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PK0-005 Practice Question: During the planning phase, a project manager…
During the planning phase, a project manager conducts a stakeholder analysis. Which of the following is the primary purpose of this activity?
⚠ Common exam trap
PK0-005 often tests the primary purpose of stakeholder analysis — candidates may choose risk identification or scope definition because those are project activities, but the core purpose is to categorize stakeholders by interest and influence for engagement planning.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
To identify and categorize stakeholders based on their interest and influence
The primary purpose of stakeholder analysis during the planning phase is to identify and categorize stakeholders based on their interest and influence, so the project manager can develop appropriate engagement strategies. This helps prioritize communication and manage expectations effectively. It is a foundational step in stakeholder management.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
To identify potential risks that stakeholders might introduce
Why it's wrong here
Risk identification is performed in risk management planning, using techniques such as brainstorming and checklists. It is tempting because difficult stakeholders can become risks, but stakeholder analysis itself records influence, interest and engagement to plan communications, not to log risks.
- ✗
To assign team members to project tasks
Why it's wrong here
Task assignment is resource planning, drawing on skills and availability, not stakeholder analysis. It is tempting because the team are stakeholders, yet the analysis classifies interest, power and engagement levels to build a communication strategy, not to allocate work.
- ✗
To define the project scope and deliverables
Why it's wrong here
Scope definition happens through requirements gathering and the scope statement, not stakeholder analysis. It is tempting because stakeholders do influence scope, and their requirements feed it, but the analysis itself maps influence, interest and engagement to plan communication — the correct purpose.
- ✓
To identify and categorize stakeholders based on their interest and influence
Why this is correct
Stakeholder analysis maps each party against interest and influence, letting the project manager plan engagement and communication appropriately. Categorising by these two axes satisfies the planning-phase need to prioritise stakeholders who can significantly affect or be affected by the project's outcome.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This PK0-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PK0-005 exam.