Understanding the role of the stakeholders helps an architect to identify who can provide the information necessary to design a successful virtual data center solution. The details of the stakeholders and their roles are specified in the following table:

Project sponsors are typically C-level executives, Vice Presidents (VPs), or directors. The project sponsor may also be a committee formed by an organization to evaluate the solutions to business problems or to explore new business opportunities. These stakeholders are often the best resource for obtaining the business requirements that a design must satisfy. If there is a project or a need to explore opportunities, there is a business goal or need driving it. Project sponsors may make the final decision on whether a design has to be approved and accepted for implementation, or they may provide the recommendations for acceptance.