ABSTRACT
This chapter explains that project management is not so much about managing projects as managing people. Positive relationships are necessary to achieve the outcomes of the project. Ultimately, a project managers goal is to gain stakeholder support for the project. Typically the key stakeholders on a project will include the project manager, project team members, project sponsor and customer. Following the identification process, the project manager should construct a detailed stakeholder needs analysis. The project manager must prioritise his/her efforts with the help of a power/interest matrix. This quadrant-based matrix is used to determine the type of relationship each stakeholder requires and how the different stakeholders should be managed. In order to keep the relationship intact the project manager must maintain a diplomatic perspective regardless of the situation. Relationship building, in the context of a management role is an acknowledged competency.
