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Method Stakeholder analysis

Create an overview of the stakeholders before initiating the field research and project work.

interessent analyse

A stakeholder analysis is especially useful in the beginning of a project. The method is a focused brainstorm on, and analysis of, the stakeholders within a specific area of interest, which is defined before the mapping begins. The purpose of the exercise is to gain an understanding of all the stakeholders within the area and to write down keywords on each stakeholder with emphasis on ones’ ideas (prejudices) of the stakeholders and the relations between the different stakeholders.

A stakeholder could be a person, an authority, an institution, a business, a union, a group of people or it could be understood as actors in an abstract sense.

It is an iterative process throughout which the students will find that they might gain an understanding of stakeholders they had not imagined to be stakeholders at first. The relations between the stakeholders will be discussed and new gaps of knowledge may appear and be used for developing the focus of the subsequent fieldwork and project.

Instructions

The students, in groups of 2-5 people brainstorm and analyse the stakeholders within the field or subject they are to work with.

Time: 1-2 hours. The mapping can take place as part of the teaching, but it could also be an independent exercise done outside of class.

Approach:

  • Write down all the stakeholders! Both the ones with larger or smaller shares in the subject, and the ones who have positive, neutral or negative shares in the topic. For example a conventional farmer might be a stakeholder in relation to ecology as he may be against this. The goal is to gain an overview of the stakeholders.
  • Discuss the stakeholders’ shares (positive, negative or neutral) in the subject as well as the relationship with different stakeholders. Write down points in keywords. The goal is to qualify the stakeholder’s importance to the subject.
  • Make your perceptions of the stakeholders explicit by for example discussing what you picture to be the stakeholders’ values, everyday life, work, family and so on. Write down the points in keywords. The goal is to gain an insight into potential prejudices and ideas that may influence the group’s perception of the stakeholder.
  • Identify 2-5 primary stakeholders and write down arguments on why exactly these stakeholders are important for the further investigation of the subject.

Worth Considering

It is important that the students firstly create an overview and then qualify and pinpoint the stakeholders that are particularly interesting.

Use the stakeholder analysis as the basis for subsequent observations, etnoraid, qualitative interviews and more.

Preparation

Bring A3 sheets, Post-Its, markers and make sure to have Internet access in order to be able to do online research.

Speak about the importance of using both your own perceptions and ideas about the stakeholders, but it is also beneficial to look for information online or elsewhere.

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