About Resource
The Grassroots Collective is an international non-profit organization comprising volunteer and development professionals who support localized community development. As its name implies, Tools for Project Planning is a compilation of community-oriented project planning tools, including the Stakeholder Analysis. This module takes readers through the all-important planning steps of identifying and prioritizing key partnerships involved in any community project.
The stakeholder* analysis process supports a project team:
- Identify people/groups who have something to gain or lose due to a community project
- Identify possible obstacles to project implementation
- Prioritize project partners by their level of influence, their priorities, and their potential contributions
- Understand how to engage community partners to foster local ownership
*In some contexts, the word “stakeholder” is associated with the history of colonization. Due to this connotation, consider replacing it with a more affirming and accurate term. Appropriate alternatives for your context might include collaborator, participant, interested/affected/relevant party, or partner.
How to Use
This resource is well suited to community science practitioners interested in understanding how to identify important community collaborators who may be affected by and/or contribute to a successful initiative. Consult these materials after clarifying project goals, but before designing project interventions.
Four key steps and accompanying worksheets will enable your team to:
- Brainstorm potential partners using the P.E.S.T.L.E. Model to find those working in Political, Economic, Social/Cultural, Technology, Legal, and/or Environmental sectors. Seek community input via 1-on-1 interviews, focus groups, and/or workshops.
- Categorize your partners as key, primary, or secondary status and examine each partners’ specific interests.
- Prioritize partners using an Importance/Influence Analysis. (Rating partners in this manner may feel uncomfortable, but will inform an understanding of community power dynamics. Partners of greatest importance may hold very little influence. Clarifying power dynamics can help focus limited resources where they are needed most.)
- Better understand your partners by characterizing their likely impact, contributions, and potential risk. Articulate your team’s strategy for approaching each partner and identify which team member will take the lead.
For other Tools for Project Planning, visit: https://www.thegrassrootscollective.org/practical-development-tools-course.
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Author(s)/Organization: Grassroots Collective
Publication Year: 2018
Tags
Attributes:Aims for Action, Centers Community Priorities
Outcomes:Capacity for Civic Engagement, Strong Community Partnerships
Approaches:Civic Engagement & Policymaking
Type:Guidebooks & Manuals