Who is considered a stakeholder in project management?

In project management, a stakeholder is defined as anyone who will be affected by the outcome of your project. This broad definition includes a wide range of individuals or groups, from team members and project sponsors to clients, customers, regulatory bodies, and even the general public. By recognizing that stakeholders can include anyone with an interest in the project outcome, project managers can better assess the impact of decisions and actions throughout the project lifecycle.

This understanding is crucial for effective communication, stakeholder engagement, and management strategies. Engaging with all stakeholders helps to identify their concerns, needs and expectations, ensuring the project delivers value and satisfaction across all affected parties. By doing so, project managers can also mitigate risks and enhance support for the project, leading to greater chances of success.

The other answers narrow the definition of stakeholders too much, as they exclude various important groups that might be affected by a project. This could lead to oversight of critical needs and could negatively impact project outcomes.