Real-world examples of stakeholder analysis matrix templates

When people ask for examples of stakeholder analysis matrix examples, the power–interest grid is usually where they start. It’s simple, visual, and works well for most technology and software projects.

Imagine a mid-sized SaaS company rolling out a new analytics module to enterprise customers. The project manager maps stakeholders on a 2×2 grid:

• High power, high interest – CIOs at key client accounts, internal VP of Product, Head of Customer Success
• High power, low interest – CFO, Legal, Procurement at major clients
• Low power, high interest – power users, data analysts, support engineers
• Low power, low interest – general end users, some operations teams

The matrix isn’t just a picture; it drives behavior:

• CIOs and the VP of Product get early demos, roadmap previews, and decision rights on scope trade-offs.
• CFO and Legal get targeted briefings focused on risk, cost, and compliance.
• Power users get beta access, detailed release notes, and feedback channels.

This example of a stakeholder analysis matrix works because it links position on the grid to clear engagement tactics. The team revisits the matrix at each release milestone, moving stakeholders as their interest or power shifts.

RACI-style stakeholder matrix example for a DevOps transformation

Another of the best examples of stakeholder analysis matrix examples in tech is a RACI-flavored grid. Instead of just power and interest, it clarifies who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed for key project activities.

Consider a DevOps transformation in a large financial services company. The project team builds a matrix with activities down the left and stakeholders across the top:

Activities include CI/CD pipeline setup, security scanning integration, infrastructure-as-code design, and release governance. Stakeholders include the CTO, DevOps team lead, Security lead, Compliance officer, and multiple product teams.

For each activity, the matrix assigns:

• Responsible – who does the work (e.g., DevOps engineers)
• Accountable – who owns the outcome (e.g., CTO or Platform Director)
• Consulted – subject matter experts like Security and Compliance
• Informed – product managers and support teams

This RACI-style example of stakeholder analysis matrix is less about “who matters most” and more about “who does what, and who needs to know.” It’s especially useful in regulated environments where accountability must be crystal clear. For reference on governance and responsibility structures, project teams often look at guidance from organizations like NIST or CISA when security is in scope.

Influence–Impact matrix for cybersecurity rollout in 2025

With cybersecurity spending still rising into 2025, many IT leaders are asking for real examples of stakeholder analysis matrix examples tailored to security projects.

Picture a company implementing mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all systems. Resistance is expected, so the security team builds an influence–impact matrix:

• High influence, high impact – COO, CIO, Head of HR, IT Service Desk Manager
• High influence, low impact – Internal Communications, Legal, Union representatives (where applicable)
• Low influence, high impact – frontline staff, clinicians, sales reps who live in the systems daily
• Low influence, low impact – contractors with limited system access

The twist in this example of a stakeholder analysis matrix is the focus on behavior change:

• High influence, high impact stakeholders are recruited as visible champions.
• High influence, low impact stakeholders shape messaging and policy.
• Low influence, high impact stakeholders drive usability feedback and pilot testing.

By explicitly mapping both influence and impact, the team avoids the common trap of ignoring frontline users until rollout day. For security and behavior change data, many teams reference public resources like the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Stakeholder salience model example for a healthcare integration project

Sometimes power and interest aren’t enough. In complex environments like healthcare IT, a salience model can be one of the best examples of stakeholder analysis matrix examples you can adopt.

Consider a hospital implementing a new EHR integration with a third-party clinical decision support tool. The project team uses three attributes:

• Power – ability to influence resources or decisions
• Legitimacy – recognized right to be involved
• Urgency – how time-sensitive their claims are

Stakeholders are categorized as:

• Definitive stakeholders – Hospital CEO, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer (high in all three)
• Dominant stakeholders – IT Director, Vendor Account Manager (high power and legitimacy)
• Dependent stakeholders – patients and patient advocates (high legitimacy and urgency, low direct power)

The matrix helps the team justify why patient advocates, though not powerful in org charts, must be treated as central voices. When patient safety and outcomes are on the line, urgency and legitimacy carry weight. For evidence-backed perspectives on patient-centered care and stakeholder roles, teams often refer to resources from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or large health systems like Mayo Clinic.

This example of stakeholder analysis matrix goes beyond “who can block the project” and asks, “who has a valid, time-sensitive stake we can’t ignore?”

Agile product roadmap example using a dynamic stakeholder matrix

Static matrices age fast in agile environments. One of the more modern examples of stakeholder analysis matrix examples is a dynamic board that evolves with each sprint or quarter.

Take a product team building a B2B SaaS platform. Their stakeholder matrix lives in a collaboration tool like Jira or Notion, not in a one-off slide deck. Columns represent stakeholder groups (Enterprise Admins, SMB Customers, Internal Sales, Support, Compliance, Integration Partners). Rows represent attributes:

• Current priority level (P1–P4)
• Current sentiment (Supportive / Neutral / Resistant)
• Key needs this quarter
• Primary contact channels
• Last meaningful touchpoint

As roadmap priorities shift—for example, from enterprise security features to SMB onboarding—the matrix is updated. Enterprise Admins might move from P1 to P2, while SMB Customers move up. Support might shift from “Neutral” to “Resistant” if ticket volume spikes.

