Complete firstConcrete frame
Situation, purpose, and sources are named.
Without a frame, the artifact is arbitrary.
Method guideFacilitation
Stakeholder Mapping
A practical method guide: clarify prerequisites and materials, understand the complete process, and look up outputs, pitfalls, and stop criteria.
ComplexityLow
Time60–90 min
Participants2-8
FormatWorkshop + async
MaturityCanonical
01
Prerequisite
What needs to be finished first
02
Preparation
What needs to be ready before start
Materials
Influence-interest matrix, actor list, sources or notes, assumption labels, and engagement plan.
People / roles
Facilitation, project or product ownership, affected subject roles, and representatives where needed.
Pre-read
Prepare the concrete change or decision, timeframe, initial actor list, known relationships, and sources or conversation notes.
Time needed
60–90 minutes for the map and engagement plan; schedule conversations and reviews after.
Setup
Influence and interest apply only to the agreed context and period. Mark direct statements, observed relationships, and working assumptions differently.
03
Core question
The one question this method answers
Which actor groups are affected or influential here, what assumptions apply, and how will they participate?
04
Flow
Phases with goal, actions, output and pitfall
Stakeholder Mapping identifies actor groups for a concrete decision or change. Influence and interest are treated as situational working assumptions that shape participation, review, and information paths.
Stakeholder map
Fictional teaching example
Actor groups with situational assumptions about influence, interest, and engagement.
| Work row | Actor group | Interest in this situation | Influence on decision or implementation | Engagement and review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actor groupWhich group is affected, influential, or knowledge-relevant? | Households with reservations | high, assumption | medium, assumption | Interview and review |
| Check assumptionWhich classification needs a conversation or review? | Volunteer tool desk | High: assumption due to added inspection work | High: assumption due to responsibility for handover | Review the workflow together; confirm assessment in conversation |
1. Actor group
- Actor group
- Households with reservations
- Check assumption
- Volunteer tool desk
2. Interest in this situation
- Actor group
- high, assumption
- Check assumption
- High: assumption due to added inspection work
3. Influence on decision or implementation
- Actor group
- medium, assumption
- Check assumption
- High: assumption due to responsibility for handover
4. Engagement and review
- Actor group
- Interview and review
- Check assumption
- Review the workflow together; confirm assessment in conversation
Keep classifications traceable and revisable.
- 1
Frame change
Frame change
Goal
The map refers to one concrete situation.
Inputs for this step
- Change, decision, and timeframe
Actions
- State the decision and period before listing actor groups.
Output
Change · decision · timeframe
Evidence, context, and source
Quality check
Is the map bounded to one decision?
Pitfall
The map becomes a permanent ranking of people. Limit the assessment to this decision and period.
Timing: 10–15 minutes
- 2
Identify groups
Identify groups
Goal
Direct and indirect perspectives are visible.
Inputs for this step
- Initial actor list and influence routes
Actions
- Add affected, influential, and knowledge-bearing groups.
Output
Actor group · impact · role · source
Evidence, context, and source
Quality check
Are direct and indirect actors represented?
Pitfall
Directly affected groups are missing. Add affected, influential, and knowledge-bearing groups.
Timing: 15–25 minutes
- 3
Map assumptions
Map assumptions
Goal
Classifications support a reviewable engagement plan.
Inputs for this step
- Actor list and situational evidence
Actions
- Record the context and uncertainty for every placement.
Output
Group · interest · influence · assumption or source
Evidence, context, and source
Quality check
Can each placement be challenged or updated?
Pitfall
Influence or interest is stated as a fixed trait. Record context, source, and uncertainty for each placement.
Timing: 20–30 minutes
- 4
Plan engagement
Plan engagement
Goal
The map leads to proportionate engagement.
Inputs for this step
- Stakeholder map and engagement options
Actions
- Assign engagement forms, owners, and review dates.
Output
Group · engagement · owner · review
Evidence, context, and source
Quality check
Does the map produce a concrete engagement action?
Pitfall
The map ends without participation or review. Assign engagement, ownership, and a review point.
Timing: 15–20 minutes
05
Artifact
What comes out at the end
Sketch: what the artifact looks like
Form
Stakeholder map with actor groups, situational influence and interest assumptions, and an engagement and review plan.
Versioning / ownership
Record context, period, source, and date for each placement. Changes in relationships or influence create a new review state.
