When you start a project, one of the first steps is to identify all the people and groups who have a stake in its outcome. These are your stakeholders. In most projects, stakeholders include clients who request or fund the work, end users who will interact with the final product, and team members who contribute their expertise. Sometimes, stakeholders also include external parties like vendors, regulators, or community representatives. Recognizing every stakeholder ensures that no important needs or expectations are overlooked.

Equally important is making sure everyone on the team understands their role. When roles are clearly defined, each person knows what they are responsible for and how their work fits into the bigger picture. This clarity helps prevent misunderstandings, reduces duplicated effort, and encourages accountability. For project success, you need both a complete picture of your stakeholders and a shared understanding of who is doing what.

Identifying Stakeholders and Roles

Consider a software development project where the team was excited to build a new customer portal. Early on, there was confusion about who was responsible for user interface design and who would handle backend integration. Two developers unknowingly worked on the same feature, while another important task was left undone. This overlap created delays and frustration.

After a team meeting to clarify roles—assigning one person to lead UI design and another to focus on backend work—progress became much smoother. Each team member understood their responsibilities, communication improved, and the project moved forward efficiently.

This example shows that identifying stakeholders and clarifying roles early can prevent wasted effort and help everyone collaborate more effectively.