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Stakeholder Analysis Summary Table
Quick Summary
Your project team has to balance the interest of many different project stakeholders. Some of these stakeholders may have competing goals and interests, and many may have limited resources. This stakeholder analysis can help the team schedule appropriate attention to each, and decide how best to mitigate conflicting stakeholder interests when they do happen.
What this is
A stakeholder analysis documents important details about different project stakeholders and summarizes the needs of each. This format condenses the critical elements of the analysis into a table format that highlights each stakeholder's success criteria for the project, as well as their impact on the work, strategies for keeping them up-to-date at the appropriate level, relative priorities, and notes. Guidelines and an extensive list of questions challenge the project manager to consider every angle.
Why it's useful
A stakeholder is any group or individual who is related to the project, either because they impact it or because they are impacted by it. They represent all parts of the project, from kick-off to delivery and end use. In some cases, a project's stakeholders may have competing interests or limited resources. This means that the project team members must balance the various stakeholders' needs.
The stakeholder analysis document can be used to facilitate the decision-making process. This information also helps verify that all project stakeholders are receiving the appropriate attention needed to ensure that the project moves forward smoothly.
How to use it
- Identify the project's stakeholders. Start by listing each group who will be impacted by the project, either directly or indirectly. Then, determine who might best act as a spokesperson for that group. The project sponsor should be able to assist in the identification of all of the project stakeholders.
- Set aside some time to speak with each stakeholder. Try to gain a better understanding of each stakeholder's role in the project, their goals for the project, and any special concerns they have. The final section of this document includes some discussion points that may be applicable to your project.
- Complete the stakeholder summary section using the information from these discussions. You may adapt or delete information from this section as applicable to your needs. If you'd like to include additional information beyond what will fit on one page, you may prefer to use a spreadsheet format.
- You may want to allow stakeholders to define their own success criteria, priority, and suggestions in some cases. This can help them feel confident in their role in the project (if there was any potential question about it) and in how the project team will engage them.
Sinikka L. Waugh, PMP, is the founder and head coach of the project management coaching firm Your Clear Next Step, L.L.C. Sinikka is an actively practicing project management consultant, known for consistently helping teams find innovative ways to leverage effective project strategies across multiple disciplines and technologies. With over 10 years in project roles (primarily program manager, project manager, and business analyst) Sinikka has successfully applied project and leadership expertise to improve project performance in a wide variety of industries, including publishing, education, product fulfillment and distribution, insurance, event and travel management, human resources, and financial services. As a coach, Sinikkas down-to-earth, "try-this-now" approach blends with her passion for helping others improve. Her energetic and engaging style helps make both the art and science of project management accessible to those she works with.
Sinikka holds a BA from Central College, an MA from the University of Iowa, and is a certified Project Management Professional through the Project Management Institute.
Project Influencer Communication Plan
Another approach to identifying the stakeholders who could influence your project and deciding how and when to communicate with them.
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