Stakeholder Mapping & Engagement Strategy Development
Know your stakeholders. Plan your approach. Set your project up for success.
When you properly analyse, map & engage the relevant stakeholders during a consulting engagement, you are better equipped for success. Strategic stakeholder analysis and engagement planning prevent problems before they start—turning potential opposition into project support.
Strategic Planning Prevents Stakeholder Problems
This work should be done early on in the project, preferably during the project initiation phase. The sooner you can identify and understand how to deal with each of your project stakeholders, the better. Yet many projects rush into engagement without understanding who their stakeholders are, what they care about, or how to engage them effectively.
At reVerb, we provide strategic stakeholder mapping and engagement strategy development that sets projects up for success from the start. By conducting a thorough stakeholder analysis, development consultants can gain invaluable insights into the project ecosystem, enabling them to make informed decisions, anticipate challenges, and build robust strategies for stakeholder engagement.
Whether you're preparing an RFP response, planning a major project, or looking to improve your current stakeholder approach, our strategic stakeholder analysis provides the foundation for effective engagement throughout your project lifecycle.
Why Stakeholder Mapping & Strategy Matter
Projects Fail Without Strategic Stakeholder Understanding:
Unidentified Stakeholders Become Problems One significant error in stakeholder mapping occurs when teams fail to identify all relevant stakeholders. This oversight typically results from rushed analysis or narrow project perspectives. Missing key stakeholders leads to unexpected opposition and delays.
Misallocated Resources & Ineffective Engagement Incorrect assessment of stakeholder influence creates flawed engagement strategies. Teams sometimes underestimate the power of informal influence networks or overemphasize formal authority structures. Without proper analysis, you waste resources on low-priority stakeholders while neglecting those who matter most.
Reactive Rather Than Proactive Projects without stakeholder strategies respond to problems rather than preventing them. Strategic planning allows you to anticipate concerns, address them proactively, and build support before opposition forms.
RFP Responses That Don't Win Procurement evaluations increasingly emphasize stakeholder engagement capability. Generic engagement plans don't win projects—strategic, tailored approaches that demonstrate deep stakeholder understanding do.
Comprehensive, Strategic Analysis
This process involves several steps, including mapping stakeholders, assessing their interests and influences, and planning engagement strategies. We provide systematic analysis that gives you complete stakeholder understanding and actionable engagement strategies.
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Comprehensive Stakeholder Discovery
The initial phase focuses on discovering all parties connected to the project. Project managers must consider both obvious and less apparent stakeholders who might influence project success.
What We Identify:
Directly Affected Stakeholders: Residents, businesses, property owners, users impacted by the project
Government & Regulatory: Municipal departments, elected officials, regulatory agencies, approval authorities
Indigenous Communities: First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities with rights, interests, or traditional territory connections
Interest Groups: Environmental organizations, business associations, advocacy groups, community organizations
Internal Stakeholders: Project teams, management, partners, contractors, consultants
Media & Influencers: Local media, bloggers, community leaders, opinion makers
Hidden Stakeholders: Informal influence networks, behind-the-scenes decision-makers, future stakeholders
Our Methods:
Project document review and analysis
Geographic and demographic research
Stakeholder database and network research
Interviews with project team and community insiders
Review of similar project experiences
Political and organizational landscape analysis
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Deep Understanding of Stakeholder Characteristics
Stakeholder analysis examines each identified party's specific traits and potential impact on the project. We go beyond simple lists to understand what drives each stakeholder and how they might respond to your project.
What We Analyze:
Power & Influence
Assess their level of influence and power over the project
Decision-making authority (formal and informal)
Ability to delay, stop, or modify the project
Network influence and coalition-building capacity
Media access and public voice
Interest & Impact
How the project affects them (benefits and concerns)
Level of interest in project outcomes
Likely positions (support, neutral, opposition)
Information needs and preferences
Past engagement history and experiences
Engagement Requirements
Preferred communication channels and methods
Cultural considerations and protocols
Language and accessibility needs
Availability and timing constraints
Legal or regulatory consultation obligations
Relationships & Dynamics
Connections between stakeholders
Coalition potential and existing alliances
Historical relationships and conflicts
Trust levels and credibility factors
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Visual Stakeholder Maps That Guide Action
Not all stakeholders will have the same level of importance or influence on your project. Prioritize them based on their interest and power. We create visual stakeholder maps using proven frameworks that help you allocate resources effectively.
Mapping Frameworks We Use:
Power-Interest Matrix (Mendelow Matrix) One of the best ways to prioritize stakeholders is to use a Mendelow power-interest matrix, categorizing stakeholders into four quadrants:
High Power / High Interest: Manage Closely - Key players requiring intensive engagement
High Power / Low Interest: Keep Satisfied - Important voices needing periodic updates
Low Power / High Interest: Keep Informed - Engaged audiences wanting regular communication
Low Power / Low Interest: Monitor - General public requiring awareness
Influence-Impact Analysis Maps stakeholders by their influence over project decisions versus how much the project impacts them—revealing groups needing special attention.
Support-Influence Matrix Tracks current stakeholder positions (opposition to champion) against their influence—guiding strategies to move opponents toward neutrality and neutrals toward support.
Stakeholder Relationship Maps Visual networks showing connections, relationships, and influence pathways between stakeholders—identifying key connectors and coalition risks.
