Stakeholder mapping

What is stakeholder mapping?

Stakeholder mapping is a visual representation or process that identifies and analyses individuals, groups, or organisations with a vested interest in a project, product, or idea. It helps understand their influence, needs, and potential impact, enabling effective communication and engagement strategies. By mapping stakeholders, project teams can prioritize resources and tailor their approach to meet stakeholder expectations. 

Why is stakeholder mapping useful and important?

Using a stakeholder map helps identify how to engage with stakeholders and how each stakeholder should be involved and kept updated. This will help to ensure that project objectives are met and that your stakeholders are open to, and positive about, the project.

When to map stakeholders

Once the objectives of the project have been set you should start your stakeholder mapping.

Who are your stakeholders?

Think about who is affected by the work of your project, and who has a vested interest in it succeeding. The two main groups of stakeholders are internal stakeholders and external stakeholders.

Internal Stakeholders: Individuals or groups within your organisation.
External Stakeholders: Individuals or groups outside the organisation. This may include people who draw on care and support, carers and partner organisations.

How do I ‘map’ the stakeholders?

Once the objectives of the project have been set you should start your stakeholder mapping.

Using a grid such as this, place your stakeholders according to their level of influence and level of interest.

Prioritise your stakeholder engagement

According to the position of a stakeholder on the grid, you should communicate with them as follows:

High power, highly interested people: Fully engage these people, and make the greatest efforts to ensure they are happy with how you are involving them.
High power, less interested people: Keep these stakeholders satisfied, but communication should be managed so that they are not getting unnecessary information about the project.
Low power, highly interested people: Adequately inform these people, and talk to them to ensure that no major issues arise. People in this category can often be very helpful with the details of your project in a supportive role.
Low power, less interested people: Keep in contact with these people, but don’t bore them with excessive communication.