Lab: Identify Stakeholders and their Requirements

Estimated time: 30 minutes

Learning objectives

After completing this lab, you will be able to:

• Recognize and list potential stakeholders in a project

• Classify stakeholders based on their level of influence and interest in the project

Prerequisites

You can complete your tasks using any text editor, such as Word, Google Docs, or Notepad.

• If you install Microsoft Word, you can proceed directly with the instructions. However, if you don't have Microsoft Word, you can sign up for a free version of Microsoft 365 online. Follow these instructions to create your account.

• You can also use Word Online with a Microsoft 365 subscription or access through a free account. If you're new to Word and would like to learn how to get started, you can find helpful resources here: Getting Started with Word Online.

Introduction

Identifying stakeholders early is essential as it brings together diverse perspectives that help shape the project effectively. Engaging them allows for early risk identification, builds support, and ensures compliance with legal or regulatory requirements, all of which contribute to a project's overall success.

Exercise: Identify and categorize the potential stakeholders in a project

In this exercise, you will identify the potential stakeholders involved in a project and categorize them based on their influence and interest in its development and success.

Scenario overview

As a business analyst, you are assigned to analyze a mobile app developed by “AbodeSeek,” a real estate company seeking to streamline real estate transactions. The app is designed to connect buyers, sellers, and agents on a user-friendly platform featuring property listings, virtual tours, agent chats, and user reviews.

Let's follow the steps below to identify and categorize the stakeholders.

Template to use

If you are using Microsoft Word, download the Identify and Categorize Stakeholders_Template.docx . Right-click the link and download the file. You can use the template to perform the tasks outlined in the lab.

You can also download the PDF format and use it for any other word-processing software. Right-click the link to open the PDF in a new tab.

Instructions

Task 1: Identify potential stakeholders

Stakeholders are individuals or groups that are interested in the project and can influence its outcomes. Identify and list all potential stakeholders involved in the project.

Hint

• Start by listing all groups that will interact with the app.
• Consider both operational and strategic stakeholders.
• Use examples from similar projects to guide your stakeholder identification.

Example

List of stakeholders
App users

Task 2: Determine the roles of stakeholders

Determine the specific roles each stakeholder plays in the project. Understanding these roles is essential, as it clarifies each stakeholder's impact on the project's progress and outcomes, ensuring that their needs and contributions are properly addressed.

Stakeholders	Roles
App users	Buyers and sellers

Task 3: Consider different stakeholder categories

Include internal (e.g., employees, management) and external (e.g., customers, vendors) stakeholders. Categorizing stakeholders this way is important for recognizing distinct perspectives and needs within the project, allowing for a more comprehensive analysis and tailored engagement strategy.

Example:

Stakeholders	Roles	Internal/External
App users	Buyers and sellers	External

Task 4: Categorize stakeholders by influence and interest

Classify stakeholders based on their level of influence in the project and their interest in its outcomes. This is essential for prioritizing stakeholder engagement, helping you tailor communication and involvement strategies for each group. Classify stakeholders into the following categories:

• High power and high interest: Key players who should be closely engaged
• High power and low interest: Should be kept informed but not overwhelmed with unnecessary details
• Low power and high interest: Provide valuable insights
• Low power and low interest: Require minimal engagement but should be monitored

Example:

Stakeholders	Roles	Internal/External	Degree of influence and interest
App users	Buyers and sellers	External	Low power/High interest

Subtask: Identify indirect stakeholders and their influence (Optional)

• Reflect critically on indirect stakeholders who may not be immediately apparent but could still impact the project.
• Assess the different levels of influence and interest that each stakeholder may have throughout the project lifecycle, as these dynamics can change over time.

Task 5: Collect requirements from each type of stakeholder 

In this task, you will collect specific requirements from various types of stakeholders involved in the “AbodeSeek” mobile app project. This will ensure that all perspectives are considered and that the final product meets the needs of its users. 

Assume each stakeholder's role and consider what is important for each persona. 

Consider the following questions to find out their requirements. List the probable requirements in the space provided in the template. 

Stakeholders	Questions to ask
App users (buyers and sellers)	What features do you find most important when searching for a property? How do you prefer to view property listings (for example, images, virtual tours, etc.)? What information would you like to see in property descriptions? How frequently do you use mobile apps for real estate transactions? What frustrations have you experienced with similar apps?
Real estate agents	What tools do you currently use to manage your listings or communicate with clients? How do you prefer to receive inquiries from potential buyers? What features would help you market properties more effectively through the app? What type of performance metrics do you find most valuable? How important is it for you to have a user-friendly dashboard for managing your clients?
AbodeSeek's management	What key performance indicators (KPIs) would you like to track for the app? How should the app align with the company's strategic goals? What compliance issues must be considered during development? How do you envision the app supporting revenue generation for the company? What budget constraints should we keep in mind?
IT support team	What documentation will you need for ongoing maintenance of the app? How do you prefer to handle user data security and privacy? What existing systems should the app integrate with? What are the common technical issues that users face with similar applications? How can we streamline the reporting and resolution of technical problems?
Regulatory bodies	What specific regulations must the app comply with in our operating region? How can we ensure transparency in property listings? Are there any mandatory disclosures that must be included within the app? What data protection measures do you require? How often will compliance audits be necessary?
Investors	What return on investment (ROI) expectations do you have for this project? How often would you like updates on project progress and financial performance? What market trends are most concerning to you as an investor? How do you view the competitive landscape for this app? What metrics would help assure you of the app's success?
Marketing team	What demographic information do you need from users to tailor marketing efforts? What promotional features do you want to be available in the app (for example, discounts, featured listings)? How should feedback from users be collected for future marketing strategies? What channels are most effective for reaching our target audience? How can we measure the success of marketing campaigns through the app?
Customer support team	What common questions do users have about real estate transactions that should be addressed in the app? How would you like to manage user complaints or feedback within the app? What support tools would help your team assist users more effectively? How can we ensure that users can easily find help when they need it? What metrics should we track regarding user satisfaction and support response times?

Summary 

Congratulations on completing the hands-on lab, ‘Identify and Categorize Stakeholders.’ In this lab, you explored how to identify and list potential stakeholders in a project and classify them based on their level of influence and interest in the project.

Here is an exemplar solution for you to refer. Right-click the link to open the PDF in a new tab. Please remember that the exemplar is just a point of view and not a definitive solution.