Before the project begins, stakeholders are identified and prioritized through stakeholder analysis. It divides stakeholders into groups based on how much they participate in the project, their level of interest, and their level of power. After you've identified and organized these people, you'll need to figure out the best way to involve each stakeholder in the project, including the best communication channels based on their preferences.
How to do Stakeholder Mapping?
Stakeholder mapping is a technique used in stakeholder analysis. Before you begin, you must first decide on the project's focus. In terms of stakeholders, this will determine who is the most important. After you've figured that out, you can move on to the next step.
List the Stakeholders
As previously stated, stakeholders come in a variety of shapes and sizes. While it is critical to narrow the focus, this is something that will be addressed later. At this point, you should make a list of everyone who is a stakeholder, regardless of their level of importance to the project. Keep in mind that your stakeholders can be divided into two groups: those who are affected by the project and those who contribute to it.
Analyse Stakeholders
What are the responsibilities and expectations of each of the above-mentioned stakeholders? Some stakeholders will be more important to the project than others, and their expectations will have a greater impact. This is where you'll make your decisions.
An influence-interest matrix, which is a box divided into four sections, can be used to determine this. Based on their level of interest and influence, you should place your stakeholders in one of the four boxes. The box is also divided into two sections in the lower half: minimal contact and keep satisfied. Anyone who is placed to the right of the box has more power, while those who are placed near the top have more interest. If a stakeholder is in the top right corner, it means they have a lot of interest and power, making them key players in the project.
Prioritize Stakeholders
Once you've compiled a comprehensive list, you can start prioritizing them based on their importance to the project. Determine who has the most influence over and is affected by the project. You can use the influence-interest matrix to prioritize stakeholders once more.
Remember that the status of your stakeholders is not fixed; it can change over the course of the project. Stakeholder analysis is a continuous process that should be carried out throughout the project.
Engage Stakeholders
Finally, you determine how to engage your stakeholders using the information gathered in your stakeholder map. This is the procedure for winning over stakeholders, gaining their understanding and support in order to help fuel the project and steer it in the right direction. As a result, you'll have a communication plan that specifies the channel and frequency with which you'll communicate with each stakeholder.
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