Business analysis glossary
Stakeholder Analysis
What it is
Stakeholder analysis is the structured activity of identifying stakeholders, understanding what each one needs, how much influence they have and how they feel about the change, and then deciding how to involve them. The output is usually a stakeholder register or a map.
Why it matters
It prevents surprises. An analyst who knows that a quiet compliance manager can veto a release will involve that person in week one, not in the final review when changes are expensive.It also helps you manage resistance. If you know why a group is worried, you can address the worry directly instead of guessing, and decisions are far less likely to be reopened later.
Example
The analyst at Tidewater Insurance lists twelve stakeholders for a claims-portal change, rates each one's influence and interest from low to high, and notes that the fraud team is influential but not yet consulted. A short workshop with them is booked that week.