How do you categorize stakeholders visually?

1 Benefits of visual categorization

Visualizing stakeholders can help you gain a clearer and more comprehensive picture of who they are, how they relate to each other, and what their level of influence and interest is in your project or change. By using visual tools, you can also communicate more effectively with your stakeholders, as well as with your project team, sponsors, and managers. Visual categorization can help you prioritize your stakeholder engagement activities, tailor your messages and strategies, and monitor and manage any changes or issues that may arise.

2 Challenges of visual categorization

However, visualizing stakeholders is not without its challenges. You may face difficulties or limitations when attempting to categorize stakeholders visually, such as deciding which criteria and dimensions are most relevant and appropriate for the project or change context, and how to measure them fairly and consistently. Additionally, collecting and analyzing data is necessary, including stakeholder profiles, surveys, interviews, observations, etc. It's important to make sure the data is accurate, reliable, and up-to-date. Moreover, stakeholder analysis is an ongoing process that requires regular review and revision. It's essential to keep track of any changes or developments that may affect your stakeholders, then update and revise your visualizations accordingly while communicating the changes to the relevant parties.

3 Stakeholder mapping

Stakeholder mapping is a technique that involves creating a visual representation of the relationships and interactions among stakeholders in a project or change. This method can help you identify the key stakeholders, their roles, responsibilities, interdependencies and conflicts, as well as their potential impact on the project or change outcomes. To create a stakeholder map, you should first identify the main categories of stakeholders such as internal, external, primary and secondary. Then list the specific stakeholders within each category and assign them a symbol or color. After that, draw a diagram that shows the connections and influences among the stakeholders using lines, arrows or other symbols. Finally, add any additional information or notes that may be useful such as the direction and strength of the influence, communication frequency and level of agreement or disagreement.

4 Stakeholder onion diagram

Stakeholder onion diagram is a technique that involves creating a visual representation of the proximity and involvement of stakeholders in a project or change. It can help you identify the core, direct, and indirect stakeholders, as well as their level of interest and influence. To create a stakeholder onion diagram, draw a circle and label it as the project or change. Then, draw concentric circles around the project or change circle, and label them as core, direct, and indirect stakeholders. Place the stakeholders in the appropriate circle based on their proximity and involvement in the project or change – the closer they are to the center, the more involved they are. Additionally, you can add any additional information or notes that may be useful such as the degree of support or resistance, expectations and needs, etc.

5 Stakeholder salience model

The stakeholder salience model is a technique for creating a visual representation of the importance and urgency of stakeholders in a project or change. It can help you identify the dormant, discretionary, demanding, dominant, dangerous, dependent, and definitive stakeholders, and their level of power, legitimacy, and urgency in relation to your project or change. To create a stakeholder salience model, you should draw a Venn diagram with three overlapping circles labeled as power, legitimacy, and urgency. Place the stakeholders in the appropriate segment of the diagram depending on their attributes. Additionally, you can add any additional information or notes that may be useful such as the type and source of power, legitimacy, and urgency, potential risks and opportunities, strategies and actions, etc.

6 Stakeholder power-interest grid

Stakeholder power-interest grid is a technique that involves creating a visual representation of the influence and interest of stakeholders in a project or change. This technique can help you identify the key players, the subjects, the context setters, and the crowd, and their level of power and interest in relation to your project or change. To create a stakeholder power-interest grid, draw a grid with four quadrants, and label the horizontal axis as interest and the vertical axis as power. Then, place the stakeholders in the appropriate quadrant of the grid depending on their level of power and interest. Additionally, add any additional information or notes that may be useful, such as the sources and indicators of power and interest, stakeholder expectations and objectives, engagement and communication methods, etc.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?