Project manager as diplomat - Leon Lau

Problems of dealing with variety of stakeholders to deliver project success. Leon Lau gave example of working in NHS. Care Pathway redesign looking at patient journey from GP referral to surgery. "No one chain of command, lots of different organisations but not working together." Need to engage all stakeholders: patients, GPs, PCT management, hospital clinicians, hospital nursing staff, hospital management. "Large number of stakeholders reside in silos." Diplomatic skills to bring different groups together. Ideal number of stakeholders at meeting 4-5. Good idea to have project champions to cut numbers.