Who Are Stakeholders in UX Research and Why Do They Matter?

Stakeholders sometimes referred to as key contributors, decision-makers, or invested parties, are important in UX design. They’re individuals or groups that have a vested interest in a project’s success. Identifying and involving them in UX research ensures that user experience aligns with business goals while meeting user needs effectively.

In this article, we'll explore the stakeholders involved in UX design, their different types, their impact on the UX process, and how to effectively incorporate stakeholder feedback into UX research.

Who are the stakeholders in UX research?

Stakeholders are key people who have an interest or an investment in your projects.

Often, stakeholders in UX are the people who’re funding your project, like your CEO or a client, so they often have a say in how a product is designed or developed.

Or sometimes, your stakeholders can be people who don’t work directly with you, but will still have an interest in your project's success, like your customers, suppliers, or even some of your colleagues.

Overall, working with stakeholders can help prioritize features, keep you within your project’s budget, and get you important feedback so your finished product will meet your users’ needs and ultimately succeed.

Are users stakeholders?

Yes, users are a crucial category of stakeholders. While they may not fund or manage the project, their feedback shapes how products and services evolve. Stakeholder feedback in UX is incomplete without considering the users' voices.

Synonyms for stakeholders

Here are some commonly used stakeholder synonyms to help you diversify your language in UX-related discussions:

1. Key contributors: They directly shape the product by providing essential business, technical, or user insights.

2. Decision-makers: Decision-makers approve or reject UX choices to align with business goals, budgets, and timelines.

3. Invested parties: This term refers to anyone who has a financial or strategic stake in the project’s success.

4. Project influencers: This term applies to developers, marketers, or legal teams who guide UX decisions with key insights and constraints.

5. UX collaborators: Designers, researchers, and developers are often known as UX collaborators as they ensure the product is user-friendly and functional.

6. Advisors: These folks are experts or consultants who refine UX strategy with best practices and compliance insights.

7. Partners: These people are external vendors or service providers ensuring seamless integration and functionality.

Internal stakeholder vs external stakeholder

There are two primary categories of stakeholders in UX design:

1. Internal stakeholders (inside the organization)

These stakeholders work within the company and influence product development directly. Examples include:

• Product managers– They set clear objectives and ensure UX is seamlessly integrated into the overall strategy.

• Developers and engineers – These people bring UX designs to life while maintaining technical feasibility and performance.

• Marketing teams– Marketing teams ensure that the user experience reflects the brand identity and resonates with the target audience.

• Customer support teams – The teams collect real user insights to identify pain points and improve the overall experience.

2. External stakeholders (outside the organization)

These stakeholders might not work directly with the UX team but still affect the final product. Examples include:

• End-users – These users provide firsthand usability insights and pain points.

• Clients or investors – They can fund and influence UX decisions based on business priorities.

• Suppliers and vendors – They can impact accessibility, pricing, and logistics.

• Regulatory bodies – These bodies set compliance and accessibility standards.

The Importance of stakeholder feedback in UX design

In UX design, feedback is necessary for creating user-friendly and effective products. While user feedback is essential, stakeholder feedback is equally important because stakeholders — whether they’re business leaders, developers, marketers, or even users — have a direct or indirect influence on the product's success.

Stakeholder feedback ensures the design aligns with the business goals and user needs which makes the UX process balanced and well-informed. 

Let’s break down why stakeholder feedback matters and how it impacts UX design.

1. Stakeholders align UX design with business objectives

One of the leading reasons stakeholder feedback is indispensable in UX design is the alignment it creates between the user experience and business objectives. Many UX projects fail when designers focus solely on user needs without considering what the company is trying to accomplish.

Input from the stakeholders (such as the CEO, product manager, or investor regarding general business strategy) clarifies that the UX design will help the company achieve its long-term vision by meeting key performance indicators that keep it profitable.

For example, a UX designer may prefer an aesthetically pleasing and highly interactive design but the product manager or business executive will focus on features that are more engaging in converting or better retention of users.

Without involving stakeholders, a design might look impressive but might not have the desired business effect. Therefore, collaboration between UX teams and stakeholders is essential in ensuring that a product serves user and business needs.

2. Stakeholder feedback helps prioritize features and development efforts

Stakeholder feedback is important in determining which features should be developed first. Since UX designers work on improving usability and aesthetics, they may not always be aware of the technical and business constraints that come with product development.

Stakeholders such as product managers, developers, and engineers help ensure that the proposed UX solutions are feasible within the given time frame and budget.

For instance, a UX designer may propose a highly interactive interface with complex animations to enhance engagement. However, a developer might point out that these animations could slow down the website and affect performance and user experience. 

Similarly, a product manager may suggest focusing on features that offer maximum user value rather than spending time on minor aesthetic enhancements. Incorporating stakeholder feedback can help make informed decisions on which features to prioritize.

3. Stakeholder feedback improves user adoption and satisfaction

Stakeholder feedback is essential in improving user adoption rates and overall satisfaction with a product. Some of the most valuable insights come from customer support teams, sales representatives, and end-users who interact directly with the product. 

These stakeholders can provide real-world feedback on common pain points, usability challenges, and user frustrations.

For example, if customer support teams report that users are struggling with the account setup process, UX designers can work on simplifying onboarding to reduce friction. Without this feedback, UX teams may assume the existing flow is user-friendly, leading to unnecessary drop-offs and poor user retention. 

Designers can create a product that looks good and functions seamlessly to meet user needs by incorporating feedback from those who interact with customers daily.

4. Stakeholders can prevent late-stage design changes

One of the biggest challenges in UX design is receiving critical feedback too late in the development process. When stakeholders aren’t involved early, major design revisions may be required at the final stages — which results in wasted time and delays a product launch.

Regular stakeholder involvement helps identify potential issues before development begins and makes the process more efficient.

For instance, if a marketing team is consulted early in the UX process, they can ensure that the design aligns with the brand’s messaging and audience expectations. This strategy prevents last-minute content or layout changes that could disrupt the workflow. 

5. Stakeholder feedback enhances cross-team collaboration

UX design is a collaborative effort that requires input from multiple teams, including designers, developers, product managers, marketers, and customer service representatives. 

Stakeholder feedback fosters open communication between departments and ensures that all teams are aligned on the project’s objectives and working toward a common goal.

For example, when UX designers collaborate with developers early in the process, they can design interfaces that are technically feasible to build. Marketing teams can provide valuable input on how the UX can be optimized to drive conversions and customer engagement. 

Additionally, involving customer support teams ensures that real user concerns are addressed which makes the final product more user-friendly.

How to manage stakeholders in UX research

Effective stakeholder management ensures everyone is aligned. Here’s how UX professionals can engage stakeholders efficiently:

1. Identify all key contributors early in the project.

2. Conduct explicit stakeholder interviews to get their feedback early in the project.

3. Keep communication clear and consistent through meetings and reports.

4. Incorporate stakeholder feedback regularly, not just at the final stage.

5. Balance business goals with user needs to create a win-win solution.

Conclusion

Stakeholders in UX research range from CEOs to end-users and their input is essential for creating successful digital experiences. Whether you refer to stakeholders as key decision-makers, UX collaborators, or project influencers, their feedback shapes the final product. If you need help coming up with the correct questions to ask your stakeholders, you can find them here.

Overall, effective stakeholder management ensures that UX decisions benefit both users and businesses, making it a critical aspect of modern UX research.