080 Stakeholder Maps

A visual representation of key constituents of a design project

• Stakeholder maps provide a visual reference point for the design team, setting the stage for user-centered research and design development.

• Include people who will benefit from the project, those who hold power, those who may be adversely affected, and even those who may sabotage designed outcomes.

• Stakeholders can be identified by general roles (e.g., nurses), specific roles (e.g., chief of surgery), or by actual people (e.g., Linda, resident physician).

• From an initial sketch or list using whiteboards, cards, or paper, the map evolves into a structure with hierarchy and key relationships between roles or people.

• Stakeholder maps can take on a variety of forms, with a mix of text, photos, and graphics and use of scale, line, and proximity to express relationships.

See also   Stakeholder Walkthrough • Territory Maps

Courtesy of Kim Dowd, Norman Lau, Gretchen Mendoza, and Hyori Suri Park

This is a stakeholder map consolidating key players and roles for the design of a social networking application for teenage immigrants during cultural transition to the United States.