage stakeholder relationships. (Behaviour 1)
- 8. Exemplify resilience and determination when managing difficult situations and influence the behaviours of others to agree and meet required project outcomes. (Behaviour 3)
- 9. Be open, approachable and authentic and able to build and maintain trust with others. (Behaviour 5)
- 10. Actively seek the views of others and value diversity internally and externally (Behaviour 5)
Syllabus plan
Use power and interest techniques to achieve stakeholder satisfaction and deliver agreed project outcomes
- how to assess the impact of personal ambitions and interests of others on the project (use of techniques such as stakeholder power and interest grid, personal development review, interview)
- how to assess the impact of informal influence of individuals and groups on a project (such as French and Raven Bases of Power)
- how to assess and employ the personalities and working styles of others for the benefit of a project (such as Belbin, Margerison McGann, Myers Briggs)
Establish the relationship between stakeholder expectations and project outcomes.
- how to define and develop the project goal hierarchy
- how to identify and assess project stakeholder needs and requirements
- how to prioritise and decide the requirements and acceptance criteria
Engage with stakeholders to effectively manage their influence, interests and expectations.
- how to identify stakeholders
- how to assess stakeholder interest and influences
- how to develop and maintain a stakeholder strategy and communication plan
- how to engage with the executive, sponsors and higher management to gain commitment and manage interests and expectations
- how to engage with users, partners, suppliers and other stakeholders to gain their co-operation and commitment
- how to organise and maintain networks and alliances
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | 60 | 206 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled teaching and learning activity | 34 | 4 masterclass days and 4 webinars |
| Placement | 206 | Project management in the workplace - Work activities including for example project team meetings, discussions, stakeholder engagement, project planning and implementation |
| Guided Independent study | 60 | Reading, research, web based activities on ELE |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare a plan of what is needed to complete a Communications Needs Analysis for a project. | 1000 words | 1-6 | Verbal with peers in master class |
| Produce an outline plan for constructing your project stakeholder matrix and communications plan. | No more than two slides | 1-10 | Written in ELE |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare a project stakeholder engagement matrix | 50 | Equivalent to 2000 words | 1-6 | Written |
| Prepare a project stakeholder engagement and communication plan. | 50 | 3000 words | 1-10 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare a project stakeholder engagement matrix | Prepare a project stakeholder engagement and communication plan. | 1-6 | 6 weeks |
| Prepare a project stakeholder engagement and communication plan. | Prepare a project stakeholder engagement and communication plan. | 1-10 | 6 weeks |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (ie a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to sit a further examination. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Dittmann K, Dirbanis K, & Meier T (2021) Project Management (IPMA) Study Guide for Level D and Basic Certification (GPM), Haufe Lexware
- Maylor, H. (2010) Project Management Harlow, Essex, Pearson Educations Ltd
- Burke, R. and Barron, S. (2014) Project Management Leadership: Building Creative Teams , J Wiley and Sons
- Newton, R. (2006) Project Management Step by Step, How to Plan and Manage a Highly Successful Project, Pearson Education Ltd
- Kersten Mik (2019 Project to Product: How Value Stream Networks will transform IT and Business: How to survive and thrive in the age of Digital Disruption with the flow, IT Revolution Press
- Smart, Jonathan (2022) Sooner, Safer, Happier: Antipatterns and patterns for Business Agility, IT Revolution Press
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- Association of Project Management http://www.apm.org.uk/
- ISO 9000 http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_9000
- Prince 2 http://www.prince-officialsite.com/
- Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) https://scaledagileframework.com/
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 14/04/2023 |