Deliverable: Visual stakeholder maps in multiple formats (static graphics, interactive tools, GIS-based maps where appropriate) that your entire team can reference and update.
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Tailored Strategies for Each Stakeholder Group
By completing this exercise, you can understand how each stakeholder could impact your project and determine the appropriate method for stakeholder communications for each one.
What We Develop:
Stakeholder-Specific Engagement Approaches For each priority stakeholder or group, we define:
Engagement objectives (inform, consult, involve, collaborate, empower)
Recommended engagement methods and tactics
Communication frequency and timing
Key messages and information needs
Relationship-building strategies
Success metrics and monitoring approaches
Comprehensive Engagement Plans
Overall engagement objectives aligned with project goals
Phased engagement approach tied to project milestones
Resource requirements (budget, staff, time)
Roles and responsibilities matrix
Risk mitigation strategies
Contingency plans for opposition or issues
Communications Strategy
Message architecture and key messages by audience
Communication channels and tools
Materials and collateral requirements
Digital and traditional media mix
Spokesperson strategy and media protocols
Implementation Roadmap
Detailed work plans and timelines
Engagement activities calendar
Decision points and approval requirements
Quality assurance and documentation protocols
Evaluation and adjustment mechanisms
Deliverables You Receive
Comprehensive Stakeholder Analysis Package
Stakeholder Database Complete inventory of identified stakeholders with contact information, classification, analysis, and engagement history—in formats you can use (Excel, CRM, stakeholder management software).
Visual Stakeholder Maps Multiple mapping formats showing stakeholder relationships, influence, positions, and priorities—ready for presentations, reports, and internal team use.
Engagement Strategy Document Comprehensive plan including objectives, strategies by stakeholder group, tactics, timelines, resources, and success measures—your roadmap for engagement.
Implementation Tools Templates, checklists, tracking tools, and materials that support strategy execution by your team or ours.
RFP-Ready Content For proposal responses, we provide stakeholder sections, engagement plans, and graphics formatted fo
Applications of Stakeholder Mapping & Strategy
When You Need Strategic Stakeholder Analysis:
RFP & Proposal Responses Stand out in competitive procurement with stakeholder engagement plans that demonstrate deep understanding, strategic thinking, and realistic implementation approaches.
Project Planning & Setup Set projects up for success from the start with complete stakeholder understanding and engagement strategies before committing to timelines and budgets.
Regulatory & Approval Processes Navigate environmental assessments, Indigenous consultation, and municipal approvals with strategies that meet regulatory requirements and build support.
Troubled Project Recovery When projects face stakeholder opposition or challenges, strategic analysis identifies problems, reassesses approaches, and develops recovery strategies.
Organizational Stakeholder Planning Beyond projects, organizations need stakeholder strategies for ongoing operations, policy changes, corporate initiatives, and relationship management.
M&A & Major Changes Mergers, acquisitions, and major organizational changes require stakeholder analysis to manage transitions, communications, and relationship continuity.
Why Choose reVerb for Stakeholder Strategy?
Experience Across Sectors & Project Types We've developed stakeholder strategies for infrastructure, development, industrial, government, and corporate projects—bringing cross-sector insights to your specific context.
Practical, Implementable Strategies We don't deliver theoretical documents—we create actionable strategies with realistic timelines, budgets, and approaches your teams can actually execute.
Local & Regional Knowledge Understanding Alberta's political landscape, Indigenous communities, regulatory environment, and community dynamics informs strategies that work in your specific context.
Integrated With Project Delivery Our strategies aren't standalone documents—they integrate with project management, risk management, communications, and overall project delivery approaches.
Support Beyond Strategy We can help you implement the strategies we develop, providing ongoing support, training, and capacity building for your internal teams.
Stakeholder Strategy Best Practices
Start Early This work should be done early on in the project, preferably during the project initiation phase. Early analysis prevents problems and builds foundations for successful engagement.
Update Regularly Once you have done a stakeholder matrix you're not done. It is an exercise that you should do regularly throughout the project as stakeholder roles and influence evolve. Stakeholder landscapes change—strategies must adapt.
Be Comprehensive Don't limit analysis to obvious stakeholders. Project managers must consider stakeholders from multiple angles, including regulatory bodies, community groups, and internal departments.
Ground in Reality Base strategies on realistic assessments of resources, timelines, and capacities. Over-promising engagement you can't deliver damages credibility.
Document & Track Maintain systematic records of stakeholder interactions, feedback, and relationship evolution—supporting decision-making and demonstrating due diligence.
Pricing & Engagement Models
Fixed-Price Strategy Development Defined scope projects with clear deliverables and timelines—perfect for RFP support, project initiation, and one-time strategic planning.
Retainer-Based Ongoing Support Quarterly or annual stakeholder strategy reviews and updates—ideal for long-term projects or organizations managing multiple stakeholder relationships.
Integrated Project Support Stakeholder strategy development integrated with ongoing engagement delivery—we develop the plan and help you execute it.
Training & Capacity Building We can train your internal teams on stakeholder mapping and strategy development—building your organizational capability.
Get Started
Build Your Stakeholder Strategy
Don't let stakeholder challenges derail your project. Strategic stakeholder mapping and engagement planning set you up for success from the start.
