The Complete Guide to Stakeholder Management Successful projects have support from stakeholders across the organization. That’s why stakeholder management is essential for any initiative. Stakeholder management allows you to identify and meet leaders’ needs while keeping communication open. In this article, you’ll learn what stakeholder management is, why it's important, and how to create a stakeholder management plan. Table of Contents What is stakeholder management? Why is stakeholder management important? Benefits of Stakeholder Management Inside the Stakeholder Management Process Tips for Stakeholder Management Why is stakeholder management important? Projects fail when the interests and needs of stakeholders are ignored. This leads to a lack of buy-in from key stakeholders, which can jeopardize the success of the project. When stakeholders feel their needs are being met, they're more likely to support the project. On the other hand, if their needs are not met, they may try to block your initiative. Stakeholder management helps build positive relationships that keep your project running smoothly. An effective stakeholder management strategy can help you: Avoid or resolve conflicts between stakeholders. Secure buy-in and support from key stakeholders. Communicate effectively with stakeholders. Manage expectations of stakeholders. Monitor stakeholder engagement throughout the project. Benefits of Stakeholder Management There are many benefits of an effective stakeholder management strategy, including: Improved communication. By identifying the interests and needs of stakeholders, you...

How to Write Process Documentation Whether you're completing recurring tasks or creating a new program, process documentation can help you formalize your business endeavors. In fact, creating documentation helps improve coordination, structure, and consistency in your organization. This post gathers best practices for process documentation. Here, you’ll learn: What is process documentation? Why Process Documentation Matters Process Documentation Benefits Creating Process Documentation Tips for Process Documentation Process documentation could be a step-by-step tutorial on a new software tool or an onboarding document for new hires. This practice allows you to be proactive in designing internal systems and processes that save time, capital, and valuable energy. Why Process Documentation Matters If you lack structure and details for core organizational processes, your business is more at risk for inefficiencies. Process documentation provides an additional layer of protection for your organization. The lack of documentation can lead to the following organizational challenges. Lack of Information Retention If just one person has extensive knowledge about a process, the organization is at risk of losing that knowledge if they leave. Process documentation helps outline the information that this person holds and allows you to store it in a way that others can access. Redundancies Without a roadmap, there’s a higher chance that time will be wasted on unnecessary or repetitive tasks. Process documentation can help you outline and visualize these redundancies so that you can create a...

Program Management Vs. Project Management: What You Need To Know Projects and programs are needed to push an organization's goals forward. And behind every project or program is a manager working diligently to ensure everything runs efficiently. But what is the difference between program management and project management? What do project managers and program managers do? Here's what you need to know: Program Manager vs. Project Manager What is Program Management vs. Project Management Difference Between Program Management and Project Program Manager vs. Project Manager A program manager ensures groups of projects are carried out effectively and are following an organization's goals. Those groups of projects are referred to as a program. In contrast, a project manager leads an individual project — rather than a group of endeavors. A program manager's duties may include the following: Working with project managers to plan schedules, projects, and goals Overseeing communication across different teams and projects Working with executive management to brainstorm new strategies and execute goals A project manager's responsibilities can include the following: Ensuring a project is executed smoothly, within budget, and on time. Planning and securing project resources, such as team members, budget, and tools Keeping team morale high and addressing any shortcomings to ensure quality What is Program Management vs. Project Management Program management entails maintaining a strategic plan and scheduling multiple different projects. These...

The Business Requirement Document: What It Is and How to Write It A business requirement document (BRD) is a starting point for any software project or business solution. This document aligns team members on what to build, why to build it, and how to get it done. This article explores the basics of business requirement documents. That includes why you need one, how to write one effectively, and more. We’ve also included the 5 coolest BRD examples from big-name companies. Keep reading for the complete guide. Table of Contents What is a Business Requirement DocumentWhy is It Important to Document Business RequirementsHow to Write a Business Requirement Document in 9 Easy StepsExamples of Business Requirement Documents   BRDs capture every step of product development, from an executive summary to expected outcomes. Business requirement documents often include: Current pain points and project objectives. What resources a company needs. The delivery stages and milestones of a project. The functional requirements of a new solution (technical and non-technical). Project constraints (everything that may slow down or hinder the progress of a project). Stakeholders. Risks. Expected ROI. The structure of business requirement documents may vary depending on the project type. For instance, you’ll cut off technical functional requirements if the solution you aim to build isn’t software. We’ll explain how to write a BRD in full. You can see a sample template below. Image Source Why are Business Requirement...