Tool alternatives
- Influence-interest matrix and actor cards
- Relationship notes or digital whiteboard
- Engagement plan with owner and review date
stakeholder-mapping-working-template.md
Prepare one concrete change, relevant actor groups, and reviewable engagement assumptions.
Stakeholder Mapping: Worksheet
Question
To be confirmed
Desired outcome
To be confirmed
Scope
Create the map and engagement plan Time: 60–90 minutes
Complete this worksheet on paper or in your own document during the work.
Preparation for this scope
Method setup
- Materials: Influence-interest matrix, actor list, sources or notes, assumption labels, and engagement plan.
- Roles: Facilitation, project or product ownership, affected subject roles, and representatives where needed.
- Advance information: Prepare the concrete change or decision, timeframe, initial actor list, known relationships, and sources or conversation notes.
- Overall time needed: 60–90 minutes for the map and engagement plan; schedule conversations and reviews after.
- Setup: Influence and interest apply only to the agreed context and period. Mark direct statements, observed relationships, and working assumptions differently.
Prepare for the work steps
Frame change: Frame change
- Change, decision, and timeframe
Identify groups: Identify groups
- Initial actor list and influence routes
Map assumptions: Map assumptions
- Actor list and situational evidence
Plan engagement: Plan engagement
- Stakeholder map and engagement options
Stakeholder map
| Work row | Actor group | Interest in this situation | Influence on decision or implementation | Engagement and review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actor group | ||||
| Check assumption |
- Actor group: Which group is affected, influential, or knowledge-relevant?
- Check assumption: Which classification needs a conversation or review?
Blank worksheet: enter your own material.
Frame change: Frame change
Expected artifact: Change · decision · timeframe
Evidence, context, and source
Entry:
...
- Is the map bounded to one decision?
Identify groups: Identify groups
Expected artifact: Actor group · impact · role · source
Evidence, context, and source
Entry:
...
- Are direct and indirect actors represented?
Map assumptions: Map assumptions
Expected artifact: Group · interest · influence · assumption or source
Evidence, context, and source
Entry:
...
- Can each placement be challenged or updated?
Plan engagement: Plan engagement
Expected artifact: Group · engagement · owner · review
Evidence, context, and source
Entry:
...
- Does the map produce a concrete engagement action?
Open questions and next steps
...
Method guide: https://methodatlas.meierhoff-systems.de/en/methods/stakeholder-mapping/run-sheet
06
Example output
Concrete filled scenario, fictional example
Fictional example for orientation. Counts and timings describe this case and are not universal requirements.
stakeholder-mapping-beispiel.md
Concrete filled scenario, fictional example
Fictional teaching example: tool lending
All details are invented. The classification applies only to the decision “adjust Saturday pickup” and is not a fixed rating of people.
| Actor group | Interest | Influence | Engagement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households with reservations | high, assumption | medium, assumption | short interviews and review |
| Pickup team | high, assumption | high, assumption | process workshop and pilot review |
| Repair advisers | medium, assumption | medium, assumption | review requirements |
| Site leadership | medium, assumption | high, assumption | decision and review |
Test the assumptions through conversations before deciding. The map leads to a pilot review with the pickup team and feedback from affected households.
07
Pitfalls
Recognize symptoms and steer against them
Quick overview, the full text is in the matching phase in the flow
- Frame changeThe map becomes a permanent ranking of people.View in phase
- Identify groupsDirectly affected groups are missing.View in phase
- Map assumptionsInfluence or interest is stated as a fixed trait.View in phase
- Plan engagementThe map ends without participation or review.View in phase
Trap
Frame change
Symptom
The map becomes a permanent ranking of people.
What to do
Limit the assessment to this decision and period.
Trap
Identify groups
Symptom
Directly affected groups are missing.
What to do
Add affected, influential, and knowledge-bearing groups.
Trap
Map assumptions
Symptom
Influence or interest is stated as a fixed trait.
What to do
Record context, source, and uncertainty for each placement.
Trap
Plan engagement
Symptom
The map ends without participation or review.
What to do
Assign engagement, ownership, and a review point.
08
Stop criteria
When to pause, resolve prerequisites, or choose another approach
Classify influence and interest only in this situation.
Add direct and indirect perspectives.
Assign engagement, owner, and review.
Finished the method guide?
Go to the profile for purpose, similar methods, and sources or continue to the next method in the catalog.