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4.1b Classification & The Register
Once identified and mapped, stakeholders must be formally documented. The Stakeholder Register is the central repository for all stakeholder intelligence—their needs, their influence, and your strategy for managing them.
📋 The Stakeholder Register
This document is created during Initiation and must be updated continuously as the project evolves.
| Category | Information Collected |
|---|---|
| Identification | Name, Role, Organization, and Primary Contact Method. |
| Assessment | Primary Requirements, Expectations, and Potential Influence. |
| Classification | Internal/External, Power/Interest levels, and Direction of Influence. |
🔒 Data Privacy & Ethics
The Stakeholder Register often containing sensitive "political" analysis. In the 2026 PMP exam, you must treat this as a confidential document. Unauthorized access can damage trust and sabotage engagement.
🧭 Direction of Influence
Knowing "where" a stakeholder sits in relation to you dictates the style of communication you use.
Upward
Sponsors, Executives
Focus on strategic value, ROI, and high-level risk summaries.
Downward
Project Team
Focus on servant leadership, technical details, and removing blockers.
Outward
Vendors, Customers
Focus on contractual obligations and product requirements.
Sideward
Peers, Other PMs
Focus on resource negotiation and cross-project dependencies.
📊 Engagement Assessment Matrix
This tool identifies the "Engagement Gap"—where a stakeholder is versus where the project needs them to be for success.
- Unaware: They don't know the project exists.
- Resistant: They are aware but opposed to the change.
- Neutral: Neither supportive nor opposed.
- Supportive: Helpful and supportive of the project's goals.
- Leading: Actively ensuring the project delivers value.
📝 Exam Insight: If a stakeholder's influence shifts or a new one is discovered, the Stakeholder Register is the VERY FIRST document you update. It is a living ledger, not a static report.