Learning objective
By the end of this lesson, you can separate influence over a decision from impact, legitimacy and the need for representation.
Why it matters
A power-interest grid attracts attention to actors who can stop a programme. It can also hide customers, workers or communities who carry consequences but hold little formal authority. Ethical and effective engagement requires both views.
Core concept: two different questions
Ask separately:
- Who can affect the decision or delivery? Record formal authority, resources, expertise and informal networks.
- Who is materially affected and whose claim requires response? Record consequence, legitimacy, urgency and representation.
Then define an engagement purpose, owner, channel, feedback loop and review trigger. Do not label a person permanently as supportive or resistant.
Visual explanation
Worked example
In a regional CRM rollout, country directors have high formal influence. Service agents have lower formal power but face workload and quality effects and hold crucial process knowledge. A works council has a legitimate consultation role; security has a formal gate.
The engagement plan does not put all four in one quadrant and send the same update. It gives each relationship a purpose and evidence loop, then revises the map after the pilot.
Common mistake
Mistake: treating current attitude as personality.
Describe the position, evidence and confidence. Attitude can change when design, information or trust changes.
Quick check
Which stakeholder should remain visible?
A. Only high-power executives.
B. A low-power group facing high material impact.
C. Only people already supportive.
D. Only named individuals.
Answer: B. Impact and legitimate claims are not erased by low formal power.
Practical prompt
Choose one affected group. Write its stake, formal and informal influence, expected impact, evidence, engagement purpose and review trigger.
Summary
- Power, interest, impact and legitimacy are different.
- Evidence and confidence belong beside assessments.
- Engagement needs a purpose and feedback loop.
- Maps change and must be reviewed.
Next lesson
Use RACI Matrix only after the landscape is understood and the work or decisions are defined.