A release manager is considering the involvement of third parties in the release management practice.

Third parties, such as suppliers or vendors, often play a role in the execution of releases, especially when they provide components or services involved in the release. TheITIL® 4 Practitioner: Release Managementdocument states:"Performing a release according to an agreed model often involves dependencies on third parties, such as suppliers providing software updates, infrastructure, or support services, which need to be integrated during the release execution"(Section 3.4).

Option A (Release management alignment with other practices) is an internal coordination activity, less likely to directly involve third parties.

Option B (Identifying an applicable model) is a planning activity typically handled internally by the release manager.

Option C (Performing a release according to an agreed model) directly involves executing the release, which often requires third-party components or services, creating a dependency.

Option D (Verifying a release) may involve third-party tools but is less dependent on their active participation compared to execution.

The correct answer is C, as performing the release is the activity most likely to depend on third parties.