Explanation
According to the Capability in Business Analysis™ (CCBA®) Learning documents, a stakeholder is anyone who has an interest or influence in the project or its outcome1. Stakeholders can have different levels of power, interest, impact, and influence on the project, and they can be internal or external to the organization2.
However, no stakeholder group is more important than another, as they all contribute to the project's success in different ways. The project manager's role is to identify, analyze, engage, and manage the stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle, and to balance their needs, expectations, and interests3. The project manager should also communicate effectively with the stakeholders, and ensure that their feedback, input, and approval are obtained at the appropriate stages of the project4.
References:
Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, section "BABOK® Guide v3", chapter 2, section 2.1 Stakeholder in Project Management - Techcanvass, section "Types of Stakeholders" Stakeholder Management | Its Importance | Institute of Project Management, section "What is Stakeholder Management?" What Is a Stakeholder? Definitions, Types & Examples, section "How to Manage Stakeholders" Who are Project Stakeholders and Why They are Important? - KnowledgeHut, section "How to manage project stakeholders?"