What is stakeholder analysis?
Changes fail more often because of people than because of technology. A stakeholder analysis makes the people side visible: who has influence, who cares, who supports the change and who resists it. With that picture, a project can spend its limited communication and engagement effort where it changes the outcome.
The power/interest grid
| Low interest | High interest | |
|---|---|---|
| High power | Keep satisfied: meet their needs, avoid surprises | Manage closely: engage fully, involve in decisions |
| Low power | Monitor: minimum effort, watch for changes | Keep informed: communicate regularly, use their interest |
Stakeholder analysis example
An eQMS implementation project maps ten stakeholders. The site director, the head of QA and the production manager need to be managed closely. The production manager is a critic, worried about downtime at go-live, and has a lot of power, so the project plans go-live around a shutdown and involves him in the cut-over plan. Shift leads and operators have little power but high interest and are also critical; a super-user network and hands-on demos on each shift aim to turn them into supporters. The finance controller and the notified body are kept satisfied with short, regular updates.
Tips
- Brainstorm widely first, then group; forgotten stakeholders cause the worst surprises.
- Ask "what is in it for them?" and record their needs and concerns.
- Revisit the map at each project phase: power and attitudes change.
- Weigh the support and resistance with a force field analysis, and agree roles with a RACI matrix.
How to use this Stakeholder Analysis tool
- Name the change. Name the project or change you are analysing stakeholders for.
- List stakeholders. Click + to add each person or group affected by or able to affect the change.
- Place them on the grid. Drag each stakeholder to their power and interest, or set the values in their editor.
- Record attitudes. Set each stakeholder's current attitude and the attitude the project needs.
- Plan engagement. Write an engagement plan and owner for each stakeholder, starting with those to manage closely.
- Export. Export the grid and the engagement plan to PDF, PNG or Excel.
Frequently asked questions
What is a stakeholder analysis?
A stakeholder analysis identifies the people and groups affected by or able to affect a project or change, assesses their power, interest and attitude, and plans how to engage each of them. It helps a project win support and avoid surprises from people who were overlooked.
What is a power/interest grid?
Also called the Mendelow matrix, it places stakeholders by their power (ability to influence the outcome) and interest (how much they care). High power and high interest: manage closely. High power, low interest: keep satisfied. Low power, high interest: keep informed. Low power, low interest: monitor.
Why track attitude as well?
Two stakeholders in the same quadrant need very different handling if one is a champion and the other a blocker. Recording the current attitude and the attitude the project needs shows where to focus engagement effort.
Who counts as a stakeholder?
Anyone who can affect the change or is affected by it: sponsors, managers, end users, support functions, works councils, customers, suppliers, regulators and auditors. Groups (for example "operators on night shift") can be one stakeholder if they share interests.
How does stakeholder analysis relate to ISO 9001?
ISO 9001:2015 clause 4.2 requires an organisation to determine the interested parties relevant to its quality management system and their requirements. A stakeholder analysis is a practical way to do this at organisation level as well as for projects.
Should the analysis be shared?
The engagement plan usually is; candid notes on individuals' attitudes are often kept within the project team. Treat it like any other personal information.