Final answer:
People who have an interest in a project and are asked to contribute feedback or suggestions are known as stakeholders. Ensuring stakeholders have buy-in signifies they understand and support the project, leading to better engagement and success. Challenges like the free rider problem can be mitigated by maintaining communication and stakeholder involvement throughout the project.
Step-by-step explanation:
People who have an interest in a project and are asked to contribute with feedback or suggestions are referred to as stakeholders. Stakeholders play a crucial role in the success of a project. Ensuring that all relevant stakeholders have buy-in is essential, as this means they understand and support the project plan. This support is vital for ensuring smooth operation and execution of the project tasks.
Having buy-in from stakeholders means they are more likely to be actively engaged and contribute valuable feedback. For instance, when researchers, community stakeholders, and survivors are fully invested in a research project, they are more likely to participate meaningfully, such as providing relevant and constructive feedback on project design and surveys. An effective way to ensure stakeholder engagement is to involve them throughout the entire process, including project conceptualization and dissemination of information, as was the case with the key stakeholder, Joshua Brown, as mentioned in the provided reference material.
However, there are challenges such as the free rider problem, where some stakeholders may benefit from the project outcomes without actively contributing. This is similar to the examples given where NPR listeners may not contribute to fundraising efforts yet continue to enjoy the service.
To avoid such situations, maintaining communication and checking in on stakeholder buy-in, especially during transitions, is crucial for the success of the evaluation project.