Stakeholders and Student Perceptions: Choosing the Primary Group

Abstract

Student perceptions often provide valuable learning insights into various theories and concepts presented within the classroom. Stakeholder theory, for example, presented an opportunity to explore student views on which stakeholder group is most important to organizational success. Students within a business course considered the relative importance of customers, employees, investors, and suppliers. An interesting discussion followed their selections where the students debated the merits of each stakeholder group. Consequently, customers were perceived by the students as the most important stakeholder group to the organization.