Stakeholders can have a powerful impact on organizational decision-making and strategic planning, making stakeholder engagement essential. As a leader and manager of an organization, you will not only be tasked with building relationships and engaging key stakeholders, but also identifying their role in the strategic planning process. In this Discussion, you examine stakeholder engagement and the role of stakeholders in strategic planning.

Post a response with a minimum of 500 words to one of the following three prompts:
1. Suppose you are an organizational leader trying to develop collaborative support for new strategies. What is the most critical aspect for you to consider in terms of stakeholder roles (i.e., cultural competency, stakeholder engagement, etc.)?
2. Suppose you are working with the stakeholders of an organization that has a dynamic and complex environment. How might the role of stakeholders in this environment differ from a more stable environment? How might this difference impact the structure of the strategic planning process?
3. Suppose you are an organizational leader trying to build relationships and stakeholder support virtually. How might virtual stakeholder relationship building differ from on-ground relationship building? How might the role of a virtual stakeholder differ from the role of an on-ground stakeholder?

Bryson, J. M. (2011). Strategic planning for public and nonprofit organizations: A guide to strengthening and sustaining organizational achievement (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
• Chapter 8, “Establishing an Effective Organizational Vision for the Future” (pp. 271–285)

Ugboro, I. O., Obeng, K., & Spann, O. (2011). Strategic planning as an effective tool of strategic management in public sector organizations: Evidence from public transit organizations. Administration & Society, 43(1), 87–123.

Aguilar, O. (2003). How strategic performance management is helping companies create business value. Strategic Finance, 84(7), 44–49.

Sherman, H., Rowley, D. J., & Armandi, B. R. (2007). Developing a strategic profile: The pre-planning phase of strategic management. Business Strategy Series, 8(3), 162–171.