Stakeholders are the individuals or groups that support your organization. The term "stakeholder" was first used in 1963 in an internal Stanford Research Institute memo. R. Edward Freeman developed stakeholder theory in the 1980s. Stakeholders can be divided into four categories: Internal, External, Powerful and interested, and Lenders. These groups can be divided further based on the level of relationship. Here are some examples of stakeholders.
Internal
In a business, internal stakeholders are those with a direct interest in the business, such as shareholders, employees, and the board of directors. These stakeholders participate in the decision-making processes of the business, and have a vested interest in the success of the organization. In contrast, external stakeholders are the individuals who do not work for the company. Such stakeholders include customers, investors, and the local community. Internal stakeholders include employees, the board of directors, and management and non-management employees. Each of these groups have different responsibilities and interactions, and need to be managed strategically.
A business's internal stakeholders have varying degrees of involvement and engagement. While external stakeholders may not be as involved in daily operations as internal stakeholders, they play an important role in the overall business and strategy. These groups are involved in the decision-making processes within the organization, and contribute to company operations in direct and indirect ways. They should be kept informed of any internal corporate concerns, as they are often the ones who directly benefit from the outcomes of a business initiative.
An internal stakeholder's role in a business is largely dependent on the success of the company. This group's input ensures profitability, and their actions promote inter-departmental communication and supervision. In addition, this group rarely interacts with customers. So, in identifying internal stakeholders, consider your company's organizational chart and look for people and groups that intersect with the business. Listed below are some steps to identify internal stakeholders.
External
There are many types of external stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, government agencies, and the community at large. Your customers are probably your most important external stakeholders, as they are the ones you are most responsible to. They want a quality product or service at a fair price, and they want your business to contribute positively to society while reducing its impact on the environment. Your suppliers and vendors are equally important, as they need to meet your demands for quality and quantity.
The second category of stakeholders is the external community, which is not an organization but has an interest in the company. It includes the customers, lenders, suppliers, the government, local communities, pressure groups, competitors, and so on. While internal stakeholders may seem to be more immediate, external stakeholders can still have an impact on the organization. The Gower Handbook of Project Management explains why external stakeholders are important to an organization. External stakeholders can provide input on a variety of issues and are critical to the success of the business.
Outside of the business, a company's community may include people living in the same city. If the company's products are available at a Walmart nearby, for example, local small businesses could be upset. Similarly, city planning could oppose a new big-box store. Residents may not want a high-rise building close to their homes. All of these outsiders are external stakeholders, and they serve an advisory role for a business.
Powerful + interested
There are two kinds of stakeholders: the powerful and the apathetic. Powerful stakeholders are invested in the success of your organization. Apathetic stakeholders are less interested and do not have much influence. Apathetic stakeholders are members of a group or position within the community, but their involvement is minimal. They can be easily managed. Keep them in the loop, but do not overburden them. They are not likely to care unless they are offended.
On the other hand, the power of interest and involvement is limited. Stakeholders with low interest in your project have very little influence. These stakeholders are your customers, suppliers, regulators, partners, and contractors. A low-interest stakeholder may be your biggest fan, but they have very little influence over your organization. In addition, they may not be engaged in your business. In such cases, you should carefully evaluate whether the stakeholder you are dealing with is interested and powerful.
Powerful and interested stakeholders can also be divided into two categories: expectant and direct. Expectant stakeholders are those with the greatest influence on the project. They need to be closely managed and kept informed to ensure they're satisfied with the project's progress. These stakeholders can be dangerous, powerful, and need to be managed closely. If you don't feel comfortable talking to them directly, ask them to talk to someone who knows them. The majority of stakeholders will be open and honest about their interests and concerns.
Lenders
Stakeholders are people who have a financial interest in a company's success. These stakeholders include employees, suppliers, trade unions, and the government, who depend on the business for their salaries and the quality of its products or services. In addition to financial interests, these stakeholders may also have other interests, such as reputation, insider information, networking, and M&A interest. As such, stakeholders are an essential part of any successful company.
External stakeholders are often investors, suppliers, and employees. Each stakeholder has a different perspective on the information, affecting the decisions made by each. For example, employees may be interested in the stability and profitability of their employer, as this affects their expectations about pay. Suppliers, on the other hand, may be interested in the creditworthiness of their customers, since this can affect the stability of their relationship with them. Therefore, understanding and evaluating these interests of different stakeholders can help you decide which stakeholders to prioritize.
In a business, a company has a variety of stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, creditors, and local communities. The latter are generally non-members of the organisation, but they do have an impact on the company's business and financial performance. For example, suppliers provide a company with raw materials and products, while vendors provide the business with finished goods. A business's interactions with these entities affect the company's profitability, and the quality of those products or services directly impacts the lives of those who are affected by the company.
Employees
Despite what a popular business textbook may say, the concept of employees as stakeholders is not new. HR managers and organizations often perceive employees as a single, homogenous group. In this case, deeming employees as stakeholders doesn't necessarily translate into pluralist stakeholder thinking or an inclusive organizational culture. In this article, we'll explore the relationship between employees and stakeholder status in an organization and how to engage them as stakeholders.
Owners are the people who hold property rights to a business, which means that they own a portion or the whole company. Owners often have goals for employees, such as sales generation, production levels, and customer service. As owners, they influence the direction of the company, which is why it is important to consider the perspectives of all stakeholders. And of course, owners benefit from the success of the company. Taking these stakeholder perspectives into consideration may be helpful for employees.
The well-being of the organization is essential to the employees' wellbeing. Employees are heavily impacted by the economic well-being of the business. They have a common concern regarding their pay and are affected by decisions made by management and business owners. Thus, it is imperative to consider the economic health of the organization when determining compensation levels. In short, it makes good business sense to consider employees as stakeholders. In the end, this is what matters most in the business world.
Suppliers
In a supply chain, suppliers provide raw materials, components, finished products, and money. They may include creditors, shareholders, and even the community. Regardless of their role, suppliers help increase the efficiency of the business and help lower costs. But how do you make sure that your suppliers are good partners? Here are some tips. Read on to learn more about the role of suppliers. Here are the key elements to supplier independence. If your suppliers are not dependable, your business could suffer.
When selecting a primary supplier, look for those that offer excellent customer service. Suppliers that offer fast delivery are valuable partners in supply chains. Many stakeholders in supply chains value short lead times, while others value lower prices. Companies with near-by distribution sites are more likely to provide short lead times. Those with longer lead times face greater challenges in meeting customer demands, resulting in increased inventory holdings. If possible, choose a supplier that makes the effort to align itself with your company's strategy.
Another important consideration is whether your suppliers are direct or indirect stakeholders. The direct stakeholders are those who have a direct interest in the success of your project. This group includes employees and customers. Indirect stakeholders are those that have no direct relationship to the project, such as suppliers. While indirect stakeholders do not directly participate in the project, they are still important to your business. For example, suppliers focus on the quality of their products and their pricing, and they may be concerned with safety or the availability of the product or service.
