Limitation in terms of measurement is an issue, but this does not
bear strongly on the utility of the theory at the pre-start up phase.
The Mitchell et al (1997) theory does not provide a method to quantify
the amount of power, legitimacy or urgency that each stakeholder possesses.
The theory provides a general overview of stakeholder configuration
with three classifications of stakeholders: latent, expectant and
definitive, and eliminates currently disinterested stakeholders. The value
of the model is the ability to determine amongst competing voices
which stakeholders possess the capacity to influence the feasibility of
the development. At this stage in planning, quantifying the degree of
power, urgency or legitimacy is not as important as the identification
of stakeholders and an understanding of the stakeholder relationships.
The result of applying the model is a stakeholder configuration that
management can use to recognize stakeholder status and broadly prioritise
stakeholder claims within the parameters of the feasibility study.