Stakeholder mapping is the process of drawing a visual representation of the various people involved in or affected by a project, product, or idea. It is a key tool in evaluating the influence and interest of project stakeholders, and it helps to identify key players early on, align stakeholders on project goals and plans, and uncover and address conflicts or concerns. Stakeholder mapping is a visual, four-quadrant influence-interest matrix used in project management to identify stakeholders and categorize them in terms of their influence and interest in the project. The following are some of the best-known and most commonly used methods for stakeholder mapping:

• Lynda Bournes Stakeholder Circle: a five-step methodology that provides a flexible approach to understanding and managing the relationships within and around the activity. It involves identification, prioritization, visualization, engagement, and monitoring of stakeholder aspects.
• Power interest grid: a simple matrix that plots stakeholders based on their level of power and interest in the project.
• Salience model: a model that categorizes stakeholders based on their power, legitimacy, and urgency.

Stakeholder mapping is important because stakeholders are important to the success of a project. Without mapping stakeholders in relation to their influence and interest in the project, it can be difficult to communicate with them and keep them happy. Stakeholder mapping helps to identify potential areas of conflict and misunderstanding, allowing organizations to address these issues before they become major problems. Stakeholder mapping is a valuable tool that can help organizations to improve stakeholder communication and build team alignment.