Templates & Examples / Project Templates
Stakeholder Mapping: Power / Interest Grid
Map stakeholders based on their degree of power over the project's execution against their level of interest in its final outcomes.
2 min read
2 Sections
Resource Template
§1 Understanding the Grid
The Power / Interest Grid allows project managers to plot stakeholders across two axes: their ability to influence or halt the project (Power), and their degree of engagement or concern regarding the outcomes (Interest). The resulting quadrant dictates the optimal communication strategy.
| Quadrant | Characteristics | Engagement Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Manage Closely | High Power, High Interest | Actively engage, frequent and detailed communication. Act on their needs directly. |
| Keep Satisfied | High Power, Low Interest | Meet their needs, but do not overload with granular detail. Ensure they remain supportive. |
| Keep Informed | Low Power, High Interest | Share progress and proactively listen to feedback. They can become vocal advocates or critics. |
| Monitor | Low Power, Low Interest | Minimal direct communication required. Watch carefully for contextual changes that may shift their quadrant. |
§2 Worked Example: Website Project
This example demonstrates how a project manager orchestrates stakeholder management for "Mary's Consulting - New Company Website", charting individuals from the executive sponsor to third-party vendors.
Power →
Keep Satisfied
High Power, Low Interest
IT / Hosting Ops
Legal / Compliance
Manage Closely
High Power, High Interest
Mary (Sponsor)
Andrew (PM)
Marketing Lead
Monitor
Low Power, Low Interest
F500 Prospects
Consultants (500+)
Hosting Vendor
Keep Informed
Low Power, High Interest
Sales Lead
Bob (Dev)
Bill (UX)
Christine (Content)
Interest →
Strategic Insight: While external users (F500 Prospects) are the ultimate beneficiaries of the website, their direct power over the project's execution is low, placing them in the Monitor quadrant during the build phase.
Contents ↑