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New Post 2/27/2018 8:19 PM
User is offline NessyCat
3 posts
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Over-involved Stakeholders 

I am having some trouble balancing stakeholder relationships and delivering a high quality project on time and would like your advice.

The department that I am delivering a solution for has assigned a person, of whose role and value add I’m unsure of, to shadow me.  She has requested she be optionally invited to every meeting and cc’d in every email I send in regards to the project.  Where I fail to do this, she reminds me and cc’s in a number of other stakeholders.  She also interjects in my requirements gathering workshops, often speaking over the top of me, and jumping to solution design. 

I have spoken with her in regards to this but I don’t hold much hope her behaviour will change as a result.

The other stakeholders are very protective of their “customers” and do not wish for me to speak to them without their attendance.  For example, I had a meeting booked with some high level directors 2 weeks in advance and was told by the stakeholder this morning that I should cancel it because two of her staff members who she wanted to attend to listen in were sick.  I refused, as I the purpose of the meeting is to gather their end user requirements, mostly regarding as-is, and if we pushed it back it would have to be for another week.  She is not impressed.

I am just wondering if anyone else on here has dealt with a similar situation and what their advice was to improve the situation.  I am looking at working with the same group of stakeholders for the rest of the year at least and I feel I need to be able to assert my authority as a professional business analyst with the aim of following BA best practices and delivering in scope and on time, without fully compromising these relationships.

Thanks in advance!

 
New Post 3/6/2018 1:36 PM
User is offline Nimil
2 posts
No Ranking


Re: Over-involved Stakeholders 

Hi NessyCat,

There are various ways you can respond to this situation.

1. Direct: Talk to her boss about her role and expectations. Make sure your deliverables don't fail because of her. If they do, check her expectations. Bring your boss unto speed on new developments and make him aware about the issues and concerns you have.

 

2. Suttle: Fill her plate with so much work. Make her run for her job. Ask her to setup meetings with other stakeholders. Ask her to share meeting minutes. Also ask her for deliverables which would tie up with your deliverables. Make sure she delivers in a way that affects your delivery and showcase that to your management.

 

3. Practical: In your e.g. I would give her 2 choices. 1. Sure I'll cancel the meeting but I need some information which is really important before end of this week. Can you make sure to setup sometime before end of this week so that I've the right information which won't impact the delivery? or 2. else I can continue with the planned meeting and will keep you posted on developments. Give her 2 difficult choices and make her choose option you like.

 
New Post 3/6/2018 9:36 PM
User is offline NessyCat
3 posts
No Ranking


Re: Over-involved Stakeholders 

Thanks for your advice Nimil.  I like option two the best but that's because I'm evil :P

 
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