4.3.2 Stakeholders matrix

Figure: for what phase this tool may be useful

The case study team can use this tool if they have a good knowledge of their stakeholders. They can also do individual interviews with key stakeholders or experts to help them to define the interactions between the stakeholders and complete the matrix.

An analysis sheet can be produced for each stakeholder to summarize their aims, interests, motivations and constraints.

Two matrixes can then be created to identify and describe the key stakeholders to engage in the scenario building process and the planning of their participation.

Stakeholders’ positioning matrix...

...reveals the positions of stakeholders depending of their own objectives. The concept is to identify the conflicting and shared objectives of stakeholders.

This matrix’s aim is to represent:

• The convergences and divergences between the stakeholders
• The unifying goals and conflict points
• The influences between the different stakeholders
• The apparent degree of freedom of stakeholders

Time: many weeks, depends of the number of stakeholders involved.
Technical level: 2/4
Advantages: better understanding of stakeholder’s interactions, their positions concerning management objectives and their strategies.
Limits: based on personal judgements.
Advice: be sure to collect different views to be the most objective and impartial as possible.

Example of stakeholder’s positioning matrix:

stakeholder objective matrix for improved soil management (from [ICRA, 1998a])

Stakeholder’s influence/ importance matrix...

This matrix plots stakeholders against two variables: the "importance" of the stakeholder against the ‘influence’ of the stakeholder considering the question studied. This matrix provides a clearer understanding of stakeholders and can be used to define the best way to engage them in our approach.

The "importance" refers to the priority given to satisfy stakeholders' needs and interests depending of the objectives defined. The ‘influence’ is the extent to which the stakeholder is able to persuade or coerce others into decision-making and/or implementation of actions.

Example of stakeholder’s influence/ importance matrix (from [ICRA, 1998b])

 

More information:

Stakeholder matrix by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, state of Victoria (Australia)

Stakeholder matrix by the International Centre for Development Oriented Research in Agriculture (Foundation)