7 Common Concerns That Prevent Stakeholder Buy-in For Technology Projects

In this guide, StackPlan explores the common concerns that prevent stakeholder buy-in for new technology projects and how you can successfully overcome them.

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7 Common Concerns That Prevent Stakeholder Buy-in For Technology Projects

Not sure how to secure stakeholder buy-in for your technology roadmap initiatives? Or perhaps you’re unsure how to present your ideas to build support?

Securing buy-in from stakeholders is easier said than done, and you’ll encounter plenty of questions, concerns, and objections on your path to support.

In this guide, we’ll explore the common concerns that prevent stakeholder buy-in for new technology projects and how you can successfully overcome them.

What is Stakeholder Buy-In?

Stakeholder buy-in refers to the support and participation you get from key decision-makers in your organization.

It’s critical to get support from stakeholders for technology projects because they are the ones who sign off on fund allocation, time expenditure, and long-term goal setting.

Why is Stakeholder Buy-In Important?

A stakeholder that doesn’t buy into a new technology initiative is a stumbling block to implementation. Without their support, they won’t advocate for your project, offer insights you might have missed, or direct teams as needed.

When stakeholders view a technology roadmap as a positive change, they become natural advocates for your ideas and can elevate your initiatives to higher-level executives whose buy-in carries more weight.

The bottom line is that technology roadmaps are much easier to create and implement when you have firm stakeholder buy-in.

3 Types of Stakeholder Buy-In

When planning how to present your technology roadmap to key stakeholders, keep in mind that there are three different types of buy-in:

Emotional buy-in:

The stakeholder supports the project because they feel strongly about the outcomes and are connected to the process.
Intellectual buy-in:

The stakeholder is aware of the project’s potential benefits and understands the financial gains involved.
Equity buy-in:

The stakeholder literally invests in the project by contributing their time, money, or resources.

Different stakeholders will require different pitching strategies, so it’s important to understand the type of buy-in you expect from each person.

The Challenges in Securing Stakeholder Buy-In for technology roadmaps

Gaining stakeholder buy-in for a new technology roadmap is easier said than done. Here are some of the most common challenges you’ll face and how to overcome them.

1. Change Resistance

Stakeholders often resist technology roadmap initiatives because they mean major changes to the “status quo.”

If the stakeholders have been at the company for a long time, they may have been involved in implementing current processes, so changes can make them feel redundant.

The solution: Focus on the benefits of your technology roadmap and highlight the areas the stakeholders have control and sign off over. This will connect them to the project and make them feel part of the new process.

2. Poor Communication

A lack of clear communication with stakeholders can leave them with unanswered questions about the technology roadmap, quickly killing stakeholder buy-in.

This often comes down to an inability to reach stakeholders to arrange meetings and give important updates.

The solution: Prioritize regular, clear communication from the start of the buy-in process and follow up using multiple platforms to ensure you reach all important stakeholders. Over-communication is better than under-communication in this scenario.

3. Conflicting Agendas

Some stakeholders might have ideas for projects that clash with your technology roadmap initiatives. However, you won’t know this until you pitch your roadmap, so it’s important to be prepared to pivot.

The solution: Look for opportunities to compromise or include their projects in the new technology roadmap to quickly gain stakeholder buy-in.

4. Risk Aversion

You may find that stakeholders view your technology roadmap as too risky, making gaining support a challenge.

If you’ve included high-cost or extensive projects in the technology roadmap, this will be a common concern since stakeholders usually prioritize cost savings.

The Solution: Highlight ways you plan on actively managing and reducing risk and encourage them to discuss their concerns openly. You might gain valuable insights you haven’t thought about yet.

5. Unaligned Stakeholders

Having varied support in your technology projects is a good sign. However, it’s common for different stakeholders to pull the project in different directions.

Key stakeholders often struggle to make effective group decisions, and you’ll need to manage the different expectations to secure stakeholder buy-in.

The Solution: Be open about the expectations and priorities of different stakeholders and arrange regular team meetings where you can discuss solutions.

6. Competing Priorities

Each stakeholder will carry their own expectations for your technology roadmap, and it’s almost impossible to please everyone involved.

For example, an IT department manager may prioritize updated security systems, whereas the CEO wants to streamline the sales process.

The Solution: A technology roadmap’s value is the ability to plan multiple projects within a reasonable timeline. Schedule a stakeholder buy-in meeting to discuss competing priorities and reach a compromise openly.

7. Resource Constraints

No business has an unlimited technology budget, so you’ll come up against resource constraints for your roadmap initiatives.

Resource competition is also common in organizations and may become a source of conflict between stakeholders.

The Solution: Get sign-off on the budget for your technology roadmap early in the process so you can allocate funds accordingly. Make sure everyone is on board with fund allocation and be prepared to show the ROI of each technology roadmap initiative.

How to Get Stakeholder Buy-In for Your Technology Projects

No matter how well-planned your technology roadmap is, you will face stakeholder concerns that make implementation a challenge.

However, by understanding the most common challenges, you can prepare solid arguments and secure stakeholder buy-in that much quicker.

Head to the next guide to learn how to get stakeholder buy-in for your technology roadmap.

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