Stakeholders can be ranked in importance through a two-dimensional scatter analysis grid which maps “Influence” and “Interest” as shown below-
The stakeholders can now be grouped in the following order-
- High Influence and High Interest
- High Influence and Low Interest
- Low Influence and High Interest
- Low Influence and Low Interest
The stakeholders ranking order (highest to lowest) would be-
- project manager
- end user
- database administrator
- marketing
- the development team leader
- the network administrator
- the CEO
- legal
- the CIO
- sales
It is important to determine the hierarchy and to have exact knowledge of a role in the scatter-analysis quadrant as-
- It establishes clear guidelines for decision making
- Helps in resolving conflicts between competing requirements – the higher-ranked stakeholder will gain priority
- It determines a budget-time design depending on the role and their involvement necessary for the project
- It ensures that each phase of the SDLC meets with the approval of the necessary stakeholders
- It establishes clarity and transparency on the weight and importance that each role carries and gives no room for ambiguity or bruised
- It provides for accountability – as the project has to meet with the review and approval of the critical stakeholders