Enterprise · Both

Stakeholders & Interdependence

Stakeholders are individuals or groups affected by business activity – owners, employees, customers, suppliers, community and government.

Internal vs external

Internal: owners, managers, employees. External: customers, suppliers, lenders, local community, pressure groups, government.

Conflict of interest

Owners may want higher profit; employees want higher wages; customers want lower prices. Managers balance stakeholder needs when setting objectives.

Worked example

Why might a factory expansion please owners but worry the local community?

Solution: Jobs/profit vs noise, traffic, pollution concerns.

Practice questions

1. Name three external stakeholders.

2. What is interdependence in business?