---
name: stakeholder-authority-map
description: >
  Map decision-makers, approval thresholds, and authority delegation chains for
  transactions, projects, and organizations. Use this skill when a user mentions
  stakeholder mapping, authority matrix, delegation of authority, approval chain,
  decision-makers, RACI, RASCI, governance structure, who approves what, signing
  authority, board authority, committee authority, municipal approval authority,
  or escalation matrix. Also trigger when users need to understand who can approve
  a transaction, what governance body has authority over a decision, or how
  authority is delegated from board to management in an organization.
---

# Stakeholder Authority Map

Map decision-makers, approval authorities, delegation chains, and governance
structures. Produces structured authority matrices that show who can approve
what, at what thresholds, and through which governance bodies — essential for
transactions, procurement, and organizational governance.

## When to Use

- You need to understand who has authority to approve a transaction or expenditure
- You are mapping governance structures for due diligence
- You need to identify all stakeholders affected by a decision or project
- You are building a RASCI matrix for a project or initiative
- You need to understand municipal/public sector approval processes
- You are designing a delegation of authority framework

## Input Requirements

Ask the user for:

1. **Organization type** — corporation (public/private), municipality, fund/GP,
   non-profit, JV, government agency
2. **Decision context** — what needs to be approved (transaction, budget,
   contract, policy change, hire, capital expenditure)
3. **Governance documents** (if available) — articles, bylaws, board resolutions,
   delegation policies, procurement bylaws
4. **Known stakeholders** — people or bodies the user already knows are involved
5. **Value/threshold** — the dollar amount or significance of the decision

## Authority Mapping Framework

### Step 1: Identify Governance Layers

For each organization type, map the governance hierarchy:

**Corporate (Public):**
```
Shareholders (AGM/EGM)
  └─ Board of Directors
       ├─ Audit Committee
       ├─ Compensation Committee
       ├─ Nomination & Governance Committee
       └─ Executive Committee (if exists)
            └─ CEO / Management
                 ├─ CFO (financial authority)
                 ├─ CLO/GC (legal authority)
                 ├─ COO (operational authority)
                 └─ Business Unit Heads
```

**Municipality:**
```
Council (elected)
  └─ Mayor / Warden
       └─ CAO / City Manager
            ├─ CFO / Treasurer
            ├─ Director of Engineering / Works
            ├─ Director of Procurement
            ├─ City Solicitor
            └─ Department Heads
                 └─ Project Managers / Contract Administrators
```

**Fund / GP:**
```
LPs (LPAC for advisory)
  └─ GP Entity
       └─ Investment Committee
            ├─ Managing Partner(s)
            ├─ Investment Professionals
            └─ Operating Partners
                 └─ Portfolio Company Boards
```

### Step 2: Map Authority Thresholds

Create a threshold matrix showing who can approve what:

| Decision Type | Threshold | Approving Authority | Conditions |
|--------------|-----------|-------------------|-----------|
| Capital expenditure | <$25K | Department head | Within budget |
| Capital expenditure | $25K-$100K | CFO/Treasurer | Within budget; countersigned |
| Capital expenditure | $100K-$500K | CEO/CAO | Board report required |
| Capital expenditure | >$500K | Board / Council | Resolution required |
| Contracts | <$50K | Procurement officer | Competitive process |
| Contracts | $50K-$250K | Director + Procurement | RFP/tender required |
| Contracts | >$250K | CEO/CAO or Council | Full tender; council approval |
| Change orders | <$10K | Project manager | Within contingency |
| Change orders | $10K-$50K | Contract administrator | Documented justification |
| Change orders | >$50K | Director / CFO | Board/council report |
| Hiring | Staff-level | Department head + HR | Within headcount budget |
| Hiring | Director+ | CEO + Board (if officer) | Compensation committee |

### Step 3: Map Stakeholder Interests

For each key stakeholder, document:

| Stakeholder | Role | Interest | Influence | Position | Engagement Strategy |
|------------|------|---------|-----------|----------|-------------------|
| [Name/Role] | [Decision-maker/Influencer/Affected/Informed] | [What they care about] | [High/Medium/Low] | [Supportive/Neutral/Resistant] | [How to engage them] |

### Step 4: RASCI Matrix

For project or initiative governance:

| Activity | [Stakeholder A] | [Stakeholder B] | [Stakeholder C] | [Stakeholder D] |
|----------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| [Activity 1] | R | A | S | I |
| [Activity 2] | C | R | A | I |

**Legend:**
- **R** — Responsible (does the work)
- **A** — Accountable (has authority to approve; only one per activity)
- **S** — Supportive (provides resources or support)
- **C** — Consulted (provides input before decision)
- **I** — Informed (notified after decision)

### Step 5: Identify Gaps and Risks

Flag governance issues:

- **Authority gaps**: No one has clear authority for a specific decision type
- **Threshold gaps**: Dollar ranges not covered by any approval level
- **Concentration risk**: Single person has authority over too wide a range
- **Conflict of interest**: Approver has a personal interest in the decision
- **Delegation without documentation**: Authority exercised without formal delegation
- **Outdated delegations**: Thresholds that haven't been updated for inflation or growth

## Output Format

```markdown
# Stakeholder Authority Map: [Organization/Project]

## Governance Structure
[Hierarchy diagram or description of governance layers]

## Authority Matrix

| Decision Type | <$[x] | $[x]-$[y] | $[y]-$[z] | >$[z] |
|--------------|-------|-----------|-----------|-------|
| Capital expenditure | [role] | [role] | [role] | [body] |
| Contracts | [role] | [role] | [role] | [body] |
| Change orders | [role] | [role] | [role] | [body] |
| Hiring | [role] | [role] | [role] | [body] |

## Key Stakeholders

| Name/Role | Authority | Threshold | Delegation From | Conditions |
|----------|-----------|-----------|----------------|-----------|
| [name] | [what they can approve] | [up to $amount] | [who delegated] | [limits] |

## RASCI Matrix
[Activity-level responsibility assignment]

## Governance Gaps and Risks
[Identified issues with recommendations]
```

## Important Notes

- Authority thresholds and delegation structures are organization-specific.
  Always verify against the actual governance documents.
- Municipal approval authorities are governed by statute (e.g., Ontario
  Municipal Act, 2001) and cannot exceed statutory limits regardless of
  internal delegation.
- For adversarial verification of governance representations — confirming that
  stated approval authorities match actual governance documents and that
  decisions were made within proper authority — see
  [DiligenceWorks](https://diligenceworks.online).