Stakeholder
Anyone with an interest in or influence over a project - the client's decision-makers, end users, and the agency's own team.
For example, a website project's stakeholders include the client's marketing lead (who approves), the CEO (who has opinions), the dev team (who build it) and end users. Knowing who is who shapes how you communicate and whose sign-off counts.
Why it matters to your firm: unmanaged stakeholders are a top cause of delays, surprise feedback and scope creep - the CEO who appears in week six with a new opinion. Mapping stakeholders early, often with a RACI, clarifies who decides, who advises and who just needs to be kept informed.
keep satisfied
manage closely
monitor
keep informed
top row = high power, right column = high interest - manage the top-right closely
Common mistakes
- Missing a key stakeholder until late.
- Treating every stakeholder as equally important.
- Not managing the actual decision-maker.