The primary output of the Identify Stakeholders process is the project communications plan

Project communications planning

Output Oriented Project Management and Project Communication Management

Project Communication management

Steps of Communication Planning:

  • Identify project stakeholders

  • Analyse the communication needs of each stakeholders

  • Identify the information for fulfilling   the information needs of each stakeholder

  • Identify the Method and the Effort Required

  • Prioritise the Communication Options

  • Develop a Conflict Management Strategy

Communication Management Plan defines how and when the various stakeholders receive information, and communicate with each other.

The Communications Plan is a document describing the means by which project communications will occur. The communication process must be bi-directional. The Project Manager must receive input from Project Team members and Stakeholders about their information and communications requirements, determine the best and most cost effective way in which the requirements can be met, and record the information in a formal, approved document. Similarly, the Project Manager must provide details to the team and the Stakeholders regarding the communications he/she expects to receive, and document these requirements in the plan. The Communications Plan is developed early in the project management lifecycle. It must be reviewed regularly throughout the course of the project and updated as necessary to ensure it remains current and applicable. Some of the requirements the Project Manager and Stakeholders will need to communicate and understand, and which should be documented in the Communications Plan include: _ How often and how quickly information needs to be disseminated. _ By what means the Project Manager and Stakeholders prefer to receive information (via phone, email, paper). One of the greatest challenges in project management is getting the work done by individuals and business units that do not report to the Project Manager, or even to the Project Manager�s entire chain of command. The earlier you can identify whom you need cooperation from, and the more detail you can provide as to the extent and outcome of that cooperation, the better your chances of actually influencing the work done. Make your case early and convincingly (emphasizing how the folks that DO have influence will benefit), and you may actually get them to do what your project requires.

A communication plan describes how the information and communication needs of project stakeholders will be met: a communication manager will design, and implement such a plan; thereafter s/he will evaluate how efficient and efficacious communication has been as a support activity facilitating all other project tasks.  A communication plan  document will describe who need what information, how it will be communicated, where and how.

Project managers must create and effectively use a communication plan that performs two principle functions:

  1. collect the right knowledge,

  2. disseminate knowledge in a desirable and timely manner. 

Important : Making Information Timing  !!!

For information to be used, it has to be delivered to its target users timely. As a project manager, while developing your communication plan, you need to decide how often to contact each stakeholder and with what information.

Project communication differs from general communication in that it centers on the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).

For each WBS element, there are:

  • Suppliers who provide inputs needed for the WBS element
  • Beneficiaries who receive the products of the WBS element
  • Suppliers must communicate with the task managers, and the task managers must communicate with suppliers and beneficiaries.

The supplier is often the task manager for an earlier deliverable in the project lifecycle; the beneficiary  may be a task manager for a later deliverable.

Good project communication includes notifying the next task manager in the project delivery chain about when to expect a deliverable.


The project communication plan is a part of the overall project plan. It builds on the project workplan, which shows:
What will be produced on the project � the project WBS
Who will produce it � the Resource Breakdown Structure (RBS)
When it will be produced

  •  The project development team (PDT) develops a communication plan by asking the following questions:
  • Who needs what information?
  • When do they need the information?
  • Who delivers the information?
  • How should the information be delivered?
  • While all projects share the need to communicate project information, the specific information needs and the methods of distribution may vary widely.

The plan typically include such items as:

  • the type of communication (written report, email, form to be completed, phone calls etc); see communication Instruments
  • the correct process to follow the frequency of the communication (for example, how often are such reports expected),
  • the expected quality (for example, email communication is usually far less formal than written reports).

While formulating the project plan, the manager will have to consider also the impact that this will have on the organisational culture and identity.  Even if these elements are not explicitly mentioned in the formal communication contents, they have to be considered while designing, implementing and evaluating communication, particularly the Organizational Culture;   Organizational/Communication Climate ;  Employee Alignment and Education.  

According to the project priorities a participatory approach  may be promoted in planning communication activities.

(See also communication actions for awareness building:   Communication Strategy Design: A Definition;   Communication Strategy Design: Purpose and Rationale)

According to the scale the project (small-large-very large)  plans' scope will differe; see the table below

4

Small project team; no significant organisational boundaries or cultural differences; previous working relationships.

3

Medium size project team; some organisational diversity; unfamiliar working contacts; geographical separations.

2

Large project team; diverse organisations and cultures; differing contractual relationships.

1

Very large project teams, numerous organisations and interfaces; diverse cultures; numerous geographic locations.

Communications Planning

Identify and exercise channels for internal and external communications; identify key players and plan contacts, messages, and information flow; make PM accessible and communicative.

Identify communications requirements, technologies, constraints and assumptions; draw communications flow diagram; use inclusive team structure to shorten communications paths.

Use stakeholder analysis to identify communications paths; plan for multiple communications media; plan to shorten vital information paths by new relationships, attitudes, or techniques.

Document plans for public relations, change management, working papers and deliverables, project advocacy, and internal project team communications.

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To do:  Assignments Developing Communication Plan (Strategy)

Communication planning templates

Project Communication Planning Presentation  - Powerpoint   

Guidelines

  • Why do organisations need to plan and manage their communication?

  • How team members can improve overall project communication

Templates:

Project Stakeholder Analysis   -   project major takeholders roles table

Other communication planning templates

See also:   T

  • Guidelines

    • Why do organisations need to plan and manage their communication?

    • Guidelines for Reports

    • How team members can improve overall project communication

  • Communication Strategy Design: Purpose and Rationale

  • Table showing management communication actions

  • Blocking The Flow of information

  • Project Documentation and Records  

  • Factors that may block the flow of information

  • Report Communication Performance 

  • Visibility Room

  • Factors that may block the flow of information

  • Tasks, tools and elements of communication management  

  • Meetings, Problem Solving and Decision Making

  • News Releases

and

  • Information Overload

  • Communication Strategy Design: A Definition

  • Communication Strategy Design: Purpose and Rationale

  • How to Report and Present the Communication Proposal

  • Monitoring the Communication Process

  • Evaluation

  • Tools

  • BIBLIOGRAPHY

Other resources

The reporting skill handbook 

What is the primary output of the identify stakeholders process?

The primary output of the "Identify Stakeholders" process is the project communications plan. 13. Contemporary project communications typically include both push methods such as blogs, and pull methods such as e-mail.

What is a project stakeholder communication plan?

A project communication plan is an agreement between collaborators and stakeholders that outlines what, when, and how information will be shared at key intervals. Information like status updates, task-related questions, and meeting details should all be included in this written guide.

Which is primary process of communication in project management?

The processes included in this area have changed over the years but, in the current version, there are three primary project communication management processes. These are: Plan communications management. Manage communications.

What is project communication plan?

A project management communication plan identifies how important information will be communicated to stakeholders throughout the project. It also determines who will be receiving the communication, how those people will receive it, when they'll receive it, and how often they should expect to receive that information.