Stakeholder identification entails conducting a comprehensive stakeholder analysis (rarely, it’s called Stakeholder identification method or Stakeholder identification technique). A group of people responsible for stakeholder identification creates a stakeholder table where stakeholder groups, project goals and ways to achieve these goals are included. Being a tool to conduct a complete stakeholder analysis within the stakeholder identification process, the stakeholder table allows answering the following questions:
- Who are the stakeholders?
- What are the interests and involvement of the stakeholders linked to current project?
- How can each stakeholder group impact on the project?
- What potential contribution can each stakeholder group deliver to the project?
- What are the willingness and capacity of each stakeholder group to participate in the project?
The stakeholder table lets organize all project stakeholders into groups, and each of the stakeholder groups has a detailed description of goals to be set before current stakeholder group. The stakeholder table is also used to comprehend the differences between stakeholders who affect a situation or the course of current project (active stakeholders) and stakeholders who may be affected by it (passive stakeholders).
Stakeholder mapping
Stakeholder mapping is a pragmatic system within the stakeholder management theory that helps project participants to get a big-picture view of the stakeholder groups and focus on specific elements of the complex network of stakeholders. The stakeholder mapping system should be based on the principles of accountability and transparency to create an environment which depends on the stakes each of the stakeholders holds and on how each stakeholder is related to other stakeholders.
As an independent process, stakeholder mapping allows defining stakeholders of a project and areas of interest and engagement. The stakeholder mapping process is aimed at ensuring all stakeholders are committed and advised throughout the change management process. The process helps keep stakeholders motivated and concerned. It also delivers wide buy-in and engagement and ensures all decisions are made in coordination with all parties involved. The stakeholder mapping process results in development of a stakeholder map.