Companies face unique challenges building their own engagement programs. First, they deal with numerous investors and constituents with diverse investment styles, policy priorities, and engagement approaches. As such, companies struggle with prioritizing engagement efforts and identifying which views best represent their shareholder base.
Second, perspectives may vary within a corporation, which requires additional effort to reach agreement on policy and coordinate the messaging of management, investor relations professionals and the board.
Last but not least, effective engagement entails a significant time commitment for company participants. Therefore, companies need to find ways to make the process as efficient and productive as possible.