How do you map stakeholder expectations and influence?

1 Step 1: Identify your stakeholders

The first step is to identify who your stakeholders are and what their roles and responsibilities are in relation to your project. You can use various sources of information, such as project documents, organizational charts, contracts, and previous projects, to create a list of stakeholders. You can also ask your team members, sponsors, and other key stakeholders for their input. You should include both internal and external stakeholders, as well as positive and negative ones.

2 Step 2: Analyze your stakeholders

The second step is to analyze your stakeholders' expectations and influence. Expectations are what stakeholders want or need from your project, such as quality, scope, cost, time, benefits, and satisfaction. Influence is the degree of power or authority that stakeholders have over your project, such as decision-making, funding, approval, or support. You can use various methods to collect and analyze stakeholder data, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, observation, and feedback. You should also consider the stakeholder's level of interest, involvement, and attitude towards your project.

3 Step 3: Map your stakeholders

The third step is to map your stakeholders' expectations and influence visually. This can help you prioritize and categorize your stakeholders based on their importance and impact on your project. You can use different tools to map your stakeholders, such as the stakeholder matrix and the stakeholder onion diagram. The stakeholder matrix is a grid that plots stakeholders along two axes: one for influence and one for expectations. The stakeholder onion diagram is a circle that shows stakeholders in layers according to their proximity and relationship to your project.

4 Step 4: Manage your stakeholders

The fourth step is to manage your stakeholder expectations and influence throughout your project. This involves developing and implementing a stakeholder management plan that defines how you will communicate, engage, and negotiate with your stakeholders. You should also monitor and control your stakeholder relationships and adjust your plan as needed. You should aim to meet or exceed your stakeholder expectations and leverage or mitigate your stakeholder influence. You should also seek feedback and input from your stakeholders regularly and address any issues or concerns promptly.

5 Benefits of mapping stakeholder expectations and influence

Mapping stakeholder expectations and influence can bring many benefits to your project management, such as helping you align project objectives with stakeholder needs, identify and manage potential risks, build trust and rapport with stakeholders, avoid or resolve conflicts, and enhance project performance. It can also increase stakeholder satisfaction and support, foster collaboration and cooperation, and ultimately help you achieve your project goals.