ABSTRACT
This chapter describes some categories of people who define and can directly or indirectly influence project success. Different stakeholders have different definitions of success. Because stakeholders each have their own motives and perspectives, these definitions of success can be widely divergent, such that a project can conceivably be considered both a success and a failure at the same time. Stakeholders wish to have confidence that the information they receive is accurate and appropriate for their purposes; both internal team members and external consultants provide stakeholders with those assurances. Stakeholders may be individuals, formal groups, and entities such as companies and governments. They each have different levels of motivation, interest, power, and influence, which may change throughout the project. The number of project stakeholders can be considerable, and failure to address their needs may mean failure of the project. Some formal oversight bodies on a project and within an organization are stakeholders that serve as a governance mechanism.
