Expectationeering: making hidden stakeholder expectations visible - so change does not just work, but feels right.
Upcoming · End of July 2026The Session
Most change initiatives don't fail because people resist change - they fail because people resist disappointment. When expectations are vague, unspoken, or misaligned, even the best-designed transformations erode trust and momentum.
Expectationeering is a structured yet human-centered approach to uncover, align, and manage stakeholder expectations throughout change and innovation. It helps leaders translate what people hope for into what the organisation can actually deliver - turning potential resistance into shared ownership.
At ACMP Global Connect 2026, Eric Nikkelen - founder of ReqVision and creator of Expectationeering - runs this as a highly interactive 3-hour workshop. Participants map real stakeholder expectations, translate them into actionable requirements, and explore how expectation gaps affect change adoption. A virtual keynote version distils the same insights into a story-driven session on why expectations matter and how to engineer them. Eric recently brought this work to the GSAS 2025 stage in Barcelona in front of 450 attendees.
It is built for the people who turn strategy into execution: change managers, transformation leaders, organisational development consultants, innovation facilitators, and programme managers - plus the business analysts, product owners, and system designers who connect human expectations to technical and process requirements.
What You Will Take Away
Participants leave with practical templates - not theory - to build alignment before implementation, so change delivers not only results, but satisfaction.
Expectationeering Workbook
A simple yet powerful tool to uncover and align explicit and implicit stakeholder expectations at the start of any change initiative.
Expectation Traceability
A method to connect expectations to measurable outcomes, so project decisions and communication stay aligned with stakeholder intent.
Value Proposition Table
A structured technique to link stakeholder expectations to the value they seek - clarifying "what's in it for whom" and strengthening engagement.
Come to the workshop, or reach out beforehand to set up a conversation about expectations and change in your organisation.