Stakeholder mapping is all about organizing all the people with a vested interest in your product, project, or idea into a single visual space. This way, you can easily see who can influence your project and how each person is related to the others.
It is typical to do stakeholder mapping at the beginning of a project. It is beneficial to do it early because it prevent miscommunication, ensures that all groups are aligned on objectives, and sets expectations about outcomes and results.
Why is stakeholder mapping so important?
If you want your new project to be successful, start by asking these questions: Who should you involve? Who should you keep updated? Who is likely to have questions or objections?
Stakeholder mapping is a useful tool from the beginning of a project, so that you can keep track of stakeholders and communicate with them effectively to move the project forward.
Benefits you can get from using the stakeholder mapping template:
Clear definition of the product
When you involve stakeholders in your project from the start, they can provide insights and advice that will help you shape your project for success.
Common understanding from the very beginning
It is important that you understand your stakeholders and develop a good relationship with them. If they trust you and understand the benefits of your project, they will be more likely to support you in the future.
Secure resources
A stakeholder map can help you more quickly identify individuals who either hold the purse strings or have the necessary influence to get you the resources you need.
Stakeholder Map examples
A Stakeholder Map can help you understand the key players who influence your project. You might involve different people in different projects, for example:
Product launch (software)
As part of the software product development process, you may involve several stakeholders such as:
- Product manager
- Developers
- Marketers
- Executive sponsor
- Designers
Different teams inside your organization have different dependencies with one another, and you will need to communicate with them at different stages of your product launch. For example, you will need buy-in from an executive sponsor early, but this person does not need to know all the details involved in product development like a product manager would.
Identifying and understanding the needs of your key stakeholders is critical to the success of any project. By taking the time to map out their interests, you can ensure that everyone is aligned and that processes are accelerated. This, in turn, leads to quicker project progress.
Public sector project
You could have a broad range of stakeholders to work with if you're working in the public sector, including internal and external players.
- Business groups
- Elected representatives
- Local councils
- Courts
- Trade unions
- The media
When working on a project, it is important to know how to prioritize internal and external stakeholders. Delivering a clear message is crucial in order to get buy-in from stakeholders at an early stage.
