How do you navigate conflicting priorities between project sponsors and key stakeholders?

Gather Information: Talk to both the sponsor and key stakeholders individually to understand their perspectives and motivations behind their priorities. Identify the Root Cause: Is it a difference in goals, resource limitations, or unclear communication? Focus on Shared Goals: Remind everyone of the project's overall objectives and how achieving them benefits all parties. Impact Matrix: Create a matrix to assess the impact of each option on key metrics like cost, schedule, risk, and stakeholder satisfaction. Monitor Progress: Regularly update stakeholders on the project's progress. Decision Authority: If an agreement cannot be reached, the project sponsor ultimately has the authority to make the final decision.

Uncover the "Why": Imagine a sponsor pushing for a fast launch, while stakeholders prioritize a polished product. There's a good chance the sponsor fears missing a market window, while stakeholders worry about user experience. By understanding the "why" behind their concerns, you might discover a way to achieve a speedy launch with a minimum viable product that gathers user feedback – a win-win!

Comunicación abierta, efectiva y constante. La mayoría de veces será complicado que un grupo de personas puedan estar "de acuerdo" con sus prioridades. Pero también como project manager, es importante que adoptando una postura imparcial, se estudie y se valore cada una de las preocupaciones, restricciones, objetivos, entre los patrocinadores y partes interesadas clave. Ojalá construir un canal de comunicación que sea óptimo y servir como "vórtice" de las mismas. Para ser facilitador, no hay comentario que se deba pasar desapercibido, pues es importante que todos se perciban como "tomados en cuenta" para buscar ese punto de equilibrio e interés comun que finalmente se desea lograr con el proyecto.

Here's how you use your PM tools to resolve sponsor-stakeholder priorities that conflict: Stakeholder management: Arrange frequent gatherings and establish roles and duties by utilizing a RACI matrix. Prioritization Frameworks: To rate priorities objectively, encourage brainstorming using the MoSCoW (Must-Have, Should-Have, Could-Have, Won't-Have) framework. Transparency & Impact Analysis: Keep an open line of communication while emphasizing the possible effects of rearranging priorities on the project's time, budget, and scope (iron triangle). You may identify win-win situations that keep everyone in agreement by encouraging open discussion, utilizing PM tools, and delivering data-driven solutions.

Facilitate direct communication between the two Often times leaders/sponsors will rely on the PM to disseminate information/decisions from them. While this is appropriate for 90% of scenarios, there may be a decision or topic that is touchy or has a fair amount of differing opinions. In these scenarios, bringing the two parties together for open dialogue and discussion can be beneficial to reach the best outcome. Both sides will have valid perspectives that are likely to yield value to the final outcome. A town hall style approach may be a good avenue to take for a large project team. These tend to create an open environment where people feel free to share their thoughts and ideas.