Our Insights
DAR AL RIYADH INSIGHT #29
Insight #29 Stakeholder Management in Large Complex Programs – Stakeholder Engagement Best Practices
Dar Al Riyadh Insights reflect the knowledge and experience of our Board, executives and staff in leading and providing PMC, design and construction management services. Dar Al Riyadh believes in the importance of broadly sharing knowledge with our clients and staff to improve project outcomes for the benefit of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Stakeholder Engagement Best Practices
Good stakeholder engagement programs are characterized by:
- Timely and Comprehensive Information Disclosure
- factual information
- earliest possible disclosure
- understand timing-related risks
- readily accessible
- respect for sensitive information
- structured to facilitate engagement
• Early and Ongoing Stakeholder Consultation
- founded on well developed and communicated plan
- consultation well defined
- purpose
- any pre-conditions for consultation
- affected stakeholders
- issues prioritized
- carefully selected engagement methodologies
- clearly identified responsible individuals both within the program and project levels
- document consultation process, feedback and actions and feedback to stakeholders
- Stakeholder Negotiation and Building of Partnerships
- well-defined framework for determining when negotiation is appropriate
- involvement of empowered representatives
- engagement free of intimidation
- mutual agreement on key issues
- full disclosure of complete relevant information
- participatory not adversarial negotiation approach
- negotiating style focused on building partnerships
- sufficient time for decision-making
- sensitivity for cultural differences
- flexibility, consideration of multiple options
- commitment to compromise
- agreed to and documented outcomes
- establish basis for strategic partnerships
- Timely Concern or Conflict Management
- well-established process discussed with stakeholders before issues arise
- process formalized, documented and communicated
- provisions for third party involvement
- timely
- transparent
- documented and reported back to stakeholders
- preserve legal remedies
- Stakeholder Involvement in Program and Project Monitoring
- promote participatory monitoring of program activities related to key issue areas
- evaluate use of third party monitors to add credibility to program actions
- Feedback to Stakeholders in the Principal Areas of Interest to Them
- pre-identified (and agreed to) information, format and frequency
- report on overall stakeholder management program
- consider international standards for reporting stakeholder engagement