The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management, 5th Edition

Chapter 14Clear Communication Among Project Stakeholders

Introduction

Communication ranks high among the factors leading to the success of a project. Specifically, what is required is constant, effective communication among everyone involved in the project.

Projects are made up of people getting things done. Getting the right things done in the right way requires communication among all the stakeholders. As project managers, we spend a great deal of our time communicating. This includes setting and gaining agreement on goals, coordinating people, discovering and solving problems, and managing expectations. (We've addressed these topics throughout this book.) What this means is that from the statement of work through risk management and detailed planning, every project management technique is a method of communicating.

This chapter presents several project-oriented techniques for ensuring that the right people have the right information to make the necessary decisions and carry them out. You will recognize some of these techniques from previous chapters:

• Creating a communication plan
• Change management
• Communicating within the team
• Closeout reporting

Communication is a vital skill for project managers. Project managers need to be able to write and speak well, lead meetings effectively, and resolve conflicts constructively. They also need to listen well, so that they really understand what's being said. Some of these topics are addressed in this chapter; others are addressed ...