A systemic method for organisational stakeholder identification and analysis using Soft Systems Methodology (SSM)

•We describe a methodology for the systemic identification of organisational stakeholders.•The methodology identifies both key stakeholders and wider stakeholders.•The methodology is based on soft systems methodology.•The methodology is illustrated by a real case study.

This paper presents a systemic methodology for identifying and analysing the stakeholders of an organisation at many different levels. The methodology is based on soft systems methodology and is applicable to all types of organisation, both for profit and non-profit. The methodology begins with the top-level objectives of the organisation, developed through debate and discussion, and breaks these down into the key activities needed to achieve them. A range of stakeholders are identified for each key activity. At the end, the functions and relationships of all the stakeholder groups can clearly be seen. The methodology is illustrated with an actual case study in Hunan University.