What is the primary purpose of stakeholder engagement in projects?

The primary purpose of stakeholder engagement in projects is to garner support and align expectations. Engaging stakeholders ensures that their interests, concerns, and needs are understood and addressed throughout the project's lifecycle. This alignment is crucial for the project's success, as it fosters collaboration, enhances communication, and builds trust among the various parties involved.

When stakeholders feel engaged and their voices are heard, they are more likely to support the project, which can lead to smoother project execution and fewer conflicts down the line. Effective stakeholder engagement helps in setting realistic expectations regarding project outcomes, timelines, and deliverables, ultimately contributing to better decision-making and project results.

The other options, while related to project management, do not encapsulate the essence of stakeholder engagement as effectively. Identifying budget constraints, monitoring timelines, and calculating resource allocation are all important tasks, but they focus more on operational aspects of project management rather than the relational dynamics and collaboration that stakeholder engagement emphasizes.