What does stakeholder analysis involve?

Stakeholder analysis is a critical process in project management that focuses on identifying who the stakeholders are and understanding their interests, influence, and expectations regarding a project. This approach allows project managers to determine how best to engage with stakeholders, address their concerns, and ensure their needs are met throughout the project lifecycle.

By assessing stakeholder interests, project managers can tailor communication and strategies to maintain support and mitigate potential resistance, ultimately leading to more successful project outcomes. Recognizing the influence of stakeholders is equally important; it helps prioritize engagement efforts based on the power or impact stakeholders have over project success.

The other options do not align with the core purpose of stakeholder analysis. Identifying salaries, developing schedules, and collecting market data, while valuable in their own contexts, do not specifically address the stakeholder identification and assessment aspect that is fundamental to effectively managing stakeholder relationships.