What role is primarily responsible for managing project scope and budget?

The role that is primarily responsible for managing project scope and budget is the project manager. A project manager is tasked with planning, executing, and closing projects, and they hold the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the project stays within its defined scope and adheres to the budgetary constraints. This involves making critical decisions about resource allocation, schedule management, and scope changes, as well as communicating with stakeholders to ensure that the project's goals align with the expectations of the organization.

While the business analyst may contribute to defining requirements and identifying potential impacts on the project scope, their focus is typically on analyzing and refining requirements rather than on overseeing the overall project management aspects. The sponsor plays a key role in providing support and resources for the project but is not involved in the day-to-day management of scope and budget. Stakeholders are also critical for providing input and feedback but do not hold managerial responsibility in terms of the overall project scope and budget management. Therefore, the project manager is the correct answer as they are specifically designated to oversee these essential components of project delivery.