Handouts - Part 2 - Week 1

Handouts - Part 2 - Week 1

Table of Content

1. Summary of the method
2. Step 1: Unpacking the proposal
3. Step 2: Stakeholder analysis
4. Step 3: Fact-finding
5. Step 4: Forming a judgement
6. Step 5: Reflection

1. Handout 1 - Summary of the Methods - The 5-step method

Step 1: Unpacking the proposal

• Any proposal has an underlying motive - called an Objective
• If the proposal is going to make a difference, it must act on a scale that is significant in comparison with the problem itself.

Step 2: Stakeholder analysis

• Stakeholders are individuals, groups or organisations that are in any way affected by the proposal.
• Some wish to see it succeed - the Originators
• Others may have reservations/voice opposition.
• Important to identify stakeholders and their concerns.
• If concerns are not addressed, the proposal will face obstacles and may fail to gain acceptance.
• Unsuitable proposal of concerns are not addressed.

Step 3: Fact-finding

To get further we need facts, and facts need research.

What sort of facts do we need?

• Facts that establish the size and timing of the proposal and what materials and energy required to make it happen.
• Facts that relate to the stakeholders concerns.
• Facts relating to essential infrastructure.

Step 4: Forming a judgement

This step involves drawing together the facts from Step 3 to form a balanced judgement about the impacts on the three capitals (Natural, Human and Manufactured.

• Values, culture, beliefs and ethics enter more strongly.
• Different individuals or groups will perceive the facts in different ways - their final judgement will be influenced by their underlying beliefs and values, cultural, religious and political.
• Subjective - requires debate and willingness to understand point of view of others. (unlike Step 3 which is objective)
• One set of facts can be interpreted in more than one way, making this the most difficult step but also the one that leads to the most interesting debate.

Step 5: Reflection

The last step involves reflection on alternatives.

• Is the Prime Objective achieved?
• Is it achieved on a scale that makes significant difference?
• Do the benefits to the 3 capitals outweigh the negative impact?
• If the picture is a negative one short-term, might it still be productive in the long-term?
• Can the analysis suggest a new, more productive way of achieving the Prime Objective?

Layered Summary

• The overall barrel-shape suggest how the quantity of information increases as the facts about the proposal and its stakeholders is researched, an then narrows again as judgements are distilled from them culminating in the reflection of the completed process.

Handout 2 - Unpacking the Proposal (Step 1)

Handout 3 - Stakeholder analysis (Step 2)

Who is a stakeholder?

• Any individual or group who have interests in a particular project, holds a stake.
• If you wish to participate in and change that project, interest is not enough; you also need influence.
• Stakeholder analysis means identifying the interested parties - the stakeholders - and their concerns, their influence and the ways they interact

Identifying stakeholders

Ask:

• Who are they?
• What do they want?
• How will they try to get it?

Failure to identify, respect and involve the stakeholders in a project is likely to generate opposition that may obstruct or defeat the purpose of the project itself.

Stakeholders to identify themselves and publicise their concerns through:

• editorials, interviews and letters in the National Press, Radio, Television
• focus-group reports
• shareholder meetings
• manifestos
• demonstrations, interviews
• interventions and in more extreme cases, vetoes, boycotts and strikes
• questionnaires and snowball sampling.

Handout 4 - Fact-finding (Step 3)

Handout 5 - Forming a judgement (Step 4)

Handout 6 - Reflection (Step 5)