Stakeholder Mapping

Stakeholder Mapping

Stakeholder maps are a design thinking tool that helps you identify people who might have an interest (i.e., a “stake”) in the process. In Life Design, the purpose of this stakeholder map is multifaceted. It can help you:

  1. Identify those individuals, groups, and organizations that engage (directly or indirectly) with your role or team.
  2. Understand how your role fits within a larger ecosystem, contributes to a larger project, and informs your own professional aspirations and personal mission.
  3. Understand the group and organizational dynamics and structures within a professional ecosystem.
  4. Identify specific individuals with whom you can conduct a “Curiosity Conversation” to explore career pathways, grow your network of “strong” and “weak” ties, and design your way forward.

In the space below, list as many stakeholders (individuals, groups, and organizations) that you can think of in each of three groups – Core, Direct, and Indirect – and add them to their respective areas on your map:

  • CORE – these are the individuals with whom you engage most frequently. These can be members of your team or lab, other interns (if you are part of a cohort), people in your specific location, or with whom you share office space, etc.
  • DIRECT – these are the stakeholders with whom you and your team engage with on a direct basis. They could be specific individuals (which you can identify by name and position), but could also be offices (Marketing, Lab Safety), external organizations (NIH, Maryland State Government), or groups of people (patients, customers, students).
  • INDIRECT – this group would include any stakeholders that might somehow be impacted by your work. This list can be quite broad, typically including professions (lawyers, journalists), organizations or groups of organizations (military, universities), or groups of people (parents, voters).

TIPS:

  • You should ideally have several dozen entries. Don’t be too concerned if you can’t identify or name specific individuals. These details can be added later as you learn more.
  • Review organizational charts from past, current, and aspirational employers to get more specific with your stakeholders.
  • Use LinkedIn and OneHop, identify at least 5 alumni that are part of your ecosystem, and add those individuals to your stakeholder map.
  • After conducting your curiosity conversations, return to your stakeholder map and add the names of any individuals this contact recommended for you as a future connection.
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