How to conduct Key Stakeholder Interviews

Stakeholder Interviews

Stakeholder interviews aim to elicit detailed information and opinions on an issue through wide-ranging discussion rather than specific questioning.

Stakeholder interviews provide a broad overview of the interviewees' opinions about a specific topic that may reveal hidden concerns or ideas that would not be expressed in response to a set number of specific questions.

Method:

1. Select interviewees according to designated criteria (areas of expertise, representation of groups, complementary of skills for committees).
   
2. Arrange times and places for interviewing. Better quality information will be forthcoming if the interviewee is in a familiar setting, so it may be easier for the interviewer to go to them.
   
3. Ensure uninterrupted time for at least one hour.
   
4. Check all equipment and take spare tapes, batteries, pens, etcetera to avoid any interruptions during the interview.
   
5. Try to transcribe interview notes as soon as possible after the interview, while nuances, body language and asides are still in the interviewer's memory.
   
6. Prepare a report, including the verbatim interviews, and offer copies to the interviewees.

Uses/strengths:

• Useful for targeting key stakeholders who have specific knowledge about an issue.
  
• Provides opportunity to get understanding of concerns and issues of key stakeholders.
  
• Can be used to determine how best to communicate with the public.
  
• Can be used to determine the best members of consultative committees.

Special considerations/weaknesses:

• Can be expensive.
• Can be time consuming.
• Interviewers must engender trust or risk negative response to the format.
• Requires skilled interviewers