When is stakeholder analysis performed?

The project charter is created after initial planning begins, which is too late to start identifying stakeholders who should have been engaged earlier.

The project sponsor is typically named during project initiation, which occurs after the business need has already been identified and initial analysis has started.

Stakeholder analysis should be initiated as soon as a business need is identified because stakeholders influence and are impacted by the initiative from its inception. Beginning early ensures no relevant parties are overlooked and that their needs and concerns shape the analysis from the start, before any solution direction is established.

Waiting until a solution is identified to perform stakeholder analysis is far too late, as key stakeholders should inform solution development, not react to it.