2.1 Understanding power

A method used to depict the relationship between a stakeholder’s interest in the organisation and the power they have to influence it is a matrix (see Figure 4). On this matrix, large-scale funders, for example, would be placed in the high interest/high power category. Similarly, an organisation might have stakeholders that have a high degree of power but little interest in the success of the organisation (for example policy makers). This might apply to some of the secondary stakeholders you identified in Activity 2. What about those with a high degree of interest but low power? Service users and staff in the organisation will often fall within this category, but not always.

Figure 4 Power and interest of stakeholders (Source: adapted from Johnson and Scholes, 1999)

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This figure is a matrix table that provides examples of stakeholders with varying levels of power and interest in an issue or organisation.

Power is located along the y-axis of the table and is subdivided into two categories: low and high.

Level of interest is located along the x-axis of the table and is also subdivided into two categories: low and high.

This provides four cells within the matrix with the following designations and examples:

Low power/Low level of interest: e.g., the general public.

High power/Low level of interest: e.g., policy makers.

Low power/High level of interest: e.g., service users, staff (often).

High power/High level of interest: e.g., funders, members.

Figure 4 Power and interest of stakeholders (Source: adapted from Johnson and Scholes, 1999)