Stakeholders: Who Really Matters in a Use Case?

Every great use case begins with a problem worth solving, supported by the right data, and backed by a strong value proposition. But what happens when different people define “value” differently? That’s where Step 4 of Agathe Daae-Qvale’s framework comes in: Stakeholders.

A problem worth solving. Team members discuss stakeholders in use cases.

In Digitized Product Management, Daae-Qvale explains that many use cases break down not because they’re flawed, but because the right people weren’t consulted at the right time.

“Stakeholders are not just people who approve a use case—they’re the ones who will feel its impact,” she writes.

Identify Early, Not Late

Stakeholders include anyone who will benefit from, resist, use, or be disrupted by the use case. That means users, executives, developers, partners, and sometimes even regulators. If you only consult decision-makers, you miss the practical realities. If you only talk to users, you might miss the business strategy.

Daae-Qvale recommends identifying core and peripheral stakeholders early, not just before launch. The earlier you understand their expectations, the more smoothly your solution can be validated, adopted, and scaled.

 When Stakeholders Clash: A Classic Misstep

Consider an enterprise IT team rolling out a new procurement platform. Finance signs off based on cost savings, but they never consulted the warehouse staff—who are overwhelmed by the new interface. Adoption stalls. Shadow systems reappear. The use case is marked “complete” on paper but never gains traction in practice.

It’s not a tech failure—it’s a stakeholder failure.

Aligning Perspectives to Move Forward

In Step 4, Daae-Qvale encourages teams to map stakeholder influence and needs:

• Who can block or accelerate adoption?

• Who must trust the data?

• Who defines success?

• Who feels the consequences of failure?

This mapping doesn't just help with buy-in. It uncovers blind spots, competing goals, and sometimes even better use case opportunities.

“Use case development is not a solo effort. The earlier you co-own the process, the more resilient and relevant your solution becomes,” she explains.

What Comes Next?

Stakeholders don’t just affect the outcome; they are the outcome. Every successful use case ultimately lives or dies by how real people experience its impact.

In Digitized Product Management, Agathe Daae-Qvale provides a structured way to identify and align with your stakeholders—before misalignment becomes a costly mistake.

Discover how to keep your use cases people-centered, data-backed, and value-aligned, every step of the way.

Explore the full framework inside Digitized Product Management.