A Stakeholder Analysis for Engagement: a PESTLE Framework for the Nebraska Coalition for Patient Safety

The Nebraska Coalition for Patient Safety (NCPS) is a not-for-profit organization designed to collaborate with Nebraska’s hospitals and healthcare organizations to benefit patient safety. NCPS, as do all organizations, have varying types of stakeholders who are engaged at some level in the function of NCPS or the services of NCPS. Research across industries demonstrates the importance of stakeholder assessment and evaluation and it has been shown that collaborative efforts with stakeholders can improve outcomes (Newig et al., 2023). Acquiring input from those who are directly affected by the organization’s strategic planning can help determine and shape future direction. This capstone project provided NCPS with a stakeholder analysis that is intended to offer guidance in its future strategic planning and communication efforts. The completed analysis used aspects of the validated PESTLE method, which organized information and sought input from stakeholders around Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental categories. Stakeholders were applied to a power-interest matrix, and a SWOT analysis of internal perspectives from NCPS relating to the PESTLE categories was completed. A survey was developed and administered to stakeholders on their expectations and directional input for NCPS. A report was developed from the survey analysis to inform NCPS if their efforts satisfy stakeholders’ desires for data management, educational offerings, and organizational priorities. The analysis revealed that NCPS is valued as an investment and seen as an important means of advocacy. However, some stakeholders reported a disinterest in employee engagement with patient safety programs. Active services of NCPS are underutilized and lead to a lack of reporting. The tools provided by this project will help guide NCPS on future goals to address concerns.