Putting it all on the table: Extending stakeholder analysis to communicate a plan for action

Stakeholder analysis and communication are critical to project success. It’s essential that the right communication reach the right people at the right time. A communication plan, which documents the communication objectives for a project and the means to achieve those objectives, is a practical extension of the stakeholder analysis table because it aligns stakeholder expectations and objectives using noted actions and targeted communications. A stakeholder analysis identifies the individuals and groups that must receive vital project-related communications. This paper extends stakeholder analysis to include an action-oriented communication plan.