How to Create a Stakeholder Map Using the Power x Interest Grid

The pm-skills repository provides a /stakeholder-map command that automatically generates a Power × Interest grid and tailored communication plan through markdown-based prompting logic.

The pm-skills open-source repository ships a ready-to-use stakeholder mapping toolkit designed for project managers who need to visualize influence and engagement. When you need to create a stakeholder map using the power x interest grid, the repository's command-line interface orchestrates the entire workflow—from stakeholder identification to communication strategy generation—without requiring any compiled binaries or external dependencies.

Understanding the Power x Interest Grid Framework

The Power x Interest grid is a proven project management framework that classifies stakeholders along two axes: Power (the ability to influence project outcomes) and Interest (the level of concern or stake in the project). This creates four distinct quadrants that dictate communication frequency and engagement strategy: Manage Closely (High Power/High Interest), Keep Satisfied (High Power/Low Interest), Keep Informed (Low Power/High Interest), and Monitor (Low Power/Low Interest).

Command Structure and Invocation

The implementation centers on the /stakeholder-map slash command defined in pm-execution/commands/stakeholder-map.md (lines 6-15). This command accepts a project description argument and forwards the request to the stakeholder-map skill engine located at pm-execution/skills/stakeholder-map/SKILL.md.

Unlike traditional software requiring compilation, this solution uses pure markdown-based prompting designed for Claude-style AI assistants. The command surface parses user input and coordinates the multi-step workflow that populates the grid automatically.

Step-by-Step Workflow

Context Gathering and Stakeholder Identification

Upon invocation, the skill first solicits clarifying questions about the initiative phase, known stakeholders, and political sensitivities (see Step 1 in the command file, lines 20-27). The system then presents a predefined list of typical internal and external roles (lines 30-34) and expands this list with user-provided documents such as org charts or project briefs.

Classification and Grid Placement

Each stakeholder receives binary classifications for Power (high/low) and Interest (high/low) according to the logic in lines 20-22 of the skill file. The static 2×2 matrix (lines 26-30) then maps stakeholders into their respective quadrants:

• Manage Closely: High Power, High Interest
• Keep Satisfied: High Power, Low Interest
• Keep Informed: Low Power, High Interest
• Monitor: Low Power, Low Interest

Communication Plan Generation

For each quadrant, the skill recommends specific communication tactics including frequency, channel, key message, and owner (lines 31-35). The final output renders a comprehensive markdown document containing a stakeholder table (lines 62-65), four quadrant-specific communication tables (lines 68-79), and optional conflict-resolution sections (lines 83-88).

Practical Usage Examples

Basic Project Invocation

Trigger the mapping process with a simple project description:

/stakeholder-map New analytics platform launch

The command returns a structured markdown document similar to:

## Stakeholder Map: New analytics platform launch

### Stakeholder Grid

| Stakeholder | Role      | Power | Interest | Quadrant        | Stance |
|------------|-----------|-------|----------|-----------------|--------|
| ...        | ...       | High  | Low      | Keep Satisfied  | …      |

Uploading Supporting Documents

Enhance accuracy by providing organizational context:

/stakeholder-map [upload org_chart.pdf]

The command reads the uploaded file, extracts team names, and automatically populates the Stakeholder table before prompting for Power/Interest values.

Drafting Follow-Up Communications

After generating the map, leverage the quadrant data to draft targeted communications:

Want me to **draft the first stakeholder update** for the 'Manage Closely' group?

Answering "yes" prompts the assistant to fill the Manage Closely table with a ready-to-send email template based on the communication preferences established in the grid.

Key Implementation Files

Path	Purpose
pm-execution/commands/stakeholder-map.md	Defines the slash-command syntax, arguments, and markdown skeleton template.
pm-execution/skills/stakeholder-map/SKILL.md	Contains the prompting logic for discovery, classification, and communication recommendations.
README.md (lines 236-255)	Lists the stakeholder-map command among top-level repository features.
pm-execution/README.md (line 17)	Provides module-level description of the command functionality.

Summary

• The pm-skills repository provides a complete markdown-based solution to create a stakeholder map using the power x interest grid without external dependencies.
• The /stakeholder-map command in pm-execution/commands/stakeholder-map.md orchestrates the workflow from invocation to final document generation.
• Stakeholders are classified by Power and Interest values, then mapped to four strategic quadrants: Manage Closely, Keep Satisfied, Keep Informed, and Monitor.
• The system generates tailored communication plans including frequency, channel, and messaging strategy for each quadrant.
• The implementation supports document uploads for automated stakeholder extraction and can draft follow-up communications based on the generated grid.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Power x Interest grid?

The Power x Interest grid is a stakeholder analysis matrix that plots individuals or groups based on their authority to influence project outcomes (Power) and their level of concern or investment in the results (Interest). This framework creates four quadrants that determine engagement strategies, ranging from intensive collaboration for high-power/high-interest stakeholders to passive monitoring for those with low power and interest.

How does the stakeholder-map command classify stakeholders?

According to the logic in pm-execution/skills/stakeholder-map/SKILL.md (lines 20-22), the command assigns each stakeholder a binary Power classification (high/low) and Interest classification (high/low) based on user input and contextual analysis. These binary values determine quadrant placement within the static 2×2 matrix defined in lines 26-30 of the skill file.

Can I customize the communication templates?

Yes. The generated markdown output—including the stakeholder table (lines 62-65) and quadrant-specific communication tables (lines 68-79)—is fully editable. You can modify the underlying templates in pm-execution/commands/stakeholder-map.md or edit individual outputs to align with organization-specific communication tooling and protocols.

Is this tool compatible with other AI assistants?

The repository is designed for Claude-style AI assistants that understand the /command syntax. Because the implementation uses pure markdown-based prompting without compiled binaries, any AI assistant capable of parsing the slash-command syntax and executing the markdown prompt logic in pm-execution/skills/stakeholder-map/SKILL.md can generate the Power x Interest grid and communication plans.

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