Managing Expectations, Not Code
Stakeholder management is the art of aligning disparate business units (Sales, Marketing, Support, Execs) around a single, prioritized product roadmap without defaulting to consensus-driven mediocrity.
The Stakeholder Matrix
| Stakeholder Profile | Strategy |
|---|---|
| High Power, High Interest (The CEO) | Manage closely. Frequent, data-driven updates. |
| High Power, Low Interest (Legal) | Keep satisfied. Bring them in only when necessary. |
| Low Power, High Interest (Support) | Keep informed. They feel the pain of bugs acutely. |
Common Mistakes
- Saying "Yes" to everything: Defaulting to yes ruins the product. The PM's job is to say "No" and explain the strategic reason why.
FAQ
How do I handle a loud Sales VP demanding a feature?
Acknowledge the request, calculate the opportunity cost (what must be dropped to build it), and force the executive team to make the trade-off decision.