Who Are the
Stakeholders?
Figure 2.1 maps out the relevant stakeholders for
any organization and their respective interests
in the ethical operation of that organization. Not
e very stakeholder will be relevant in every business
situation—not all companies use wholesalers to deliver
their products or services to their customers, and
customers would not be involved in payroll decisions
between the organization and its employees.
Of greater concern is the involvement of these
stakeholders with the actions of the organization
and the extent to which they would be impacted
by unethical behavior. As Figure 2.2 illustrates, the
decision of an organization such as World Com to
hide the extensive debt and losses it was accumulating
in its aggressive pursuit of growth and market
share can be seen to have impacted all of its stakeholders
in different ways.