An influence and importance matrix can help you determine whom you will need to support your initiative and whose needs you’ll need to consider in its design and implementation. For purposes of this exercise, influence is defined as the degree to which a stakeholder can facilitate or hinder progress toward your goal; importance is the priority given to satisfying a stakeholder’s needs. Follow the steps below to use this template.
- Brainstorm a list of stakeholders. Write each stakeholder on a sticky note.
- Position stakeholders on a two-by-two matrix based on their level of influence and importance.
- Consider stakeholders in quadrant I (high influence, high importance): What actions can your team take to harness these stakeholders’ high degree of influence and importance?
- Consider stakeholders in quadrant II (low influence, high importance): What actions can your team take to ensure these stakeholders’ needs are met given their low level of influence?
- Consider stakeholders in quadrant IV (high influence, low importance): What actions can your team take to ensure these stakeholders’ influence is used to benefit the initiative?