Module 1: Foundations of Stakeholder Theory and Value Creation

• What Is a Stakeholder? Origins, Definitions, and Boundaries
• Stakeholder Theory: From Shareholder Primacy to Stakeholder Value
• The Three Lenses: Descriptive, Instrumental, and Normative Stakeholder Theory
• The Value-Creation Case for Stakeholder Engagement

Module 2: Understanding Stakeholder Dynamics in Projects

• Why Stakeholder Dynamics Are Different in Projects
• Power, Legitimacy, and Urgency: The Salience Model
• Stakeholder Networks and Relationships
• How Dynamics Shift Across the Project Lifecycle

Module 3: Systematic Stakeholder Identification and Mapping

• Why Systematic Identification Matters
• Techniques for Finding Every Stakeholder
• The Stakeholder Register: Turning Names Into a Record
• The Power-Interest Grid

Module 4: Designing Stakeholder Engagement Strategies

• From Analysis to Strategy: The Logic of Engagement Design
• The Engagement Spectrum: Inform, Consult, Involve, Collaborate, Empower
• Matching Strategy to Stakeholders: Current vs. Desired Engagement
• Building the Stakeholder Engagement Plan

Module 5: Structured Communication Planning for Projects

• From Engagement Strategy to Communication Plan: Why Structure Matters
• Anatomy of a Communication Management Plan: The Core Components
• Communication Requirements Analysis: The 5Ws, 1H, and Channel Math
• Matching Message to Audience: Channels, Formats, Frequency, and Methods

Module 6: Digital Tools and Platforms for Stakeholder Management

• Why Stakeholder Management Went Digital: From Spreadsheets to Platforms
• Anatomy of a Stakeholder Management Platform: Core Capabilities
• Selecting the Right Tools: A Buyer's Framework
• Putting Platforms to Work: Dashboards, Automation, and Analytics

Module 7: Influencing Without Authority

• The Authority Gap: Leading When You Cannot Command
• The Currencies of Exchange: What People Actually Value
• The Cohen-Bradford Influence Model: A Six-Step Method
• Persuasion Tactics and the Psychology of Yes

Module 8: Advanced Negotiation and Conflict Management

• Understanding Conflict in Stakeholder Relationships
• The Principled Negotiation Model
• Leverage, BATNA, and the Negotiation Zone
• Managing Conflict at the Table: Tactics and Techniques

Module 9: Building Trust and Managing Difficult Stakeholders

• The Anatomy of Trust in Stakeholder Relationships
• Building Trust Deliberately: Behaviors and Practices
• Understanding Difficult Stakeholders: Types and Root Causes
• Strategies for Managing and Re-engaging Difficult Stakeholders

Module 10: Executive Communication and Governance

• Understanding the Executive Audience
• Project Governance Structures and Decision Authority
• Communicating for Decisions: Briefings, BLUF, and the One-Page Update
• Reporting Cadence, Escalation, and Governance Reporting