How do you use stakeholder mapping in program management?

💡In my experience, stakeholder mapping is a nuanced process requiring precision and strategic thinking. 🔍Identify Stakeholders Create a comprehensive list of program stakeholders, including individuals and groups. 🔄Analyze Interests and Influence Evaluate stakeholder interests and influence, considering expectations and power. 📊Create the Mapping Matrix Plot stakeholders on a grid based on interest and influence levels. 🤝Develop Engagement Strategies Customize communication and engagement plans for each stakeholder group. 📌Stakeholder mapping is vital for strategic program management, fostering alignment and effective communication.

Stakeholder mapping is a balancing act 🥲 Harmony between stakeholder groups need to be BALANCED. Attention needs to be given to those with high INTEREST and INFLUENCE, and support needs to be had in understanding their crucial role. Engaging with those with high interest but lower influence to cultivate support is important but we shouldn’t overlook those with high influence but lower interest, as their backing can be invaluable! Even the passengers, with low interest and influence, can play a part in a successful journey. It's a dynamic dance to keep the program on the path to triumph.

Keep it simple! Just make a list of who you think is involved from different areas of the organisation and outside it and then get in touch asking if they know who else should be involved. Sometimes that will identify people you didn't even know existed. I'd also always recommend communicating as widely as possible as soon as possible - get out and tell the world about what you are doing and why and then people can opt-out if they aren't that involved.

☝🏻💡 The process includes: 1. Identification: Discovering key stakeholders who are affected by or can affect the program. 2. Analysis: Determining stakeholders' influence, importance and their potential impact. 3. Mapping: Visualizing relationships between stakeholders using a 'power-interest' grid. 4. Planning: Developing strategies on how to communicate and engage with each stakeholder. By understanding their interests and influence, you can tailor strategies to manage their expectations, fostering effective communication and reducing risks, thereby contributing to successful program outcomes.

One of the big benefits is in uncovering problems, opportunities, requirements or any other information that no-one else knows. Getting feedback from as wide a group of stakeholders as possible will also make sure that you have considered many different viewpoints before making decisions and plans.

✨ Engaging in stakeholder mapping for program management has multiple benefits. It assists in: 1. Prioritizing Stakeholders: It helps distinguish between high and low priority stakeholders by their influence level hence helps guide communication effort. 2. Managing Risks: Foreseeing potential problems from stakeholders allows pre-emptive action, reducing risks. 3. Resource Allocation: The mapping process identifies where to focus energy and resources effectively. 4. Strategy Development: Understanding different stakeholder perspectives supports better strategic decision-making. 5. Building Relationships: Regular communication can foster positive relationships, encouraging collaboration and buy-in, aiding overall program success.

🙋🏻♂️ To learn more about stakeholder mapping: 1. Literature: There's a wealth of books and research articles available. Start with "Stakeholder Theory: The State of the Art" by R. Edward Freeman. 2. Online Courses: Websites like Coursera and Udemy offer courses which cover stakeholder mapping. 3. Webinars and Workshops: These offer practical insights. Organizations like PMI (Project Management Institute) regularly host these. 4. Blogs and Podcasts: These offer easily digestible, practical information. Websites like PMI.org have resources available. 5. Network: Connect with project managers and professionals on platforms like LinkedIn to share experiences and learn from their practical expertise.