Stakeholder Mapping & Engagement Strategy Development
Stakeholder Mapping & Engagement Strategy Development
Know your stakeholders. Plan your approach. Set your project up for success.
Learn More About Stakeholder MappingStrategic Planning Prevents Stakeholder Problems
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.
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. 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. Missing key stakeholders leads to unexpected opposition and delays.
Misallocated Resources & Ineffective Engagement
Incorrect assessment of stakeholder influence creates flawed engagement strategies. 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.
Our Comprehensive 4-Phase Process
Systematic analysis that gives you complete stakeholder understanding and actionable engagement strategies.
Stakeholder Identification
Comprehensive Stakeholder Discovery
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
Stakeholder Analysis
Deep Understanding of Stakeholder Characteristics
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
Stakeholder Prioritization & Mapping
Visual Stakeholder Maps That Guide Action
Not all stakeholders will have the same level of importance or influence on your project. We create visual stakeholder maps using proven frameworks that help you allocate resources effectively.
Mapping Frameworks We Use:
- Power-Interest Matrix (Mendelow Matrix): Categorizing stakeholders into High Power/High Interest (Manage Closely), High Power/Low Interest (Keep Satisfied), Low Power/High Interest (Keep Informed), and Low Power/Low Interest (Monitor)
- Influence-Impact Analysis: Maps stakeholders by their influence over project decisions versus how much the project impacts them
- Support-Influence Matrix: Tracks current stakeholder positions (opposition to champion) against their influence
- Stakeholder Relationship Maps: Visual networks showing connections, relationships, and influence pathways between stakeholders
Engagement Strategy Development
Tailored Strategies for Each Stakeholder Group
Stakeholder-Specific Engagement Approaches:
- 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
Ready to map your stakeholders strategically?
Let's TalkApplications 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.
Stakeholder Strategy Best Practices
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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.
Need Stakeholder Mapping? Let's Talk