Communication Plan and Stakeholders, Essay Example

Before creating a communication plan, various criteria could be used to identify relevant stakeholders and their communication needs. One way to identify stakeholders is to think of the people who may be affected by our actions, who may have the power to influence us or wield power over us, or who may have interest in the relevant issue at hand. Once stakeholders have been identified, one may prioritize them according to their respective influence and/or interest in the issue at hand in order to build an effective communication plan. It is also preferable to do a comprehensive research on the stakeholders to understand their characteristics and learn about their background information (MindTools).

Once stakeholders have been identified, the next step is to find information such as communication channels preferred by respective stakeholders, their information and communication needs, and the importance of gaining cooperation and support from the respective stakeholders. The higher the importance of a particular stakeholder is, the greater will be the importance placed on that stakeholder in the communication plan. The type of communication will also determine the form of communication as well as the communication channels to be utilized. For example, personal or confidential information is better suited to private communication channels such as face-to-face communication.

It is advisable to use multiple forms of communication because there may be stakeholders who use multiple communication channels and have multiple communication needs. For example, some stakeholders may desire the opportunity to express themselves in face-to-face meetings but would also like to receive real-time updates on all the relevant developments. 

Reference

MindTools. (n.d.). Stakeholder Analysis. Retrieved August 24, 2012, from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newPPM_07.htm