Additional detail as to the core principles is provided in Appendix B.
There are a variety of ways in which meaningful engagement has been defined by various standards and guidelines, but in each instance, meaningful engagement is underpinned by the following six core principles, which have been used to shape this guidance document.
Core principles
- Principle 1Designed and undertaken with a mutually beneficial perspective (‘right mindset’).
Stakeholder engagement is to be designed in a way that fosters trust between a company and its stakeholders and is carried out with a solutions-focused mindset.
- Principle 2Conducted with the context-specific stakeholders (‘right people’).
Engagement should only be undertaken once there is, at a minimum, a preliminary understanding of the context and once all relevant stakeholders have been identified (including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups).
- Principle 3Occurs in a timely manner (‘right time’).
Engagement should begin early in the project planning phase and be ongoing throughout the life of a project or activity; company and stakeholder expectations around frequency of engagement should be established at the outset.
- Principle 4Designed and undertaken via methods suitable for stakeholders and the desired outcome (‘right methods’).
Engagement should be conducted in a manner that is fit-for-purpose using techniques/tools and communication methods that reflect the cultural context, the needs of the stakeholders involved, and the purpose of the engagement. Engagement methods should be refined as part of ongoing engagement.
- Principle 5Provides transparency in process and decision-making (‘right process’).
The process employed for stakeholder engagement is appropriately explained to stakeholders, involves the disclosure of relevant information and the consideration of stakeholder perspectives, and allows stakeholders to make informed decisions.
- Principle 6Actively considers and responds to feedback (‘right responses’).
Engagement actively solicits feedback from stakeholders, systematically integrates feedback into project/ activity design and implementation, and informs stakeholders about how their feedback has been used to inform decisions and key developments.
Enablement factors
To be effective and successful, these six core principles need to be supported by the necessary enablement factors, specifically the use of appropriate management systems to track engagement outcomes (‘right systems’) and sufficient allocation of resources – both financial and material (‘right resources’). Not only do these enablement factors support the implementation of the core principles, but they also facilitate the means to demonstrate that engagement as been conducted in accordance with the core principles.