Journal for Studies in Management and Planning Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP e-ISSN: 2395-0463 Volume 01 Issue 06 July 2015 Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ Page | 252 Project Stakeholder Management and StakeholderAnalysis Rajeshwar Vayyavur Doctoral Research Scholar at California Intercontinental University, California, US EMAIL: rajeshwarvv@yahoo.com Abstract The implementation of projects involves the struggle to achieve project’s objectives while at the same time meeting the expectations of various stakeholders is intense. The stakeholder theory has been used to explain this struggle of interest, needs and expectations. Donaldson and Preston wrote the germinal research used to build on the theory. Donaldson and Preston conceptualized stakeholder theory as normative, descriptive and instrumental. The paper provides an empirical review of literature of stakeholder analysis including the normative, instrumental and descriptive approaches to stakeholder management. Keywords: Project Management, Project Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Analysis Introduction THE implementation of the project in the 21st century is influenced by numerous factors. The concept of stakeholder management dominates scholarly conversations and publications, government policies and recommendations, and the general public. The rise in the number of scholarly work on stakeholder management is attributable to the increased emphasis on sustainable development. The struggle to achieve project objectives while meeting the expectations of various stakeholders is intense. Project managers and projects teams need to understand how to meet these needs without compromising the outcomes of the project. An empirical literature is conducted to identify the various stakeholder management approaches and the stakeholder analysis that scholars propose. Freeman (1984) introduced the concept of stakeholders. He defined stakeholders as “any group or individuals who can affect or is affected by the achievements of an organization’s objectives”. Later, Cleland (1986) introduced the concept to the project management paradigm. Since then, the role of stakeholder managements forms a core component of project management process. The current definition of project management “the process of adapting the specifications, plans, and approaches to the concerns and expectations of various stakeholders” indicate the centrality of stakeholders in project management. The basic precept of project management is that project stakeholder management can increase the success rate of the project by influencing stakeholders. The study focuses on the stakeholder theory and the normative, descriptive and instrumental justifications.