Identify Stakeholders
Identify Stakeholders is the process of regularly identifying project stakeholders and analyzing and documenting relevant information regarding their interests, involvement, interdependencies, influence, and potential impact on project success.
Explanation
Identify Stakeholders is performed throughout the project, not just at initiation. The process uses the project charter, business documents, procurement documents, enterprise environmental factors, and organizational process assets as inputs. Tools include stakeholder analysis, expert judgment, and data gathering techniques such as questionnaires and brainstorming.
The primary output is the stakeholder register, which captures identification information, assessment information, and stakeholder classification. Early and thorough identification reduces the risk of unexpected resistance later in the project. In agile environments, stakeholder identification is revisited at the start of each iteration.
This process belongs to the Stakeholder Management Knowledge Area and is performed in the Initiating Process Group initially, then repeated as needed. The project manager should cast a wide net to avoid overlooking stakeholders who could derail the project if discovered late.
Key Points
- •Performed iteratively throughout the project lifecycle, not just once at initiation
- •Key output is the stakeholder register
- •Uses the project charter as a primary input
- •Stakeholders discovered late pose higher risk due to unmanaged expectations
Exam Tip
Remember that Identify Stakeholders should begin as early as possible and be revisited regularly. On the exam, look for answers that emphasize continuous identification rather than a one-time activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
Stakeholder Register
The stakeholder register is a project document that records identification information, assessment details, and the classification of each project stakeholder.
Stakeholder Analysis
Stakeholder analysis is a technique for systematically gathering and analyzing quantitative and qualitative information to determine whose interests should be taken into account throughout the project.
Stakeholder Mapping
Stakeholder mapping is the visual representation of stakeholder relationships, influence, interest, or other attributes using grids, matrices, or diagrams to support analysis and engagement planning.
Stakeholder Classification
Stakeholder classification is the process of categorizing stakeholders based on shared attributes such as power, interest, influence, impact, urgency, or legitimacy to determine appropriate engagement strategies.
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