An onion diagram is an analytical tool that helps organizations determine who their stakeholders are and how each stakeholder role interacts with the organization. It is formatted with a core process or product at the center, surrounded by layers of stakeholders. The stakeholders who have the most direct influence over the core process or product sit in the first layer, with the level of influence decreasing in each subsequent layer.

The most efficient way to make an onion diagram is to use FigJam’s stakeholder diagram template. FigJam’s design tools take care of the formatting and drawing for you, so you can focus on specifying your stakeholders and figuring out where they fit.

Start placing stakeholders at the center of your onion diagram template and work outward. Once you’ve finished four to five layers of stakeholders surrounding the core, you have the option to add lines between stakeholders to define how they relate.

It’s a good idea to collaborate on your onion chart with team members to ensure that your information is accurate and to strengthen bonds across your entire organization.

An onion diagram is used to gain a deeper understanding of an organization’s stakeholders. With insight from an onion diagram, stakeholders can see how they might support an initiative.

But that’s not all. With some clarity from an onion chart, project managers can anticipate how certain stakeholders might react to an update, determine who to turn to for help with a venture, and tailor communication to fit varying layers of influence.