Distinguish authority from influence
A statutory role, public advocacy, ownership interest, and reported informal influence describe different relationships. Record the type before drawing the line.
Capability 01 / Actor & asset mapping
Who has the power
to change the outcome?
An organisation chart identifies formal positions. A stakeholder assessment examines who makes a decision, who carries it out and who is affected. Each relationship needs evidence of the role it describes, together with its date and any uncertainty.
Every connection needs a source
Relationships need evidence
Anchor the claim in time
A board appointment or local position can change. Keep the source date, validity period, and review trigger with the relationship.
Preserve what is unknown
An unresolved relationship should remain unresolved. Visual proximity is not a substitute for proof of control, coordination, or access.
The resulting brief
Know who matters, and what to ask them
A map is the index to the reasoning. The accompanying note explains why a relationship matters and what remains uncertain.
PROPOSED BRIEF CONTENTS
- Decision and institutional pathway
- Actor register with documented roles
- Relationship ledger and source references
- Asset and operating dependencies
- Unresolved claims and alternative explanations
- Questions for engagement and review horizon
Useful when the decision depends on people
For government affairs teams, the map can focus the next stakeholder conversation. For investment teams, it can help test assumptions about counterparties, authority, and implementation. It does not turn reported relationships into legal findings or imply access to the people represented.