During what project phase do you need to start involving the stakeholders?

Stakeholder involvement must beginat the very start of the project lifecycle, during theInitiation Phase, because:

Stakeholders influence project scope, objectives, and constraints.

Their expectations and requirements must be captured early.

Stakeholder identification is a mandatory output of the initiation process.

Failing to involve them early leads to misalignment, rework, and scope conflicts.

EPI aligns with general project management principles that state:

“Stakeholder identification and engagement begins at project initiation and continues throughout the entire project.”

Why other options are incorrect:

B: Planning depends on stakeholder input already gathered.

C: Too late—execution requires validated stakeholder requirements.

D: Monitoring occurs after execution has begun.

Thus,Ais correct.

EPI DCFOM-Aligned Reference Concepts (Paraphrased)

Stakeholders must be identified and engaged in the initiation phase.

Their input forms the foundation for scope definition and planning.