Activity: Complete a stakeholder analysis
1. To pass this practice quiz, you must receive at least 80%, or 8 out of 10 points, by completing the activity and answering corresponding quiz questions. You can learn more about the graded and practice items in the
Course Overview
.
Activity Overview
In this activity, you will practice assessing and prioritizing stakeholders. As a project manager, understanding your stakeholders helps you figure out the right people to include in important conversations and how to prioritize the needs of different stakeholders. This is key to getting the support you need throughout the project.
You will learn more about the project’s potential stakeholders by reviewing supporting materials. Based on what you learn, you will compile a stakeholder analysis evaluating each stakeholder’s level of power and interest. Then you will add those stakeholders to a power-interest grid, so you know how to prioritize them.
Scenario
Review the scenario below. Then complete the step-by-step instructions.
Now that Peta has completed the Sauce & Spoon project charter draft, she needs to evaluate the project’s stakeholders so she has a better idea of how to interact with each one as the project progresses. Each stakeholder has their own unique interests and involvement with the project, so it's important to determine the best ways to manage them, approach negotiations, and keep them informed of the project’s progress.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Access the template
To use the template for this course item, click the link below and select “Use Template.”
Link to template:
Stakeholder Analysis
OR
If you don’t have a Google account, you can download the template directly from the attachment below.
Step 2: Access the supporting materials
The following supporting materials will help you complete this activity. Keep them open as you proceed to the next steps. Each link will open a new Coursera tab.
Sauce & Spoon Organizational Chart
Email: Checking In
Note: To review supporting materials introduced in earlier activities, you can find them in the
Resources section
Step 3: Review the supporting materials
As you review the supporting materials, take some notes, keeping in mind the following Guiding Questions.
How much power does each stakeholder have? A stakeholder’s power is related to how much influence they have and how much their actions affect the project outcome.
How much interest does each stakeholder have? Interest refers to how much the stakeholder’s needs will be affected by the project’s operations and outcomes.
You are encouraged to also make note of any other relevant project information. You may add this information to your notes or the project charter.
Step 4: Complete the stakeholder analysis
In the stakeholder analysis template, add content to the first slide based on what you’ve learned from the supporting materials, including:
Stakeholder: What is their name?
Role: What is their role?
Power (H/M/L): Is their power over the project high, medium, or low?
Interest (H/M/L): Is their interest in the project high, medium, or low?
For example, a stakeholder who has a lot of power over the project could have a number of other responsibilities as well. In that case, they may not have as much direct interest, since their attention is split among many different projects. They would be considered high power and low interest.
On the other hand, a stakeholder who will be directly impacted by the decisions of the project (for example, their budget or staffing allocations could change), but who doesn’t have any authority to influence the decisions would be considered low power and high interest.
If you’re not sure about a stakeholder’s level, or if their power or interest falls somewhere in the middle, you can assign them a medium rating.
Step 5: Complete the power-interest grid
Take your assessment from the stakeholder analysis, and add content to the power-interest grid, according to each level of power and interest you assigned them (high, medium, or low). Assign each stakeholder to a box. If you rated a stakeholder’s power or interest as medium, place them between the grid boxes.
Someone's position on the grid shows you the actions you have to take with them:
Higher power, higher interest: These people are your highest priority. You must manage them closely and make every effort to fully engage with them.
Higher power, lower interest: These people require a high level of effort to keep satisfied, as far as the success of the project is concerned, but do not want to be overburdened with project communications.
Lower power, higher interest: Show consideration to these people by keeping them adequately informed. Talk to them to ensure that no major issues are arising. These people can often be very helpful with the details of your project.
Lower power, lower interest: Monitor these people, but do not overload them with excessive communication. These people require minimal effort.
Once the grid is complete, you will have a better sense of how to manage and communicate with each stakeholder: keep satisfied, manage closely, monitor, or show consideration.
Step 6: Save your work
Be sure to save the stakeholder analysis you drafted for this activity. You will revise and refine project artifacts as you progress through the course.
Pro Tip: Save the template
Finally, be sure to save a blank copy of the template you used to complete this activity. You can use it for further practice or in your own personal or professional projects. These templates will be useful as you put together a portfolio of project management artifacts. You can use them to work through your thought processes as you demonstrate your experience to potential employers.
What to Include in Your Response
Be sure to include each of the following elements in your completed stakeholder analysis:
Stakeholder names
Stakeholder roles
An assessment of each stakeholder’s power
An assessment of each stakeholder’s interest
A power-interest grid containing each stakeholder, mapped out according to their power and interest assessment
Did you complete this activity?
- Yes
- No
2. Where in the Power-Interest Grid did you place the following stakeholder: Omar Mubarak? Keep Satisfied, Manage Closely, Monitor or Show Consideration? Write 1-2 sentences on why you chose this place on the grid.
Omar is the owner and CEO of the company. He’s invested in the project but not involved with its day-to-day operations, so the Keep Satisfied area of the grid is a good fit.
Note: You may have placed stakeholders differently, depending on how you interpreted their power and interest. Regardless of the category you chose, the key is to consider your stakeholders carefully so you know how to work with them throughout the project.
