Suitable for
- ✓identifying internal and external stakeholders
- ✓analyzing the relationships between different stakeholders
- ✓understanding the needs and problems of stakeholders involved
A visual representation of different groups and their relationships relevant to a design challenge, helping to identify key stakeholders and understand their needs and problems.
Stakeholder Mapping is a strategic tool that identifies and analyzes the various stakeholders involved in a project, initiative, or organization. By categorizing stakeholders based on their influence, interest, and impact, it helps in understanding relationships, priorities, and potential risks. Stakeholder Mapping is valuable in project management, business strategy, and community engagement, where aligning with stakeholders, managing expectations, and fostering collaboration are key to successful outcomes.
A comprehensive list of all identified stakeholders, including their names, roles, and departments or organizations they are associated with.
A detailed description of each stakeholder, including their goals, needs, pain points, and any potential influence on the project or product.
A visual representation of stakeholders and their relationships with each other, often in the form of a network diagram, that helps to identify key stakeholders and potential allies or opponents.
A framework used to prioritize stakeholders based on their power, interest, and influence in the project or product, which helps the team focus on the most important stakeholders.
A documented plan that outlines the approach, methods, and frequency of communication with stakeholders, as well as how their input will be incorporated into the project or product.
A clear strategy for communicating with stakeholders, taking into account their preferred channels, formats, and language, in order to keep them informed and maintain their trust and support throughout the project.
A compiled summary of feedback, insights, and concerns gathered from stakeholders during various phases of the project or product that can be used to inform design decisions and address potential issues.
An analysis of stakeholder needs and requirements derived from their input, highlighting any potential conflicts or gaps that need to be addressed in the project or product.
Identify stakeholders
Begin by brainstorming and listing down all individuals, groups, or organizations that are directly or indirectly impacted by, or have a direct or indirect stake in the product or service you are analyzing. This can include users, customers, employees, partners, investors, competitors, regulators, and more.
Categorize stakeholders
Once all the stakeholders have been identified, categorize them into different groups based on their common attributes or interests. This can be based on their involvement, level of influence, vested interest or internal hierarchy. Examples of categories can be primary and secondary stakeholders, or internal and external stakeholders.
Analyze stakeholders' interests and needs
For each stakeholder group, identify their interests, needs, expectations, and potential concerns related to the project. This will help in understanding the key factors to consider while addressing each stakeholder group.
Prioritize stakeholders
Now that you have an understanding of the different stakeholder categories and their needs, assign priority levels to each group based on their influence and importance to the project's success. A common method to do this is by placing stakeholders on a power/interest matrix, which maps their influence against their interest in the project.
Determine engagement strategies
Develop appropriate engagement and communication strategies for each stakeholder group, tailored to their needs and priorities. This can include regular updates, meetings, workshops, or involving them in the decision-making process. Make sure to address the concerns of high priority stakeholders effectively to ensure their support.
Create a stakeholder map
Visually represent the categorized and prioritized stakeholders within a stakeholder map, which can be a diagram, chart or matrix. This will serve as a helpful reference for the team to understand the relationship between stakeholders and their strategic importance to the project.
Regularly review and update
Stakeholder mapping is an ongoing process that should be regularly reviewed and updated throughout the project lifecycle. Ensure that any changes in stakeholder interests, influence or new stakeholders are accounted for, and update the map and engagement strategies accordingly.
60 minutes or more
flipchart, post-it, or graphic SW
1 researcher or more
Donate to UX Methods today. As the largest UX method database on the web, your contributions will help maintain our platform and drive exciting new features. Keep the resource free, up-to-date, and comprehensive for everyone. Make a difference in the UX community!