## Mendelow's Matrix — Stakeholder Mapping
### What It Is
Mendelow's Matrix is a stakeholder prioritisation tool that classifies stakeholders on two dimensions:
- Power — ability to influence the organisation's decisions
- Interest — degree of concern/involvement in what the organisation does
### The Four Quadrants
```
HIGH INTEREST LOW INTEREST
HIGH POWER | KEY PLAYERS | KEEP SATISFIED |
| Manage Closely| Provide Info |
LOW POWER | KEEP INFORMED | MINIMAL EFFORT |
| Engage them | Monitor |
```
| Quadrant | Stakeholder Type | Management Strategy |
|---|
| High Power + High Interest | Key Players | Manage closely — maximum engagement |
| High Power + Low Interest | Keep Satisfied | Satisfy their needs; avoid displeasing them |
| Low Power + High Interest | Keep Informed | Keep updated; they can become advocates or vocal critics |
| Low Power + Low Interest | Minimal Effort | Monitor with minimal resource allocation |
### How to Identify in Cases
- Regulatory authorities → typically High Power, Low Interest → Keep Satisfied
- Local communities (near a project site) → High Power (can protest/block), High Interest → Key Players
- Potential customers → Low Power, High Interest → Keep Informed
- Social media followers/influencers → Low Power, High Interest → Keep Informed
### Exam Application
When a question describes how a company addresses a stakeholder group, match the described strategy back to the quadrant:
- Open dialogues + community engagement → managing a Key Player
- Compliance + regulatory adherence → satisfying a High Power, Low Interest stakeholder
- Targeted marketing + community involvement → informing a Low Power, High Interest stakeholder
### Example 1
MuseoGoa (RTP Sep 2024) — Local Community as Key Stakeholders:
MuseoGoa planned a museum in a village. Local communities were concerned about disruption to their way of life.
- Local communities have HIGH POWER (can block the project, protest) and HIGH INTEREST (directly affected).
- Mendelow's Matrix → Key Players → Manage Closely.
- MuseoGoa's response: open dialogues, involving locals in museum operations, supporting artisans, organising cultural events.
- This is classic 'Manage Closely' behaviour.
- Answer: Mendelow's Matrix (b)
### Example 2
Café Delight (MTP2 May 2024) — Distinguishing stakeholder quadrants:
Question: Which stakeholder group did Café Delight engage through targeted marketing campaigns and community involvement?
- 'Regulatory authorities' = High Power, Low Interest → Keep Satisfied (addressed through compliance).
- 'Potential customers and local communities' = Low Power, High Interest → Keep Informed.
- Targeted marketing and community involvement initiatives = the strategy for Keep Informed stakeholders.
- Answer: Low Power, High Interest stakeholders (c)
### Example 3
Distinguishing Keep Satisfied vs Keep Informed in exams:
A common exam trap is mixing up these two quadrants.
- A government regulator has POWER to revoke licences but LOW day-to-day interest in your menu choices → Keep Satisfied via compliance.
- A food blogger has HIGH interest (writes about every dish) but LOW power to force change → Keep Informed via PR and marketing.
- The management strategy differs: with 'Keep Satisfied' you prevent them from becoming displeased; with 'Keep Informed' you proactively share information to build goodwill.