Program stakeholder identification is a critical process within Program Management Professional (PgMP) frameworks, focusing on recognizing individuals, groups, or organizations that can affect or are affected by the program's objectives. Effective stakeholder identification ensures that a program aligns with the needs and expectations of its diverse audience, fostering collaboration and support throughout the program lifecycle. The process begins with a comprehensive analysis to map out all potential stakeholders, which includes internal parties such as team members, executives, and departments, as well as external entities like customers, suppliers, regulators, and community groups. To accurately identify stakeholders, program managers utilize various tools and techniques such as stakeholder registers, power-interest grids, and influence diagrams. These tools help in categorizing stakeholders based on their level of influence, interest, and impact on the program. Understanding these dimensions allows program managers to prioritize engagement efforts, ensuring that high-impact stakeholders receive appropriate attention and communication. Effective stakeholder identification also involves understanding the stakeholders’ needs, expectations, and potential concerns. This can be achieved through interviews, surveys, workshops, and analysis of existing documentation. By gaining insights into stakeholder motivations and objectives, program managers can tailor their strategies to address specific interests, mitigate risks, and leverage support. Moreover, stakeholder identification is an ongoing activity. As programs evolve, new stakeholders may emerge, and existing stakeholders’ influence or interests may change. Therefore, maintaining an up-to-date stakeholder register and regularly reassessing stakeholder dynamics is essential for adaptive program management. Continuous engagement and communication with stakeholders ensure sustained alignment and can facilitate the resolution of conflicts, enhance resource allocation, and contribute to the overall success of the program. In summary, program stakeholder identification is a foundational element of program management that involves systematically recognizing and analyzing all parties impacted by the program. It enables program managers to cultivate effective relationships, anticipate challenges, and align program outcomes with stakeholder expectations, ultimately driving the program toward its strategic objectives.