Stakeholder Influences 5
Stakeholder Influences 5
Stakeholder Influences
A stakeholder can be described as a party normally affected by actions and decisions of an organization or entity. Incase the support of the stakeholders is withdrawn then the operations of the organization may be compromised or even cease to exist. Various stakeholders have vested interests in the operations of any business entity. For instance, the owners have interests in the profit margins and the overall performance of the organization whereas the customers require value, customer and excellent service delivery. The needs and expectations of the stakeholders' influences organization's decision making procedures, services as well as the products and services dealt with by the organization. The interests from stakeholders facilitate value creation which translates into maximization of profits and improvement on service delivery. The interest of the stakeholders ensures that the image of an organization is guarded through constant follow-up and/ or correction on business and institutional practices which would rather tarnish the organization in public arena (Kerzner, 2006). Customer satisfaction is thus ensured and costly legal expenses are eliminated.
A domestic violence agency referred to as PEACE was formed to empower survivors of domestic violence by possibly reducing trauma associated with the vice. Direct services aimed at assisting the survivors heal amicably were also advanced. The program aimed at reducing the impact advanced by sexual assault and domestic violence by advancing knowledge to the community. The initiators of the program focused at challenging the societal norms that largely condone as well as perpetuate the vice. PEACE, primarily addresses the plight of spouses, youth, as well as child violence instances at the city of Portland. Through continued funding on the project, the program aims at promoting the wellbeing victims. Funds are required to create awareness through education in order to reduce the prevalence of the vice. Through provision of services to members of a family whose breadwinner may be in prison, the quality of life of such individuals is uplifted. A rehabilitation program for young people involved in criminal injustices has been formed with the sole intention of instilling confidence, skills as well as support networks. Through its grants programs, the program manages to offer up to $5,000 grants to charities. The investor program provides up to $150,000 per annum for three consecutive years to victims of domestic violence. The stakeholders pay much emphasis on the funding of this project. For instance, the administrators of the project must give a request for proposal stipulating the goals as well as the mission of the project (Kerzner, 2006). The request for proposal also stipulates the application requirements on the project.
Once the funds have been advanced, an evaluation plan should be developed to act as the check sheet of the advancement of the project. The evaluation plan is generally of interest to the stakeholders of an organization as it's a pointer of whether the identified outcomes have been achieved. The reasons for the conduction of the evaluation are stipulated as well as the steps to be followed in the evaluation process. The stakeholders must evaluate empowerment levels of the project which involves the program staff acting as evaluators of the project in a bid to encourage professional development as well as their efficiency levels (Ferguson, 1999). The program staff needs be involved in the development and implementation of the evaluation programs.
Professional expertise as well as funding should be availed to the program staff in order to undertake a successful evaluation plan which will provide useful feedback to improve the program. In order to save on costs, the program staff need be involved in the evaluation program. The results of the evaluation will be meaningful possibly in improving the entire program. In the implementation procedures for the desired results, the community needs which are to be achieved are clearly outlined by the program staff as well as the target population of the project. In case of discrepancies, the alignment of various activities in order to fit the already set out objectives ought to be done. Some challenges confront the project staff during the implementation of the evaluation plan. For instance, lack of adequate knowledge and expertise in the designing process may result into poorly designed plan main got possible to have loopholes on the anticipated outcomes. Due to the workload involved in strategizing a workable evaluation plan, the project staff may seem to be overburdening. It is thus vital to infuse the evaluation plan in the delivery program of the project. The project staff need be empowered on the benefits of the evaluation plans which primarily aim at establishing whether gain has been achieved (Davies, 1996). Whereas the evaluation plans are given by the project staff as the guidelines of how the evaluation process will occur, the stakeholders are informed of the parameters to be evaluated as well as the mechanisms to be used in the evaluation process.
The documentation of the funding proposal must be accorded to the stakeholders. Here details regarding the usage of the funds, the duration of the project as well as the number of beneficiaries of the project are indicated. Such a move helps to minimize instances of embezzlement of advanced funds. Another category of stakeholders interested in the funding process is the program officers who are involved in the monitoring process of the activities undertaken. Reviewing of attendance sheets, monthly as well as quarterly reports are also undertaken. Through constant updating of the financial records, tax returns procedures as well as financial management processes become easier in the long run. The funding institution requires the concerned stakeholders to continually evaluate the services set out by the program. The evaluation process encompasses both the process evaluation as well as outcome evaluations. Continued evaluation is a pointer of whether the project will continually receive funding from viable institution or not. Programs with an assessment body in place are a clear demonstration of the fact that service quality from the project is actually effective (Ferguson, 1999). Positive outcome may encourage the program shareholders to advance their services to new market niche. In case the programs directors fail to address the problems addressed by the program assessors, termination funding by the funding body results.
At the initial stages of any program, program planning and evaluation is paramount. All the stakeholders need be aware of the existence and integration of the evaluation aspect in the program. It is vital to have the program manager instructed on the need to have the project staff as well as the volunteers to complete the planning stages as well as evaluation processes. The need to have an accommodating budget which will best cater for program evaluation need to be put in place, and made consistent despite instances of staff turnover (Davies, 1996). Every human service agency should strive to have well trained human capital that is qualified and steer to success the programs of the agency.
In conclusion, for successful implementation and evaluation of any program, theory based as well as objective guided mechanisms need be utilized. A set of comprehensiveness and balance in the achievement of the objectives of the project will be achieved. The process objectives give the needed data to use in the reporting and planning purposes.
References
Davies, D. (1996) the economic evaluation of projects: papers from a curriculum development workshop. New York, U.S.A: World Bank publications.
Ferguson, J. (1999).The Grant seeker's Guide to Project Evaluation. London, UK: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Kerzner, H. (2006) Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley and sons.
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