Stakeholder Mapping

Map all stakeholders for your project or initiative by influence, interest, and engagement needs. Produces actionable communication and management strategies for each stakeholder group.

Usage

Describe your project, organization structure, and known stakeholders. The skill produces:

• Stakeholder Register: Complete list with roles, influence, and interest levels
• Power/Interest Grid: 2x2 matrix (Manage Closely, Keep Satisfied, Keep Informed, Monitor)
• Engagement Strategy: Tailored approach for each stakeholder or group
• Communication Plan: Frequency, channel, and content for each segment
• Risk Assessment: Potential blockers and resistance points
• RACI Matrix: Who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed

Examples

1. Software Launch: "Map stakeholders for launching a new CRM system affecting sales (50 people), marketing (20), and customer support (30). Executive sponsor is the CRO."

1. Organizational Change: "Identify stakeholders for restructuring our engineering department from project-based to product-based teams. 80 engineers, 12 managers."

1. Vendor Selection: "Map stakeholders for selecting a new cloud infrastructure provider. Involves IT, finance, security, and each business unit."

1. Product Launch: "Create a stakeholder map for launching our product in Japan. Internal teams plus external partners, distributors, and regulatory contacts."

Guidelines

• Include both obvious and hidden stakeholders (the admin who controls access, the longtime employee everyone respects)
• Map formal authority AND informal influence — they rarely align perfectly
• Identify potential champions and resistors early
• Tailor communication style and frequency to each quadrant of the power/interest grid
• Plan for stakeholder positions to shift as the project progresses
• Document assumptions about stakeholder positions and validate them
• Update the map at each project milestone or when organizational changes occur