Salience Model: Power, Urgency, and Legitimacy in Stakeholder Classification

PMBOK v8 Definition

The salience model describes classes of stakeholders based on assessments of their power (level of authority or ability to influence the outcomes of the project), urgency (need for immediate attention, either time-constrained or relating to the stakeholders’ high stakes in the outcome), and legitimacy (their involvement is appropriate). An adaptation of the salience model substitutes proximity (stakeholders’ direct involvement in the project activities, such as their physical proximity to the worksite, or their direct contribution to project deliverables) for legitimacy, applying to the team and measuring their level of involvement with the work of the project.

Why It Matters for the Exam

The salience model appears frequently in PMI exam questions about stakeholder classification and prioritization, particularly in scenarios with large, complex stakeholder communities or complex networks of relationships. Exam questions test your ability to differentiate between the three attributes (power, urgency, legitimacy) and to apply the proximity adaptation for team members.

Key Points to Remember (for the exam)

• Three Core Attributes: Power (authority to influence outcomes), Urgency (need for immediate attention), Legitimacy (appropriate involvement)
• Proximity Adaptation: Substitutes legitimacy with proximity when assessing team members' direct involvement or physical nearness to the worksite
• Primary Use: Determining the relative importance of identified stakeholders
• Best Application: Large, complex communities of stakeholders or where there are complex networks of relationships
• Key Benefit: Assists with the development of communication strategies
• Common Confusion: Do not confuse salience model with power/interest grid—salience adds urgency and legitimacy dimensions
• Stakeholder Register: Stakeholder classification using salience model is captured in the stakeholder register

Typical PMI Exam Example

You are managing a large infrastructure project with over 200 identified stakeholders, including government agencies, local communities, contractors, and environmental groups. The stakeholder community has complex relationships. Which stakeholder classification model would be most useful for determining the relative importance of these stakeholders?

Answer: The salience model, because it is designed for large, complex stakeholder communities and assesses power, urgency, and legitimacy (or proximity for team members).

PMI Exam Traps

• Trap: Confusing power with urgency

• Reality: Power is about authority to influence outcomes; urgency is about need for immediate attention (time-constrained or high stakes)

• Trap: Applying salience model to small, simple stakeholder groups

• Reality: The salience model is specifically useful for large, complex communities or complex networks of relationships

• Trap: Forgetting the proximity adaptation exists

• Reality: For team members, proximity (direct involvement or physical nearness) can substitute for legitimacy

• Trap: Thinking salience model replaces other stakeholder analysis tools

• Reality: Salience model complements tools like the power/interest grid and directions of influence analysis

Important PMI Connections

Quick Review Questions

1. What are the three attributes assessed in the standard salience model?

2. When would you use the proximity adaptation of the salience model instead of the standard version?

3. Why is the salience model particularly useful for large, complex stakeholder communities?

4. What is the difference between "power" and "urgency" in the salience model?

5. How does the salience model assist in the development of communication strategies?

PMBOK v8 Reference

Section 4.1.2 - Stakeholder Classification Models