PMP Certification: Plan Stakeholder Engagement (based on PMBOK® Guide, 6th Edition)


  • WHAT Plan Stakeholder Engagement Is. Plan Stakeholder Engagement implies identifying how to effectively engage stakeholders.
  • WHY Plan Stakeholder Engagement Is Important. Critical factor for the overall success of a project, a project manager plans carefully upfront the stakeholder involvement in all aspects of the project.
  • WHEN Plan Stakeholder Engagement Is Executed. The Plan Stakeholder Engagement process is performed early in the project’s life cycle and repeated iteratively then after, not to run the risk of marginalizing and alienating stakeholders.
  • HOW Plan Stakeholder Engagement Operates.

pmp 2018 plan stakeholder engagement pmbok guide 6th edition tipsographic main

Plan Stakeholder Engagement 101

What Does Plan Stakeholder Engagement Involve and When Do You Perform It in a Project Life Cycle?


  • WHAT Plan Stakeholder Engagement Is. Plan Stakeholder Engagement implies identifying how to effectively engage stakeholders.
  • WHY Plan Stakeholder Engagement Is Important. Critical factor for the overall success of a project, a project manager plans carefully upfront the stakeholder involvement in all aspects of the project.
  • WHEN Plan Stakeholder Engagement Is Executed. The Plan Stakeholder Engagement process is performed early in the project’s life cycle and repeated iteratively then after, not to run the risk of marginalizing and alienating stakeholders.
  • HOW Plan Stakeholder Engagement Operates.
InputsTools and techniquesOutputs
  1. Project charter
    • Project management plan
    • Resource management plan
    • Communications management plan
    • Risk management plan
  2. Project documents
    • Assumption log
    • Change log
    • Issue log
    • Project schedule
    • Risk register
    • Stakeholder register
  3. Agreements
  4. Enterprise environmental factors
  5. Organizational process assets
  1. Expert judgment
  2. Data gathering
    • Benchmarking
  3. Data analysis
    • Assumption and constraint analysis
    • Root cause analysis
  4. Decision making
    • Prioritization/ranking
  5. Data representation
    • Mind mapping
    • Stakeholder engagement assessment matrix
  6. Meetings
  1. Stakeholder engagement plan

Source: PMBOK® Guide, 6th ed., Chapter 13, section 13.2, p. 516.

Plan Stakeholder Engagement Key Terms

What Are the Key Terms to Fully Understand the Process of Planning Stakeholder Engagement?


  • Stakeholder Engagement Assessment Matrix. A graphical tool that shows the level of engagement of individual stakeholders in the project – unaware, resistant, neutral, supportive, and leading.
  • Stakeholder Engagement Plan. A subsidiary of the project management plan that describes the processes, tools, and techniques to guide project manager and project team in proactively managing and influencing engagement and expectations of key stakeholders, to ensure that stakeholders are supportive of the project and its objectives, or at least do not oppose the project.

Plan Stakeholder Engagement Tips

pmp 2018 101 free online prep tipsographic

What Are the Best Tips to Answer Correctly the PMP Cerification Exam Questions on Plan Stakeholder Engagement Process?


  • Stakeholders Expectations. From the perspective of the stakeholders involved in the project, what they are expecting as the project outcome, they consider the project requirement. Thus, by addressing the various concerns of the stakeholders, the project manager actually manages the successful outcome of the project.
  • Stakeholders in Leading Role.  A stakeholder taking on a leading role is actively involved in making sure the project is a success and invests time and energy into winning others’ support to the project.
  • Stakeholder Engagement Plan Vs. Communication Management Plan. The stakeholder engagement plan focuses on the reasons for communicating  – e.g., consequences of sharing information on stakeholders engagement. The communication management plan stresses the methods of communication – e.g., communication channels.

Click here for a detailed analysis of each project management process group and knowledge area.

SOURCES: Project Management Institute (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). 6th ed. Newtown Square: Project Management Institute. Project Management Institute (2016)

pmbok 6th edition, pmp certification exam, pmp certification exam dates, pmp certification exam locations, pmi pmp training, pmi certification training, pmi pmp certification training, how to get pmp certification, how to get pmp certification online, get pmp certified, getting pmp certified, where to get pmp certification, get pmp certification online, how to get my pmp certification, where can i take the pmp exam, pmp 2018.