This living example of a stakeholder analysis matrix works because it’s treated like a backlog for relationships. It’s updated in sprint reviews, not rediscovered at the post-mortem.

Regulatory and compliance-focused stakeholder matrix example

For fintech, healthtech, and govtech projects, some of the best examples of stakeholder analysis matrix examples emphasize regulatory and compliance roles.

Imagine a startup building an AI-powered claims processing tool for health insurers. The stakeholder matrix includes:

• Regulators and standards bodies – state insurance regulators, CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), and sometimes the FDA if the AI edges into clinical decision support
• Internal governance – Chief Compliance Officer, Privacy Officer, Security Officer
• External watchdogs – patient advocacy groups, industry associations
• Implementation partners – system integrators, cloud providers

Columns in the matrix might include:

• Regulatory authority level (high/medium/low)
• Data sensitivity exposure (PHI, PII, de-identified data)
• Approval or review requirements
• Tolerance for experimentation

This example of stakeholder analysis matrix helps the team avoid nasty surprises like discovering a regulator needed to sign off on a pilot. For staying aligned with U.S. regulatory expectations, teams often consult public guidance from CMS and HHS.

Internal vs. external stakeholder matrix example for a platform migration

Cloud migrations are messy. One practical example of stakeholder analysis matrix splits internal and external stakeholders but keeps them in a single view.

Picture a legacy on-prem platform moving to a cloud-native architecture. The matrix is structured into two main blocks:

Internal stakeholders

• Executive sponsors (CIO, CFO)
• Platform engineering
• Security and compliance
• Support and operations
• Business unit leaders

External stakeholders

• Key customers (by segment or account tier)
• Third-party vendors and integrators
• Cloud provider account team

Each stakeholder row includes:

• Impact of migration (service risk, cost, performance)
• Communication cadence (weekly, monthly, milestone-based)
• Key concerns (downtime, data residency, performance SLAs)

By putting everyone on one matrix, the PM can see, for example, that a “low internal priority” business unit actually serves a “high revenue, high risk” external customer. This kind of example of stakeholder analysis matrix is a reality check against internal echo chambers.

How to adapt these stakeholder analysis matrix examples to your template

Looking across these real examples of stakeholder analysis matrix examples, a few patterns stand out that you can build into your own template:

• Always tie categories to actions. A matrix that just labels stakeholders as “high power” or “low interest” is half-finished. Add a column for “Engagement strategy” so categories translate into behavior.
• Make sentiment visible. Adding a simple sentiment field (Supportive / Neutral / Resistant) turns your matrix into an early warning system.
• Track change over time. A date-stamped “Last reviewed” or “Last updated” column reminds you this isn’t a one-time artifact.
• Connect to project governance. Align roles in your matrix with your RACI charts, steering committees, and risk registers so it isn’t an isolated document.

The best examples of stakeholder analysis matrix examples are opinionated: they force trade-offs about where you’ll spend time and political capital. Copy the structure that fits your project, then adjust categories, attributes, and engagement rules until the matrix actually influences decisions.

FAQ: Stakeholder analysis matrix examples

What are some common examples of stakeholder analysis matrix formats?
Common examples of stakeholder analysis matrix formats include the power–interest grid, influence–impact matrix, RACI-style responsibility matrix, salience model (power, legitimacy, urgency), and internal vs. external stakeholder grids. Most technology and software teams end up blending two or more into a custom template.

Can you give an example of a stakeholder analysis matrix for a small software startup?
A small startup might build a simple power–interest grid with just a dozen entries: founders, lead engineer, early adopters, key design partners, one or two critical vendors, and a single advisor or board member. Each cell would include power level, interest level, and a short engagement plan like “monthly roadmap calls” or “beta access with feedback loop.” Even this lightweight example of stakeholder analysis matrix can prevent surprises when priorities shift.

How often should I update my stakeholder analysis matrix?
For fast-moving software projects, updating the matrix every sprint review or at least once a month works well. For slower, infrastructure-heavy programs, aligning updates with major milestones is usually enough. If your matrix still lists people who left the company six months ago, it’s not doing its job.

Are there industry standards for stakeholder analysis matrices?
There’s no single official standard, but many approaches align with project management guidance from organizations like PMI and with governance practices you’ll see echoed in resources from agencies such as HHS or NIST. The best examples of stakeholder analysis matrix examples are adapted to context rather than copied verbatim.

What’s the biggest mistake people make with stakeholder analysis matrices?
The most common mistake is treating the matrix as a checkbox exercise: filling it out once for a kickoff document and never using it to drive engagement. The second is overcomplicating it with so many categories and scores that nobody wants to maintain it. A practical example of stakeholder analysis matrix is one your team actually opens during planning and decision meetings.