Problem statement
Bit Torrent technology is a technology developed to enable users to share big files over networks. The files to be shared are however patented, under copyright and owned by media houses. This then makes implementation of the technology very tricky because whereas it may be useful and probably offer convenience, it could also lead to infringement of copyright laws.
Introduction
Stakeholder analysis involves identifying the parties that have interests in the project (Resource papers in action, 2003). It is vital that as many stakeholders as possible be identified and be involved in the analysis so as to increase the chances of success of the project in question (Larry, 2000). In the above stated case, the main stakeholders were identified as:
- The media houses.
- The bit torrent technology inventors.
- Media regulating agencies.
- Projected beneficiaries of the bit torrent technology.
- Network administrators.
- Law enforcement agencies.
- Copyright law enforcers.
All these stakeholders have to be categorised according to how much the project is going to affect them and how much influence they have on the project (Dick, 1997). This then allows for them to be categorised as follows:
- Stakeholders of high importance and high influence.
- Stakeholders of high importance but little influence.
- Stakeholders of high influence but low importance.
- Stakeholders of low importance and low influence.
Stakeholder analysis matrix (Nzaid tools, 2007)
The analysis
All the above stakeholders are important in any analysis because they determine if the project succeeds or not in spite of whether they are of importance or not.
Stakeholders of high influence and high importance are those that are directly affected by the project and are also in a position to highly affect whether or not the project goes through (Fletcher et al., 2003). From the above list, the stakeholders that can be deemed of high importance and varying influence (Land care research, 2000) may be:
- The media houses
- the bit torrent technology inventors
- Media regulating agencies
- Copyright law enforcers
The media houses are very important because some of the files to be shared by the technology are under copy right and owned by them. They own the material that makes the technology relevant and therefore have very high influence on whether the technology works or not (Social Development Department, 1995).
If they decide to completely halt the process by claiming their right of ownership of the files, then the project would fail because the technology would be irrelevant if there is no material to be shared.
The bit torrent is another important group because they have the technology to develop the project. If they decide to halt the technology and not develop it, then the project would be in vain because there would be no technology to advance it.They therefore has a very high influence on whether or not the project goes through.
Media regulating agencies on the other hand are important even though they will not be directly affected by the technology. Their role in this would be to ensure that whatever is agreed upon by the stakeholders of high influence and importance is followed by all parties. They would probably have some chance of mediating between the most important stakeholders who in this case would be the technology inventors and the media houses.
Copyright law enforcers have been identified as having very high influence in this particular project even though they are of low importance because it is upon the laws they enforce that the project must be based. If these agencies decide that the project would infringe on the existing laws, then the project would definitely be halted and probably abandoned.
They can however in some cases amend the laws to accommodate new projects or also provide some means of mediation to reach an agreement between the stakeholders of high importance and influence.
Media regulating agencies and law enforcement agencies however are of very low importance in the project because the project does not affect then directly. Their role is peripheral in just ensuring that the project runs within the law and in a regulated manner in the event that it is successfully appraised.
Network administrators are stakeholders of low influence and importance because they only provide the networks for distribution of the files but have no influence on whether the project goes through. They also host other materials other than the shared files and these files would not be their primary business.
Last but not least, projected beneficiaries are considered stakeholders of high importance because they would directly benefit from the project by accessing the shared files. They however have very little influence on the project as it is a finished product that would only be availed to them when ready.
References
Dick, B., 1997. Stakeholder analysis. Web.
Fletcher, A., et al. 2003. Mapping stakeholder perceptions for a third sector organization, Journal of Intellectual Capital, 4(4), pp. 505 – 527.
Land care research,2000, Stakeholder analysis. Web.
Larry, W., 2000, Project Clarity through Stakeholder Analysis. Web.
Nzaid tools, 2007, Stakeholder Analysis Process. Web.
Resource papers in action, 2003, Stakeholder analysis. Web.
Social Development Department,1995, guidance note on how to do stakeholder analysis of aid projects and programmes. Web.