It can be extremely useful when starting a project, and is part of accepted project management techniques (APM body of knowledge and similar). It genuinely help

It can be extremely useful when starting a project, and is part of accepted project management techniques (APM body of knowledge and similar). It genuinely helps to consider important people's level of interest, level of influence, and preferred communication styles. I can easily imagine it becoming so ingrained as to be used in all new situations. I've also heard of it being used in situations with difficult colleagues or excessive office politics. Of course, by the time you are writing a stakeholder management plan just to deal with your own manager and peers, you probably need a new job, but it can be useful to keep you going for a while.