What Is the Iceberg Model?
The iceberg model is a visualization tool that can be used for various purposes, but is most commonly used in business for stakeholder analysis. The model is simple: it shows that there is more to any situation or problem than what is visible on the surface. Just as an iceberg is mostly hidden underwater, the majority of most problems and situations are hidden from view.
This is an important tool for stakeholder analysis because it helps you identify all of the stakeholders in a situation, not just the ones who are making the most noise. It also allows you to see how interconnected different groups of stakeholders are. And by understanding the full extent of the problem, you can develop a more comprehensive solution.
How Is the Iceberg Model Used in Stakeholder Analysis?
When performing a Stakeholder Analysis, it’s important to understand the different types of stakeholders involved and how they might be impacted by the project.
The iceberg model is a helpful way to visualize this. The model shows that, just like an iceberg, most of the stakeholder’s impact is hidden from view. You can only see the small part that sticks out of the water. This model can help you identify which stakeholders are most important, and what their potential impact could be. It also helps you understand which stakeholders are more likely to be vocal and which ones are likely to stay silent.
Understanding the Motives of Stakeholders
Now that you understand the different types of stakeholders, it’s important to delve a little deeper into their motives. The iceberg model is one of the most useful tools for doing this. It helps you to visualize the different levels of motivation that stakeholders can have. At the top of the iceberg, you have stakeholders who are motivated by self-interest. They’re looking out for their own interests and won’t be swayed by anything else.
Assessing Stakeholders’ Power and Influence
Remember the iceberg model we talked about earlier? You can use it to assess stakeholders’ power and influence, too. Here’s how it works: First, you identify a stakeholder’s position on an issue. Then, you ask yourself how important that issue is to the stakeholder. The more important the issue is, the more power and influence the stakeholder has.
Let’s say you’re trying to assess the power and influence of a local politician who opposes your project. The first step is to identify where the politician stands on the issue. In this case, they’re opposed to your project. The second step is to ask you how important the issue is to the politician. If the project is not important to them, then they probably don’t have much power or influence over it. But if the project is very important to them, then they have a lot of power and influence.
Probing Beneath the Surface with the Iceberg Model
While the 5Ws and 1H method is a great starting point for your stakeholder analysis, it’s not enough to really get to know your stakeholders. That’s where the Iceberg Model comes in.
The iceberg model is a tool that can help you probe beneath the surface and understand what’s really going on with your stakeholders. It’s based on the idea that there’s always more to someone than meets the eye, and that if you want to understand someone, you need to dig deeper than the surface level.
