Stakeholders

A stakeholder is defined as an individual who has an interest, or stake, in an organization. This includes anyone who can be affected by an organization or issues but who is not under the control of the organization. The plural form of stakeholders involves a group of these individuals. Organizations typically view stakeholders in their collective form and tailor campaigns to these groups. Understanding the type of stake these individuals have is critical to the success of the organization. This entry investigates the history of stakeholders, discusses the concept of stakeholder identification and management, and reviews the types of stakeholders.