Here are a few best practices that make a difference when considering how best to execute stakeholder engagement.
Enroll the
right stakeholders to improve outcomes
Most commonly, a stakeholder is
defined as "any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the
achievement of [an] organization's objectives" Freeman (1984: 46). We
would add that a stakeholder may also include someone who acts with an
organization, implying a joint effort. Research indicates that more successful
outcomes emerge from initiatives where stakeholders have participated by
providing inputs for identifying and designing solutions. Initiatives make
better decisions, which are more informed, have greater longevity and are more
likely to meet the requirements of the opportunity or problem they seek to
address.
Governance
is a process, not a destination
When we speak of governance for
multi-stakeholder collaborations, we are referring to the notion that
governance provides "mechanisms for steering social systems toward their goals"
(Rosenau, J. N., 2006, p. 118). In other words, governance for
multi-stakeholder collaborations is a flexible model for group decision-making.
It is a means to navigate the ambiguous boundaries at the intersection of our
biggest problems - whether within an enterprise, between enterprises or at the
place where the economy, the environment and civil society meet. This is not
the governance of sovereign nations, but of daily life.
Lead from
the middle
When practiced well, stakeholder
strategy assigns accountability for outcomes. Not all initiatives or
enterprises have a charismatic leader; mostly we lead from the middle and from
amongst the many. That's hard to do unless we find a way to do it together.
This is what makes stakeholder or governance bodies so important. Rarely does a
single authority exist upon which we can confer total responsibility. Pushing
accountability and authority outward and towards those who are working at the
intersection of where the work gets done empowers companies, workers and
communities. It's also more efficient. Authority implies the power to influence
and lead cooperation, rather than the power to control the outputs of a group.
Having a
strategy helps