methodatlas
Session Builder

Plan my session

Plan a concrete work block with agenda, roles, preparation, and a copyable result artifact.

Method session30-60 minWorkshopPower Interest Grid

Session: Power Interest Grid

The plan translates the method into a concrete facilitated work block. Your inputs flow directly into the session brief and work artifact.

Derived automatically

Method session with 2-8. The plan uses the existing method logic and the runsheet.

Runsheet
Participation logic
Team round, shared work and alignment

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome logic
Finish artifact

The session works directly toward Power Interest Grid. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

  1. 1

    Phase 1: Define Power and Interest

    10 min

    Power: influence on project success (budget, veto, resources). Interest: affectedness or engagement. Give examples from the initiative for each definition. Hint: Power and Interest are not the same as hierarchy. A sponsor can be high or low in Interest. Clarify definitions before plotting.

    FacilitatorPower Interest Grid
  2. 2

    Phase 2: Position stakeholders

    15-25 min

    Place stakeholders individually in quadrants. When there is discussion, note the rationale. Use hidden voting if politically sensitive. Hint: Positions are a snapshot. Nobody sees the grid except workshop participants. Confidentiality is a prerequisite for honesty.

    FacilitatorStrategie pro Stakeholder
  3. 3

    Phase 3: Discuss clusters

    10-15 min

    Check each quadrant: does the distribution fit? Discuss outliers. Nobody should sit alone in a quadrant without rationale. Hint: The Manage Closely quadrant should not be overcrowded (max 5-7). Too many there paralyze the project. If it is full, check the Power definition.

    FacilitatorPower Interest Grid
  4. 4

    Phase 4: Strategy per quadrant

    10-15 min

    Derive communication strategy per quadrant: Manage Closely (1:1 meetings, early involvement), Keep Satisfied (status reports, ad-hoc briefings), Keep Informed (email updates, newsletter), Monitor (public updates). Hint: Strategy without concrete action is empty wording. Define at least one concrete cadence per quadrant, for example weekly status email or bi-weekly 1:1.

    OwnerStrategie pro Stakeholder
  5. 5

    Publish artifact

    10 min

    Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients.

    OwnerPower Interest Grid
Usable artifact

Session Brief

For invitations, boards, tickets, PR descriptions, or workshop notes.

session-brief.md

Session Brief: Power Interest Grid

Goal

Artifact: Power Interest Grid

Working Question

Which stakeholders need which communication and relationship strategy, based on their power and interest in the initiative?

Context

Stakeholder list with roles and mandates; known history (past conflicts, alliances); current distribution lists; project charter with stakeholder reference.

Setup

  • Format: Method session
  • Duration: 30-60 min
  • Mode: Workshop
  • Participants: One facilitator who keeps definitions present and protects confidentiality; project lead or sponsor; 2-6 additional participants with stakeholder context; scribe for strategy notes.
  • Owner: One facilitator who keeps definitions present and protects confidentiality
  • Participation mode: Team round, shared work and alignment
  • Outcome logic: Finish artifact

Participation Logic

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome Logic

The session works directly toward Power Interest Grid. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

Input

Whiteboard or Miro board with 2x2 matrix (X: Interest, Y: Power); stakeholder cards with name and role; definition banner for Power and Interest; pens; confidential storage for the artifact.

Preparation

Set up matrix with 4 quadrants: Manage Closely (high P, high I), Keep Satisfied (high P, low I), Keep Informed (low P, high I), Monitor (low P, low I). Keep definitions visible. Mark artifact confidential.

Agenda

  1. Phase 1: Define Power and Interest (10 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Power: influence on project success (budget, veto, resources). Interest: affectedness or engagement. Give examples from the initiative for each definition. Hint: Power and Interest are not the same as hierarchy. A sponsor can be high or low in Interest. Clarify definitions before plotting. Output: Power Interest Grid

  2. Phase 2: Position stakeholders (15-25 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Place stakeholders individually in quadrants. When there is discussion, note the rationale. Use hidden voting if politically sensitive. Hint: Positions are a snapshot. Nobody sees the grid except workshop participants. Confidentiality is a prerequisite for honesty. Output: Strategie pro Stakeholder

  3. Phase 3: Discuss clusters (10-15 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Check each quadrant: does the distribution fit? Discuss outliers. Nobody should sit alone in a quadrant without rationale. Hint: The Manage Closely quadrant should not be overcrowded (max 5-7). Too many there paralyze the project. If it is full, check the Power definition. Output: Power Interest Grid

  4. Phase 4: Strategy per quadrant (10-15 min) Owner: Owner Action: Derive communication strategy per quadrant: Manage Closely (1:1 meetings, early involvement), Keep Satisfied (status reports, ad-hoc briefings), Keep Informed (email updates, newsletter), Monitor (public updates). Hint: Strategy without concrete action is empty wording. Define at least one concrete cadence per quadrant, for example weekly status email or bi-weekly 1:1. Output: Strategie pro Stakeholder

  5. Publish artifact (10 min) Owner: Owner Action: Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients. Output: Power Interest Grid

Closeout

  • Update result artifact: Power Interest Grid
  • Define location, version, and review recipients.
  • Define owner, next step, and review date.
Usable artifact

Work artifact

Pre-filled starting point based on the matching template.

work-artifact.md

Power Interest Grid: Power Interest Grid

Working Question

Which stakeholders need which communication and relationship strategy, based on their power and interest in the initiative?

Context

Stakeholder list with roles and mandates; known history (past conflicts, alliances); current distribution lists; project charter with stakeholder reference.

Participants

  • Owner: One facilitator who keeps definitions present and protects confidentiality
  • Participants: One facilitator who keeps definitions present and protects confidentiality; project lead or sponsor; 2-6 additional participants with stakeholder context; scribe for strategy notes.

Input

Whiteboard or Miro board with 2x2 matrix (X: Interest, Y: Power); stakeholder cards with name and role; definition banner for Power and Interest; pens; confidential storage for the artifact.

Template

Power Interest Grid Working Template

Goal

Sorts stakeholders into four quadrants by influence and interest.

Context

When and for what do we use this method?

Input

Which data, observations, decisions, or materials are available?

Execution

Short notes along the runsheet.

Output artifacts

  • Power Interest Grid:
  • Stakeholder strategy:

Assumptions and open questions

  • ...

Decision / next step

Owner, date, and success signal.

Completion Check

  • Power Interest Grid is complete enough for review:
  • Location:
  • Version / status:
  • Review by:
  • Next step:

Next Step

  • Review result
  • Mark open questions
  • Schedule review or decision
Template base

Power Interest Grid Working Template

View templateCompact working template for Power Interest Grid with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.
markdown

power-interest-grid-working-template.md

Compact working template for Power Interest Grid with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.

Power Interest Grid Working Template

Goal

Sorts stakeholders into four quadrants by influence and interest.

Context

When and for what do we use this method?

Input

Which data, observations, decisions, or materials are available?

Execution

Short notes along the runsheet.

Output artifacts

  • Power Interest Grid:
  • Stakeholder strategy:

Assumptions and open questions

  • ...

Decision / next step

Owner, date, and success signal.

Ready to use when
  • Working question, owner, and target artifact are visible.
  • The result fits Power Interest Grid.
  • Recreate quarterly or when mandates change. Archive previous version with date and rationale for change. Confidential. Update immediately after personnel changes.
  • Open questions are noted as follow-ups.
  • The next review or decision point is scheduled.
ProfileRunsheet