The Power & Interest grid (P&I) is a simple and effective stakeholder analysis tool that categorizes stakeholders according to their degree of interest and power in the project. The end goal of such a tool is to identify key stakeholders who can make or break the project.
Power and interest are project specific variables. A stakeholder with a high interest and little power in project A can score totally opposite in project B. Typically, one of these four approaches is applied depending on the score: monitor, keep informed, keep satisfied, manage closely. Despite the usefulness of this tool, could stakeholders be mapped out according to project independent variables? At the end of the day, it is frequent to simplify things and define coworkers in two dimensions: emotional intelligence, EI - are they in control of their emotions and show empathy to others? - and knowledge – how much do they really know? A matrix that plots these two variables is useful in putting together a balanced team and opens up the possibility of identifying synergistic effects amongst stakeholders.
Group 1: High EI & High Knowledge
These individuals are likely to be the best fitted in leading (sub)teams. In addition, their wealth of knowledge combined with outstanding EI skills makes them the best candidates to mentor junior or less experienced members, especially from groups 2 and 4. They require minimal supervision and make working with them a rewarding experience. Most likely, they will be on the wish list of future projects or endeavors.
Group 2: High EI & Low Knowledge
Stakeholders in this group have the right mindset to allow further personal growth and development. Their lack of knowledge is compensated by their continuous commitment to hard work. Opportunities to expand their knowledge must be considered to keep them motivated; this could be done by an ad-hoc training program including shadowing a knowledgeable stakeholder from groups 1 or 3.
Group 3. Low EI & High Knowledge
The wealth of knowledge that these stakeholders bring to the table is well needed. However, stakeholders that fall in this category tend to make noise, bypass communication lines and could eventually become a threat to project’s well-being. Assigning them an SME role, as opposed to a leading part, should cover their feeling of importance (it is assumed that every stakeholder wants to feel that what they do matters) and thereby minimize the occurrence of disruptive situations along the way.
Group 4: Low EI & Low Knowledge
Also known as rotten apples. The value added is small compared with the amount of supervision they require. Chances of project derailing skyrocket if too many of these are in the same team. A balanced training comprising soft and hard skills together with the inclusion in a mentoring program are initiatives to consider in order to slowly but surely turn this bad apple into a tasty and juicy one. In some cases, the metamorphose occurs only in one dimension, EI or knowledge, shifting to Groups 2 or 3 respectively.
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