What do you do if stakeholders and clients have conflicting expectations in Mobile Applications?

In my opinion, we should look for creative solutions that address both stakeholders and customers( seek Win-Win Solutions) , if not , than customers interest should be prioritised especially if the conflict involve ethical concerns.

First of all, we need to realise that the stakeholders and the clients share the same goals on the projects. The reason we feel having this question is just because they have different ways to achieve the goals. Once having established the above concept, the solution to it is through communication and agile approach etc. make progress and assess the achievements in time.

In my opinion, the "Discovery" period is the most critical part of the project. During Discovery, hammering out every possible use case is impossible and unnecessary. Clearly articulating the project vision, priorities, goals, and setting clear expectations is imperative. Even discussing the proper protocol when things go bad, and I assure you they will at some point and that's okay. It's software and it's hard. It's how these situations are handled is where the rubber meets the road. This must be discussed upfront with clear directions and mutual agreement.

Establish an open and inclusive communication culture where stakeholders and clients feel comfortable expressing their expectations and concerns. Encourage regular/weekly meetings, workshops, and feedback sessions to facilitate transparent discussions and foster collaboration.

It is not enough to have an excellent briefing to understand what your client wants; they must participate in the process, make all the steps clear, and at the beginning, there is a pre-established scope that will be done so that there is no frustration of expectations at the end, such as If the project was a surprise, involve the client in the process and have communication and this will reduce conflicts.

Constant Communication Builds Trust It's tempting to just want to get it done, but involving them early and often helps: Small Surprises, Not Big Ones: Is a feature going in a direction they dislike? Better to know now when it's fixable. Explain Your Reasoning: Decisions made in a black box breed mistrust. Briefly justify your choices. Solicit Alternatives: "I understand you don't like X. Could Y or Z achieve the same goal?" This Saves You Work: Addressing concerns as they occur is faster than a full rework at the end.

- Encourage open dialogue by actively listening to the concerns and priorities of stakeholders and clients. - Establish a clear understanding of each party's expectations, goals, and priorities from the outset. - Be willing to adapt and adjust the project plan or features based on evolving stakeholder and client feedback. - Facilitate constructive discussions and mediate conflicts to find mutually beneficial solutions. - Establish a feedback loop to gather input from all parties throughout the development lifecycle to iterate and improve processes for future projects. Open dialogue fosters trust, promotes understanding, and ultimately leads to better outcomes in mobile application development.

When stakeholders and clients have conflicting expectations in a mobile application, it's essential to facilitate open communication and find common ground. Start by thoroughly understanding each party's needs and concerns. Then, engage in constructive discussions to identify areas of agreement and areas needing compromise. Prioritize requirements based on business goals, user needs, and technical feasibility. Regularly update both stakeholders and clients on progress and solicit feedback to ensure alignment throughout the development process. If necessary, involve a mediator to help navigate disagreements and reach mutually beneficial solutions.

In my experience, we have been able to mitigate conflicting priorities by prioritizing requirements based on business goals and end-user feedback. We also considered and implemented an iterative development process, allowing for adjustments and refinements based on stakeholder and client feedback after each iteration. Remember, the goal is to create a product that meets the business objectives while also delivering value to the end-users. Balancing these needs often requires diplomacy, negotiation, and a willingness to adapt.

I have been into such situations multiple times. In such situation product designer plays a crucial role in creating a bridge gap between clients and stakeholders. * Generally in such situations, I hold a meeting by inviting client and stakeholders to discuss and align on project objectives. * The purpose of this call is to have clear information about business goals and user needs. For example Must have features v/s nice to have. * The prioritization of the essential features for the initial release is equally important from a client and stakeholders perspective. This is also one of the area where clients and stakeholders generally conflict.

I've seen prioritisation become a problem when different stakeholders disagree on the prioritisation principles that underlie how they select what to do next. For example, one stakeholder might care about delivering shiny features that look good to investors, while another might care more about streamlining the customer experience to drive up satisfaction and revenue. Both views are valid, so they need to agree on how to select features that meet their needs. In these cases, a small workshop to create alignment can help. Then document the rules and try to apply them in prioritisation sessions. In my view, this can take time so don't expect a magic bullet overnight.

Collaboratively prioritize features and functionalities based on their: - Strategic importance - User impact - Technical feasibility Engage stakeholders and clients in the decision-making process to ensure alignment with business objectives and user requirements.

Prioritization is absolutely key and can be difficult. It's common to have a very long list of "high priority" items and only few medium/low. In those cases I'll run a workshop in which we list out al requirements - including customer/user feedback - and then work toward a hard limit of thirds. The teams can have a third high, a third medium, and the rest low priority requirements. This can be challenging and contentious, but it really forces people to think about what is truly important and what needs to be done right now vs. in a later release.

In my experience, the foremost action would be to outline the pros and cons of each approach (client's vision vs. stakeholder concerns). Brainstorm potential solutions that might satisfy both sides.

