Stakeholders and uncertainty management in projects

TLDR

Stakeholders are a major source of uncertainty in projects, encompassing their identity, influence, and motives that affect project activity. The study employs a generic project uncertainty management process framework to structure a review of stakeholder analysis approaches and related uncertainty management issues. The SHAMPU process, comprising nine phases from project definition to implementation, is used to analyze stakeholder‑related uncertainty and evaluate various stakeholder analysis methods. Characterizing projects on a hard–soft spectrum yields generic strategies for managing stakeholder expectations and fostering trust, and demonstrates that systematic stakeholder management is facilitated by uncertainty processes that distinguish project life‑cycle stages.

Abstract

Stakeholders are a major source of uncertainty in projects. This uncertainty encompasses who relevant stakeholders are, how they could influence a project, and what their motives are in so far as their actions affect project activity. A generic project uncertainty management process framework is employed to provide a structure for a review of approaches to analysing stakeholders and related uncertainty management issues. This framework, the SHAMPU (Shape, Harness, and Manage Project Uncertainty) process, consists of nine phases: project definition, focusing the uncertainty management process, identifying sources of uncertainty, structuring issues, clarifying ownership, estimating variability, evaluating implications of uncertainty, harnessing plans, and managing implementation. A variety of approaches to stakeholder analysis are considered in relation to these phases. In particular, characterizing projects on a 'hard–soft' spectrum suggests generic strategies for managing stakeholder expectations and fostering trust between stakeholders. An important conclusion is that a systematic approach to stakeholder management is facilitated by the use of project uncertainty management processes that distinguish different stages of the project life cycle.