1. Tools and Strategies for Change Agents Session #4
A Conversation
about Sponsors and Stakeholders
--Shelly Kleinschrodt and Babette Schmitt
Thursday, August 24, 2017
150 University Hall
10:30 -12:00 noon

2. Sponsors and Stakeholders: Definitions
The individual or group that commits to leveraging their influence, resources and skills to help the collaboration achieve its objectives. This may include providing the financial resources, in cash or in kind, for the project.
Stakeholder:
Individuals and organizations that are actively involved in the project, or whose interests may be positively or negatively affected by execution of the project or project completion. They may also exert influence over the project and its deliverables.

3. Lessons Learned: Sponsors
Never assume a sponsor’s role.
Determine what is most important to your sponsor - scope, time, or resources.
Be proactive, and tell your sponsor exactly what you need.
Provide brief, descriptive sponsor progress (monthly) reports with simple graphics.

4. Lessons Learned: Stakeholders
Identify stakeholders groups as early in the process as possible, preferably before the project has actually launched.
Have candid, judgement-free, discussions with stakeholders to get disagreements out in the open early in the process when there is good opportunity to address those disagreements.
Conduct Stakeholder Meetings throughout the project (perhaps monthly) to provide updates on project progress.
Pushback from stakeholders needs to be managed directly.

5. Thank you!
Shelly Kleinschrodt: Babette Schmitt: