7 Tips for Managing Stakeholders in Preconstruction
The decisions made and the plans formulated during the preconstruction phase can be the difference between a successful and failed project. Being proactive during this phase can yield better returns and a greater project outcome, resulting in client satisfaction.
Streamlining processes so that the people involved can give their best creates an ideal environment that allows your business to thrive. Consider ALICE for preconstruction, which allows you to explore numerous potential ways to build your projects in minutes.
When it comes to preconstruction, stakeholders play a key role, as they’re the ones who determine the best path forward for project completion. Stakeholder management is therefore crucial to ensure the best decisions are made.
For this reason, this article will go over some tips for managing preconstruction stakeholders.
Table of Contents
Why stakeholder management is essential
In order to successfully carry out preconstruction, it’s important that all parties involved (from architects, engineers, and contractors alike) are properly coordinated and aligned. Managing stakeholders during the preconstruction stage allows everyone to do their part.
When management can be relied on, it also reassures all stakeholders invested in the project, allowing for more effective collaboration, better problem-solving, and an overall positive working environment that ensures project success.
Tips for stakeholder management
Here are some tips for managing stakeholders.
- Communication
Faulty communication can have serious repercussions for any project’s health. All stakeholders involved in projects should be transparent, and effective dialogue must exist among participants.
Make use of communication tools and establish effective channels of communication with all stakeholders so everyone understands how the project is progressing and what’s needed to reach the next stage of construction.
- Stay updated on progress
Regular project monitoring allows all stakeholders to remain informed, helping to detect any delays or potential problems early. In other words, updates on progress can give an early indicator of any barriers to completion that might arise down the line.
Making sure that all stakeholders are kept updated on project status is therefore crucial to ensuring that you’re able to address problems as they arise in a quick and efficient manner.
- Keep everyone in the loop
With stakeholders playing a key role in decision-making, they need to be consulted at all stages of the project. Their opinions have weight and should be heavily considered to successfully achieve project goals.
Keeping everyone in the loop may involve inviting the right participants to the most important meetings, or taking detailed meeting notes that are then delivered to the right stakeholders via email attachment.
- Plan for change
As construction projects are never quite so simple, it’s important to anticipate potential changes. Any unexpected modifications can be costly and significantly affect progress, so you’ll need to inform all stakeholders of any changes as early as possible. This will allow them to re-prioritize their tasks for proper time management.
An extensive preconstruction plan that incorporates contingency plans will ensure backup solutions are in place in case anything goes awry during construction and that stakeholders can be managed accordingly.
- Stay organized
Organization is key when it comes to stakeholder management during preconstruction, as it assists with keeping everyone on the same page and staying on schedule. Making sure paperwork and documents remain accessible helps everyone remain focused and on task.
You may find centralizing all relevant documents with customized permissions helpful.
- Ensure good working relationships
Good relationships between stakeholders are essential to any project, with maintaining positive relations being imperative in preconstruction.
Maintain an open line of communication with all your stakeholders to enable effective teamwork and produce quality results. The right questions need to be asked during meetings, and a comfortable working environment should be provided for honest discussion.
- Utilize data
When monitoring a project, using analytics is vital for its continued progression. KPIs in relation to stakeholders can help you anticipate issues and delays to take immediate action before they become larger issues.
Data analytics in general can also keep stakeholders up-to-date with the status of a project and assist everyone involved with working toward its successful completion. This ensures that all parties can work cohesively toward reaching an efficient project conclusion.
Proper stakeholder management is essential
Preconstruction is an integral component of every project, and how well stakeholders are managed during this stage will have a profound effect on its ultimate success or failure. Following these tips can ensure you’re properly coordinating project stakeholders.
The key is fostering a collaborative environment in which everyone works towards producing optimal outcomes.
Effective preconstruction management will result in better projects, leading to more satisfied clients and greater profitability.
