Stakeholder identification and management is a key skill for all project managers, program managers and executives (collectively called project manager for the purpose of this paper). Stakeholders are individuals who represent specific interest groups served by the outcomes and performance of a project or program. Project managers are accountable for the end-to-end management of their projects, including performance and expectation management of individuals who may be outside their direct control.
Project managers must give due consideration to the people issues surrounding projects and recognise that the appropriate involvement and management of stakeholders is almost always a critical success factor. Project managers should therefore have a formal stakeholder management process that is appropriate for the circumstances of the project.