Free PMI Project Management Professional Practice Question

The correct answer is 28 communication channels. To calculate the number of communication channels, we use the formula N(N-1)/2, where N is the number of stakeholders. In this case, with 8 stakeholders, the calculation is:

8(8-1)/2 = 8(7)/2 = 56/2 = 28

This formula accounts for the fact that communication can flow in both directions between any two stakeholders, but we don't count a stakeholder communicating with themselves. It's important for project managers to understand this concept because as the number of stakeholders increases, the number of potential communication channels grows exponentially. This can significantly impact the complexity of managing project communications and highlights the need for effective communication planning and management strategies.