How to Structure an Easily Readable Power Diagram


Start with four columns on a sheet of paper.

 In the center of the first column put your focal organization, e.g., the company or industry that
is the focus of the case.  I’ll just use “Coal” from now on.


In the second column put their allies at a level above and below Coal (so as to make it easy to
draw power relationship lines from Coal directly to governmental actors and indirectly through its
allies.


 In the third column put the government actors in the formal hierarchy from most powerful at the
top, to least powerful at the bottom.  (Then go back and adjust the location of Coal’s allies
according to which governmental entity they are able to influence so as to avoid overlapping lines
of power.)


In the fourth column put Coal’s opponents, arranged according to which governmental entities they
will try to influence, just as you did for Coal’s allies.


Only then draw your power relationship lines.  This will avoid overlapping lines and held you avoid
“overkill,” i.e., showing power relationships that do not exist or where the potential power of A>B
is so low as to be irrelevant to how the case will play out.


NOTE:  The following 4-column diagram is NOT a power diagram.  Rather, it is a format for
disciplining yourself as a first step in constructing a power diagram.  See Exhibit 8.1 for what
diagram should look like.







Coal

    Coal Ally #1






    Coal Ally #2





    Coal Ally n

                Public Policy Hierarchy

                Government Actor A





                Government Actor B






                Government Actor C

                                       Coal opponent #1





                                       Coal Opponent #2






                                       Coal Opponent n