What is a stakeholders engagement assessment matrix?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Apart from 41 characters of project jargon, a stakeholders engagement assessment matrix is a model which a project manager uses to judge stakeholders\u2019 current level of engagement with a project.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Stakeholders can be categorized in 5 different ways:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- Unaware<\/strong>. In this first level, stakeholders are unaware of the project and any potential impacts its outcome may have on them.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- Resistant<\/strong>. Stakeholders in this category are aware of the project and are resistant to the change.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- Neutral<\/strong>. Neutral stakeholders are aware of the project but are neither resistant to or supportive of it.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- Supportive<\/strong>. These stakeholders are aware of the project and its potential impact and are supportive of the change.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- Leading<\/strong>. Stakeholders in this category are aware of the project and are actively working to ensure its success. These stakeholders may be termed \u2018change champions.\u2019<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
As well as defining the current level of engagement, the matrix can also be used to inform a discussion about the desired engagement level of each stakeholder or stakeholder group.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
What does it look like?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
A classic stakeholders engagement assessment matrix is made up of rows and columns.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Each stakeholder or stakeholder group is listed down the left-hand side, with their status across the top.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Within the grid, the current and desired engagement status of each stakeholder is added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"image](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/SEAM-example.png\" "\\"Stakeholders")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Image <\/a>Source<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
What are the benefits of a stakeholders engagement assessment matrix?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
There are many key benefits in identifying how stakeholders currently feel about the project. Armed with this information, project managers can:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Grow project support<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
By\u00a0identifying those stakeholders who are broadly supportive of \u2014 or actively championing \u2014 the project, the team can target communications to ensure their continued support.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Making sure those stakeholders have the most up-to-date information \u2014 and encouraging them to share that information with others \u2014 can be a significant step<\/a>\u00a0toward preparing the business for an upcoming change.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
This is especially true for stakeholders who are influential and trusted by others in the organization.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Build awareness and engagement<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Surprising people with an unwanted or difficult change is one of the quickest ways\u00a0to negatively impact the likelihood of project success.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
People like to be kept in the loop with what\u2019s happening and given a chance to engage with and provide feedback on the changes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
By identifying those stakeholders who appear to be unaware of the project, the team can build an effective communications management plan focused on increasing their awareness and engagement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Comms-plan.png\" "\\"monday.com")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe project team may be able to turn them into champions for the change, or they may offer beneficial feedback that wouldn\u2019t have surfaced had they remained unaware.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Note:<\/strong>\u00a0occasionally keeping stakeholders unaware is a deliberate move by the project team. Perhaps the project is highly sensitive and could result in job loss. In that case, the team may choose to keep stakeholders unaware until appropriate support mechanisms are established.<\/p>\r\n
Get started<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Convert resistant or neutral stakeholders<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Finally, using a stakeholders engagement assessment matrix helps you identify and target resistant or neutral stakeholders.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
This is important, as it allows the project team to explore why they hold that position.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Perhaps they perceive the future state as less beneficial. Or maybe the organization has tried to make the same change previously and failed. Or they\u2019re worried about whether they have the right skills for the future.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Whatever the reason, exploring and understanding it gives the team an opportunity to influence their position.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
That might be targeted updates to show positive project progress comparative to failed projects. Or it could be sharing the training and development plans that will help people feel ready for change.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
It might even just be an acknowledgment of their concerns. Sometimes, making people feel heard<\/a>\u00a0is all\u00a0that\u2019s needed to help them get on board.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
How does it differ from other stakeholder models?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
There are several different stakeholder analysis models, with the power vs. interest model as possibly the most well-known.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Once stakeholders are identified, they’re arranged on a 2×2 grid based on their perceived level of power and interest in the project.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"image](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Power-vs-Interest-2.png\" "\\"Power")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n(Image <\/a>Source<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Based on this analysis, the project team can decide how they should engage with various key stakeholder groups and create a stakeholder management<\/a> plan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nUnderstanding the level of influence stakeholders have on a project is important. Influential, supportive stakeholders can champion the project. Influential, resistant stakeholders can sabotage the project.<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Sabotage can be operational. Resistant stakeholders require more communication effort, which can increase project duration and cost. This can impact project progress and reinforce the opinion that the project is doomed to fail.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Sabotage can also be more strategic. If influential stakeholders don\u2019t agree with the project, they may push for its closure on the basis it doesn\u2019t create business value.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Given this, a targeted stakeholder engagement strategy should be used for each of the 4 sections of the power vs. interest grid.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Stakeholder engagement is a key form of stakeholder management<\/strong>. This is the action taken, based on your analysis, to move your stakeholders to positions that increase the likelihood of a successful project outcome.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The important thing with all the stakeholder matrix models is that you do something with the insight gained from your analysis.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Whether that\u2019s engaging an interested, supportive stakeholder to become a champion for the project, or effectively managing an influential, resistant stakeholder, so the project isn\u2019t negatively affected, the action is what counts.<\/p>\r\n
Get started<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
How to create a stakeholders engagement assessment matrix using monday.com<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
To create a stakeholders engagement assessment matrix, the first step is to identify the project stakeholders. This is done at the project initiation phase and stated in the project proposal<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
It\u2019s unlikely the stakeholder analysis can be done by the project team alone, so this should be done in conjunction with representation from the business. The outcome from the analysis can be captured in monday.com\u2019s fully customizable stakeholder register\u00a0template<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Stakeholder-register2.png\" "\\"Stakeholder")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nColor-coding makes it easy to track the status of each stakeholder. Both \u2018Current\u2019 and \u2018Desired\u2019 tags can be added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The stakeholders engagement assessment matrix isn\u2019t meant as a static one-off tool. Regular review enables the project team to identify which stakeholder management tactics may be working.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
monday.com makes it simple to share, view, and update documents in real-time. Seek input by tagging others and collaborate with ease, both in-platform or through integration with your favorite communication tools.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
If you\u2019re new to monday.com and you have this information stored elsewhere, monday.com\u2019s integrations with tools like Excel make transferring information simple.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Plus, if a stakeholder\u2019s status changes, you can use monday.com automations to trigger action. For example, any stakeholders whose status changes to \u2018Leading,\u2019 could be sent an email inviting them to a workshop on the role of change champions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Using a stakeholders engagement assessment matrix keeps you ahead of the game<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
In this article, we\u2019ve outlined what a stakeholders engagement assessment matrix is and how you can use it to maximize support for your project.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Without a conscious awareness of how your key stakeholders feel about your project, you might be missing opportunities for them to champion it. Equally, you might be blind-sided if influential stakeholders resist, or even sabotage your project efforts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
monday.com can help you gather the information you need to effectively manage your stakeholders. Why not get started with our stakeholder register<\/a>\u00a0template?<\/p>\r\n
- Leading<\/strong>. Stakeholders in this category are aware of the project and are actively working to ensure its success. These stakeholders may be termed \u2018change champions.\u2019<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Supportive<\/strong>. These stakeholders are aware of the project and its potential impact and are supportive of the change.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Neutral<\/strong>. Neutral stakeholders are aware of the project but are neither resistant to or supportive of it.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Resistant<\/strong>. Stakeholders in this category are aware of the project and are resistant to the change.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n