3. Where in the Power-Interest Grid did you place the following stakeholder: Deanna Coleman? Keep Satisfied, Manage Closely, Monitor or Show Consideration? Write 1-2 sentences on why you chose this place on the grid.
Default Feedback: Deanna is the Director of Operations. She works directly with Peta and touches all aspects of the project, so the Manage Closely area of the grid is a good fit.
Note: You may have placed stakeholders differently, depending on how you interpreted their power and interest. Regardless of the category you chose, the key is to consider your stakeholders carefully so you know how to work with them throughout the project.
4. Where in the Power-Interest Grid did you place the following stakeholder: Carter Ward? Keep Satisfied, Manage Closely, Monitor or Show Consideration? Write 1-2 sentences on why you chose this place on the grid.
Carter is the Executive Chef of Sauce & Spoon and oversees the kitchen staff. His interest in the project is high, but he isn’t involved in day-to-day decision-making. Carter might fall between the Manage Closely and Keep Satisfied areas of the grid.
Note: You may have placed stakeholders differently, depending on how you interpreted their power and interest. Regardless of the category you chose, the key is to consider your stakeholders carefully so you know how to work with them throughout the project.
5. Where in the Power-Interest Grid did you place the following stakeholder: Gilly Tyson? Keep Satisfied, Manage Closely, Monitor or Show Consideration? Write 1-2 sentences on why you chose this place on the grid.
Gilly is the General Manager of Sauce & Spoon North. She’s directly involved in restaurant operations and works closely with Peta, which means her interest in the project is high. She has somewhat less influence than the CEO and Director of Operations, so she might fall between Manage Closely and Show Consideration.
Note: You may have placed stakeholders differently, depending on how you interpreted their power and interest. Regardless of the category you chose, the key is to consider your stakeholders carefully so you know how to work with them throughout the project.
6. Where in the Power-Interest Grid did you place the following stakeholder: Alex Schmidt? Keep Satisfied, Manage Closely, Monitor or Show Consideration? Write 1-2 sentences on why you chose this place on the grid.
Alex is the General Manager of Sauce & Spoon Downtown. They’re directly involved in restaurant operations and work closely with Peta, which means their interest in the project is high. They have somewhat less influence than the CEO and Director of Operations, so they might fall between Manage Closely and Show Consideration.
Note: You may have placed stakeholders differently, depending on how you interpreted their power and interest. Regardless of the category you chose, the key is to consider your stakeholders carefully so you know how to work with them throughout the project.
7. Where in the Power-Interest Grid did you place the following stakeholder: Nia Williams? Keep Satisfied, Manage Closely, Monitor or Show Consideration? Write 1-2 sentences on why you chose this place on the grid.
Default Feedback: Nia is the General Manager of Sauce & Spoon Waterfront location. She provides Peta with information, but isn’t directly involved in the project since the tablets aren’t launching at her location. The project will only impact her if Sauce & Spoon expands the tablet program. Her interest and impact are low to moderate, so Monitor is a good fit.
Note: You may have placed stakeholders differently, depending on how you interpreted their power and interest. Regardless of the category you chose, the key is to consider your stakeholders carefully so you know how to work with them throughout the project.
8. Where in the Power-Interest Grid did you place the following stakeholder: Zane Dutchman? Keep Satisfied, Manage Closely, Monitor or Show Consideration? Write 1-2 sentences on why you chose this place on the grid. .
Zane is the Kitchen Manager for Sauce & Spoon North. They will work directly with the tablets, so their interest in the project is high. They have less influence than the General Manager or the Director of Operations, so the Show Consideration area of the grid is a good fit.
Note: You may have placed stakeholders differently, depending on how you interpreted their power and interest. Regardless of the category you chose, the key is to consider your stakeholders carefully so you know how to work with them throughout the project.
9. Where in the Power-Interest Grid did you place the following stakeholder: Larissa Stein? Keep Satisfied, Manage Closely, Monitor or Show Consideration? Write 1-2 sentences on why you chose this place on the grid.
Larissa is the Kitchen Manager for Sauce & Spoon Downtown. She will work directly with the tablets, so her interest in the project is high. She has less influence than the General Manager or the Director of Operations, so the Show Consideration area of the grid is a good fit.
Note: You may have placed stakeholders differently, depending on how you interpreted their power and interest. Regardless of the category you chose, the key is to consider your stakeholders carefully so you know how to work with them throughout the project.
10. Where in the Power-Interest Grid did you place the following stakeholder: Seydou Diallo? Keep Satisfied, Manage Closely, Monitor or Show Consideration? Write 1-2 sentences on why you chose this place on the grid.
Seydou is an external Restaurant Technology Consultant and part of the project team, so his interest is high. He is not a Sauce & Spoon employee and he reports directly to Peta, so his power is moderate. He might fall between the Show Consideration and Manage Closely area of the grid.
Note: You may have placed stakeholders differently, depending on how you interpreted their power and interest. Regardless of the category you chose, the key is to consider your stakeholders carefully so you know how to work with them throughout the project.
