General
stakeholder
What does stakeholder mean?
A person or group with an interest in a project's outcome, from users to executives to partners.
"We need sign-off from all the key stakeholders before launch."
Origin
Management theory term (Freeman, 1980s) contrasting with 'shareholder'.
Frequently asked questions
What is a stakeholder?
Anyone with an interest in a project's outcome, including users, executives, partners, or teams affected by it, not just people who own shares.
Where does the word stakeholder come from?
It was popularised in management theory in the 1980s (associated with R. Edward Freeman) as a deliberate contrast to 'shareholder', broadening whose interests matter.
Who counts as a key stakeholder?
Whoever has enough influence over, or is affected enough by, a decision that their sign-off or input is needed before you proceed.
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