A stakeholder is a person or group affected by, responsible for, or interested in an analytical outcome. Their needs define what a useful answer must accomplish. section 1.2.2
Use stakeholder conversations to shape the analytical work:
- Clarify what decision or action the information should support. section 1.2.2
- Agree on the required form, such as a document, presentation, or working proof of concept. section 1.2.2
- Define metrics that are clear and measurable with the available data, rather than merely calculating an ambiguous request. section 4.5
- Check whether anyone will use the result and record requested follow-up work. section 1.2.6
A forecast nobody uses
A technically sophisticated sales forecasting model can still fail as an analytical deliverable if the business does not understand its value or use its forecasts. Asking what stakeholders will do with the result early can prevent needless work. section 1.2.6
