XFN Leadership

Can you discuss your approach to managing stakeholders in the event of a project delay or setback?

Engineering ManagerData Science Manager

Asana

Infosys

Teradata

Okta

Accenture

Jabil Circuit

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Answers

Anonymous

6 months ago
4.6Exceptional
According to Ask Ai www.iAsk.ai:
Understanding Stakeholder Feedback
Managing stakeholder feedback is a critical aspect of any project or organizational strategy. Stakeholders can include employees, customers, investors, suppliers, and community members, each bringing unique perspectives and expectations. The first step in managing this feedback is to understand who the stakeholders are and what their interests entail.
  1. Identify Stakeholders:Create a comprehensive list of all potential stakeholders. Categorize them based on their influence and interest in the project. Use tools like stakeholder mapping to visualize relationships and prioritize engagement efforts.
  2. Gather Feedback:Utilize various methods to collect feedback, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, and public forums. Ensure that the channels for providing feedback are accessible and user-friendly. Encourage open communication by creating an environment where stakeholders feel safe expressing their opinions.
Analyzing Feedback
Once feedback is collected, it’s essential to analyze it systematically:
  1. Organize Data:Sort feedback into categories based on themes or issues raised. Use qualitative analysis for open-ended responses and quantitative methods for structured data (e.g., ratings).
  2. Evaluate Impact:Assess how the feedback aligns with project goals and objectives. Identify which pieces of feedback are actionable and which require further investigation.
  3. Prioritize Issues:Determine which stakeholder concerns are most critical based on urgency and impact. Use prioritization frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix to distinguish between what is urgent versus important.
Incorporating Feedback into Work
Incorporating stakeholder feedback effectively requires a strategic approach:
  1. Develop Action Plans:Create specific action plans addressing the prioritized issues identified from the analysis phase. Assign responsibilities to team members for implementing changes based on stakeholder input.
  2. Communicate Changes:Inform stakeholders about how their feedback has influenced decisions or changes in strategy. Transparency fosters trust and encourages ongoing engagement from stakeholders.
  3. Monitor Implementation:Track the progress of implemented changes to ensure they meet stakeholder expectations. Use metrics or KPIs relevant to the changes made to evaluate success.
  4. Solicit Ongoing Feedback:Establish mechanisms for continuous feedback throughout the project lifecycle. Regularly check in with stakeholders to gauge satisfaction with implemented changes.
  5. Iterate Based on New Insights:Be prepared to revisit previous steps as new information arises or as projects evolve. Adapt strategies based on ongoing stakeholder input to remain aligned with their needs.
Conclusion
Effectively managing stakeholder feedback is an iterative process that involves identifying stakeholders, gathering diverse inputs, analyzing data thoughtfully, incorporating insights into actionable plans, communicating transparently about changes made, monitoring outcomes, and remaining open to continuous dialogue. This comprehensive approach not only enhances project outcomes but also strengthens relationships with key stakeholders over time.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used in Answering this Question:
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Project Management Institute (PMI)
  • Stakeholder Theory: The State of the Art by R. Edward Freeman et al.

Anonymous

7 months ago
4.2Exceptional
In order to manage stakeholder expectations - I need to have a clear communication channels. At Motorola, I worked closely with my Product Managers to set a clear expectation on what features my team can realistically complete with in a give time period. Always had a risk assesment in the meetings. I set up several channels to get this done - 1. A Weekly report on the progress 2. End of sprint demo to ensure that the PM has a good understanding on where we are headed 3.Daily standup sync, if there is any issues 4. Slack as informal mode of communication 5. Weekly product sync to discuss what is coming up in the pipeline and any reprioritization that needs to be done for subsequent sprints. These constant communication with stakeholder helped me resolve any conflicts before it became an issue. Above all, I had that human connection which was super important to me. By following these steps I could manage stakeholder expectations and maintain positive relationship

Anonymous

7 months ago
4.6Exceptional
Typically Stakeholders at Acutance are :
a) Cloud Ops
b) DBAs
c) Product Managers
d) Leadership team
There are different approaches I took - based on the stakeholder I had to interact 
For Cloud Ops and DBAs I had thier resource embedded into my team, so that we can move fast.
For PMs - I had engaged them during Planning meetings - working closely with them to do estimation and figuring out dependencies of features. During the execution phase, I had a week meeting and also a report on the progess and risks for the project.
For leadership - there was a weekly sync with org SDMs we would discuss the challenges or blocking issues we are working on and then there was a Montly report on the operational status and the development of our features our team owned.
During the crucial period of one of the project, the cloud eng. assigned to our team left the company, this caused a delay in our sprint execution. I communicated about this delay to Product Managers and my leadership - and the risks associated to customer impact. I also offered alternate solutions we are exploring to minimize the risks.
By establishing multiple channels - though meetings and through weekly/monthly reports I ensured tha the stakeholders are aware of the blocking issues and pro-active steps I am taking to reduce the risks. 
  • Can you describe how you prioritize stakeholders and balance competing demands?
  • Can you describe who your stakeholders are and what role they play in your work?
  • Can you discuss your approach to communicating project updates and delivering project outcomes to stakeholders?
  • Can you discuss your approach to managing stakeholders in the event of a project delay or setback?
  • Can you explain your strategy for managing stakeholder feedback and incorporating it into your work?
  • Can you provide some examples of how you have managed stakeholder expectations and ensured that projects are delivered on time and within scope?
  • Can you provide some examples of how you have managed stakeholder expectations and maintained positive relationships?
  • Can you provide some examples of how you have managed stakeholder relationships and maintained transparency throughout a project lifecycle?
  • Can you share some examples of how you have addressed stakeholder concerns and navigated challenging situations?
  • Can you walk me through your process for engaging with stakeholders and keeping them informed of progress and changes?
  • Who typically serves as your stakeholders in your work? Can you discuss your strategy for managing stakeholders if there is a delay in the delivery of a project or task?

Interview question asked to Engineering Managers and Data Science Managers interviewing at SwiftKey, Cohesity, Ubisoft and others: Can you discuss your approach to managing stakeholders in the event of a project delay or setback?.