What are the key roles for stakeholders in aligning projects with strategic goals?

1 Define the strategic goals

The first role for stakeholders is to define the strategic goals that your project should support. These are the high-level objectives that guide the direction and vision of your organization. They can be related to growth, innovation, customer satisfaction, social impact, or any other aspect that matters to your organization. You should involve the senior management, the sponsors, the customers, and the end-users in this process, as they are the ones who can provide the clarity and direction for your project. You should also communicate the strategic goals to all the other stakeholders, so they can understand the purpose and value of your project.

4 Evaluate and communicate the project results

The fourth role for stakeholders is to evaluate and communicate the project results in relation to the strategic goals. The project results are the outputs and outcomes that your project delivers to the stakeholders and the organization. You should involve the stakeholders, such as the sponsors, the customers, the end-users, and the beneficiaries, in evaluating and measuring the project results, using tools such as a post-project review, a lessons learned report, or a benefits realization report. You should also involve them in communicating and celebrating the project results, using methods such as newsletters, presentations, testimonials, or awards, to acknowledge the achievements and contributions of your project to the strategic goals.

5 Provide feedback and learning

The fifth role for stakeholders is to provide feedback and learning for improving the alignment of future projects with the strategic goals. The feedback and learning are the insights and recommendations that your stakeholders and your organization can gain from your project experience and results. You should involve the stakeholders, such as the sponsors, the customers, the team members, and the reviewers, in providing feedback and learning, using techniques such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or audits. You should also involve them in applying feedback and learning, using methods such as best practices, standards, policies, or training, to enhance the performance and alignment of future projects with the strategic goals.

6 Support and sustain the project benefits

The sixth and final role for stakeholders is to support and sustain the project benefits that contribute to the strategic goals. The project benefits are the positive changes and impacts that your project creates for the stakeholders and the organization. They can be tangible, such as increased revenue, reduced costs, or improved quality, or intangible, such as enhanced reputation, customer loyalty, or employee engagement. You should involve the stakeholders, such as the sponsors, the customers, the end-users, and the beneficiaries, in supporting and sustaining the project benefits, using actions such as maintenance, adoption, promotion, or evaluation, to ensure that your project continues to deliver value and align with the strategic goals.