I would never call it compromise. Compromises are often bad decisions. Instead the product team should discover a solution, test it with users and then test it live. Not everybody has to agree with the solution. Disagree and commit is much more important than finding a compromise. At the end a solution has to bring value, not please stakeholders.

When I faced with conflicting expectations, I use to explore potential compromises or alternative solutions that address the needs of both parties. Encourage creative problem-solving and negotiate trade-offs to find mutually beneficial outcomes without compromising the overall project goals.

Finding the Win-Win: It's a Leadership Skill The best solution is often one no one initially thought of. Focus on: Restate the Shared Goal: Remind them what everyone DOES agree on, to keep focus on solving the problem "What If?..." Brainstorm options, even unrealistic ones to start – good ideas often emerge from this. Small Sacrifices, Big Gains: Is there something minor to give up on all sides so that the critical needs are met? Data is Your Ally: If possible, testing a few potential compromises can reveal a clear winner.

Clarifier les objectifs du projet : Réaffirmer les objectifs principaux du projet et s'assurer que toutes les parties comprennent ces objectifs. Cela aidera à aligner tout le monde sur une vision commune et à établir un terrain d'entente.

Establish precise and measurable targets and milestones for the mobile app project. Make sure that everyone involved, including stakeholders and clients, is on the same page regarding what needs to be achieved, when it needs to be done, and what defines success. This ensures clarity and prevents any confusion or disagreements about the project's scope, schedule, and expected outcomes.

Well-defined (and explained!!) goals are vital to the success of any product development and whatever model you use to define this, the bottom line is that they need to be (mostly) achievable. There should always be an element of stretch, but making goals that can be met fosters a culture of positive development

The foundation of any successful mobile application is a set of well-defined goals. These goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Vague aspirations won't guide development effectively. Clearly define what the app aims to achieve, whether it's boosting user engagement, increasing sales, or streamlining a specific task. Quantify success metrics to track progress and measure impact. Ensure the goals are realistic and achievable within the project's constraints. Most importantly, these goals should be relevant to both stakeholder expectations and user needs. By setting clear and focused goals, you create a roadmap for development and a benchmark to measure the app's ultimate success.

Es importante priorizar de manera adecuada todos los requerimientos funcionales y no funcionales. De está manera es más fácil llegar a un MVP o a la meta que se quiere llegar.

Without a clear goal, there will be no destination and it will always turn into conflict. If the Goal is clearly available in written format let's engage in discussion. Where does it miss expectations? Check the feasibility of expectations, Sometime it happens to please any party wrong commitment has been made which again converts into conflict.

Ensure clear communication and educate on technical aspects to manage expectations, minimize conflicts, and set realistic goals in client management.

From an app development standpoint, transparency is crucial. Clearly communicating constraints and progress fosters trust and sets a realistic project scope. Regular updates and honest dialogue about challenges prevent scope creep and ensure client and stakeholder satisfaction with the deliverable that’s feasible within the given parameters.

Bring Stakeholders and Clients on one page, manage their expectations by educating them on the most crucial aspects of Mobile Applications. Bringing SME (subject matter expert) in the meeting helps resolve the conflict more easily.

Continuously manage expectations by providing regular updates, progress reports, and demos to both stakeholders and clients. Address any deviations from initial expectations promptly and transparently.

One thing I found helpful is being honest on realistic expectations, while making sure we understand the customer/stockholders priorities and tradeoffs

Iterate and Adapt: Stay flexible and be prepared to iterate on the mobile application based on feedback and evolving requirements. Continuously engage with stakeholders and clients throughout the development process to address any emerging conflicts or changes in expectations. Maintain Communication Channels: Keep communication channels open throughout the project lifecycle to address any new concerns or conflicts that may arise. Regularly update stakeholders and clients on the progress of the mobile application and seek feedback to ensure alignment with expectations.

Document Agreements: Document agreements reached during the discussion, including agreed-upon requirements, priorities, and any compromises made. This ensures clarity and serves as a reference point for future discussions. Communicate Regularly: Maintain open communication channels with stakeholders and clients throughout the development process. Provide regular updates on project progress, solicit feedback, and address any concerns or changes in expectations promptly. Involve Key Decision-Makers: Ensure that key decision-makers from both the stakeholder and client sides are involved in discussions and decision-making processes. This helps minimize miscommunication and ensures that decisions are aligned with organizational objectives.

Encouraging developers to engage in discussion groups and forums fosters idea exchange and learning from peers during mobile app development. It's about leveraging the entire ecosystem—from devices and customers to marketplace strategies. Documenting insights early in the ideation stage is crucial for aligning development efforts with broader ecosystem considerations, ensuring a holistic approach to app creation that goes beyond code implementation to encompass strategic integration and user-centric design.

Focus group: Form a focus group of 30 to 50 users preferably similar to the real-world users. Collect their feedback to iron out issues with conflicting expectations or ideas and, fine-tune gaps in the application.

Une bonne stratégie produit devrait reconsillier les divergences de visions. Il est important que la vision globale soit partagée tout en prenant en compte les spécificités de chacun