MPA 209 Project Planning & Development

1. PLANNING TOOLS
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS
-DOUGLAS C. CLAVERIA

2. Problem identification
Problem identification is a crucial step in the planning
process, whether you're planning a project, business
strategy, or any other initiative. To help you identify and
address problems effectively, consider using various
planning tools and techniques.

3. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION:
PROBLEM TREE

4. Here are some tools and methods that can
aid in problem identification:
Brainstorming: Gather a team of stakeholders or experts to generate a list of potential problems. This free-
flowing discussion can help uncover issues you might not have considered otherwise.
SWOT Analysis: Conduct a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis to identify
internal and external factors that may affect your plan. Weaknesses and threats often represent problems.
PESTLE Analysis: PESTLE (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, Environmental) analysis helps you
understand the external macro-environmental factors affecting your plan, which can reveal potential
problems.

5. Here are some tools and methods that can
aid in problem identification:
Fishbone Diagram (Ishikawa or Cause-and-Effect Diagram): This tool helps you identify root causes of
problems. It's particularly useful when you're dealing with complex issues.
Root Cause Analysis: Dig deeper into problems by using techniques like the "5 Whys" to repeatedly ask
"why" until you reach the root cause of a problem.
Gap Analysis: Compare your current state with the desired future state to identify the gaps or problems
that need to be addressed.

6. Here are some tools and methods that can
aid in problem identification:
Customer Feedback and Surveys: Gather feedback from customers or stakeholders to identify issues
they may have encountered in the past or anticipate in the future.
Competitor Analysis: Analyze what your competitors are doing and identify areas where you may be
falling behind or where they face difficulties that you can avoid.

7. Here are some tools and methods that can
aid in problem identification:
Benchmarking: Compare your performance or processes with industry benchmarks to find areas
where you may be underperforming or experiencing problems.
Scenario Planning: Consider various scenarios and their potential problems. This is particularly useful
in strategic planning to anticipate future challenges.

8. Here are some tools and methods that can
aid in problem identification:
Environmental Scanning: Continuously monitor the external environment for changes that could
impact your plan, such as technological advancements or regulatory shifts.
Expert Consultation: Seek input from subject matter experts who may have insights into potential
problems in your domain.

9. Remember that effective problem identification requires a
combination of these tools and methods, depending on the
nature of your planning task. Once you've identified problems,
you can move on to problem-solving and decision-making stages
to address them appropriately in your plan.

10. STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS
A “stakeholder” can be defined as:
Any individual, group, or institution who has a vested
interest in the natural resources of the project area and/or
who potentially will be affected by project activities and
have something to gain or lose if conditions change or stay
the same.

11. STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS
Stakeholders are all those who need to be considered in achieving project goals
and whose participation and support are crucial to its success. Stakeholder
analysis identifies all primary and secondary stakeholders who have a vested
interest in the issues with which the project or policy is concerned. The goal of
stakeholder analysis is to develop a strategic view of the human and
institutional landscape, and the relationships between the different stakeholders
and the issues they care about most

12. STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS
Stakeholder analysis is an important component of project planning
and management. It helps identify and assess the individuals,
groups, or organizations that have an interest or influence over your
project. By understanding their needs, expectations, and potential
impact on your project, you can develop strategies to engage with
them effectively.

14. Why Stakeholder Analysis Is Important
Ultimately, all projects depend on selecting stakeholders with whom they
can jointly work towards goals that will reduce or reverse the threats to your
key conservation targets.
A stakeholder analysis can help a project or programme identify:
• The interests of all stakeholders who may affect or be affected by the
programme/project;
• Potential conflicts or risks that could jeopardise the initiative;

15. Why Stakeholder Analysis Is Important
• Opportunities and relationships that can be built on during
implementation;
• Groups that should be encouraged to participate in different stages of the
project;
• Appropriate strategies and approaches for stakeholder engagement; and
• Ways to reduce negative impacts on vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.

16. When to Use Stakeholder Analysis
When to Use Stakeholder Analysis Stakeholder analysis can be undertaken
throughout all stages of the project cycle, but it definitelyshould be undertaken
at the outset of a project or programme. As you go through your situation
analysis,stakeholder analysis provides a preliminary identification of key
stakeholders, indicating who is important and influential and how they can be
involved in the programme. A detailed stakeholder analysis, involving all key
stakeholders, will help shape the development of strategic actions and inform
risk analysis.

17. Here are some planning tools and steps you can
use for stakeholder analysis:
• Stakeholder Identification
• Stakeholder Prioritization
• Stakeholder Engagement Analysis
• Communication and Engagement Plan
• Stakeholder Feedback Mechanisms
• Stakeholder Management Strategy
• Regular Review and Update

18. Stakeholder Analysis
Remember that effective stakeholder analysis is an
ongoing process that should be integrated into your
project management activities to ensure project
success and stakeholder satisfaction.

19. REFERENCES:
• https://odi.org/en/publications/planning-tools-problem-tree-analysis/
• https://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/1_1_stakeholder_analysis_11_01_05.pdf
• World Conservation Union M&E Initiative. Situation Analysis: An Approach and
Method for
• Analyzing the Context of Projects and Programmes. World Conservation Union,
Gland,
• Switzerland. Available from:
• http://www.iucn.org/themes/eval/documents2/situation_analysis/approach_and_
method.pdf.