Project Management: Foundations to Practice · Stakeholder Identification and Engagement
Who Is a Stakeholder?
PMI's stakeholder definition is deliberately broad, and that breadth is the entire point. This chapter covers why narrow stakeholder thinking is one of the most common ways projects get blindsided.
PMI defines a stakeholder as an individual, group, or organization that may affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a decision, activity, or outcome of a project [1]. This definition is intentionally broad, extending well beyond the people directly working on or funding a project.
Key Takeaways
- PMI defines a stakeholder as anyone who may affect, be affected by, or perceive themselves affected by a project, deliberately broad.
- This includes end users, regulators, and community groups, not just the obvious sponsor and delivery team.
- PMBOK 8 elevates Stakeholders to a full performance domain, requiring the same sustained attention as scope or schedule.
- A stakeholder identified late is far harder to bring on board than one engaged from the start, often forcing expensive rework.