Definition of Stakeholders and Shareholders in the Business World

24 March 2023

People often get confused with the terms stakeholder and shareholder in the business world. These two terms actually have different functions and tasks. Those of you who run a business certainly need to know the role of each of these terms.

Definition of shareholders

Shareholders are someone who owns company shares. Its shares represent a small portion of ownership in an organization. As a shareholder, a shareholder tends to want to get the biggest financial benefit from the investment he makes.

That means they may be interested in how the company works at a high level. The reason is, this usually affects the stock price. When the stock price goes up, they have the opportunity to sell the stock for a profit.

Depending on the type of shares held, becoming a shareholder may allow you to benefit from dividends. Not only that, shareholders vote on company policies such as mergers and acquisitions and elect members of the company's board of directors.

Anyone who owns stock in a company can vote. However, this flare is highly dependent on the number of shares owned. Investors with large shares have more influence over the company's overall strategic plan

Types of Shareholders

Depending on the type of shares owned, the shareholder can be an ordinary shareholder or a preferred shareholder. You can buy both types of stock through a normal brokerage account, but they offer different advantages. Here are the advantages that can be obtained.

  • Shareholder common stock. Common Stock usually generates a higher rate of return in the long term and gives shareholders some ownership of the company. That means anyone who owns common stock in a company can vote on company policies and elect members of the board of directors. However, common stockholders assume slightly more risk if a company goes into liquidation. They can only claim assets after bondholders, preferred stockholders, and other debtholders have been paid in full.
  • Preferred stock shareholders. Preferred stock usually yields lower long-term returns but provides shareholders with a guaranteed annual dividend payment. Elected shareholders usually cannot vote on policies or elect board members, so they do not have a say in the future of the company. However, they carry less risk—if the company goes into liquidation, preferred shareholders can claim the assets before the general stakeholders.

Getting to Know Stakeholders

A Stakeholder is someone who can influence or be influenced by the project being worked on. Stakeholders can be more than just team members working on a joint project. For example, a shareholder may become a project stakeholder if the results will impact the share price.

Stakeholders come in many forms, from independent contributors to corporate executives. This group of people also does not have to be within the organization, for example external agents working together. Likewise, customers can become stakeholders when their preferences directly affect your product.

Stakeholder Types

1. External stakeholders

This group of people has a direct relationship with the company. They are teammates and cross-functional partners. They are often employed by companies, although not always. For example, shareholders are internal stakeholders because they are tied to your company through the shares they own. Thus, they are directly affected by projects that affect stock prices.

2. External stakeholders

This group of people has no direct relationship with the company. They are like customers, end users and suppliers, to distributors. Even though external stakeholders are outside the organization, the projects they run will depend heavily on them. For example, scaling up a manufacturing project will require additional resources from suppliers

The main differences between Stakeholders and Shareholders

The terms shareholder and stakeholder are often used interchangeably, but they are actually very different. Apart from the different definitions that we have outlined above, shareholders and stakeholders are separated by the following main differences:

1. Different priorities

Shareholders and stakeholders have very different priorities. Shareholders have a financial interest in the company because they want to get the best return on their investment, usually in the form of dividends or share appreciation.

That means their first priority is usually to increase their earnings and overall share price. Shareholders of private companies and individuals can also be held liable for corporate debt which gives them additional financial incentives.

On the other hand, stakeholders focus on more than finances. Internal stakeholders want their projects to be successful so that the company can do well as a whole. Plus, they want to be treated well and to get ahead in their role.

External stakeholders also want to benefit from your project. However, that can mean different things, such as receiving a great product, experiencing solid customer service, or participating in a mutually respectful and mutually beneficial partnership.

2. Have a different timeline

Stakeholders and shareholders also have different timelines for achieving their goals. Shareholders will focus more on short-term goals because it can affect the value of their shares.

On the other hand, stakeholders are more interested in the company's long-term goals. They usually focus less on short-term economic performance and fluctuations in stock prices. Instead, they want the organization to perform well as a whole.

Stakeholders expect more:

  • Employees want to stay at a company that treats them well and gives them opportunities for growth.
  • Customers want to keep receiving the products they like.
  • Suppliers want to maintain their relationship with your company and continue to benefit from your business in the long term.

Why Stakeholders Are More Important

Shareholders are important for the company. However, your business should really prioritize stakeholder theory. That's because shareholders are usually more concerned with short-term goals that impact stock prices than the long-term health of the company.

Stakeholder theory can help you act responsibly toward your employees, customers, and business partners. By prioritizing the closest stakeholders, you can create a better work environment that promotes employee well-being and customer satisfaction.

When teams feel heard, they are more motivated to do their best work and help the project succeed. Research shows that only 15% of employees feel that their organization really listens to them. So, back to your business, which one do you want to prioritize.

People often get confused with the terms stakeholder and shareholder in the business world. These two terms actually have different functions and tasks. Those of you who run a business certainly need to know the role of each of these terms.

Definition of shareholders

Shareholders are someone who owns company shares. Its shares represent a small portion of ownership in an organization. As a shareholder, a shareholder tends to want to get the biggest financial benefit from the investment he makes.

That means they may be interested in how the company works at a high level. The reason is, this usually affects the stock price. When the stock price goes up, they have the opportunity to sell the stock for a profit.

Depending on the type of shares held, becoming a shareholder may allow you to benefit from dividends. Not only that, shareholders vote on company policies such as mergers and acquisitions and elect members of the company's board of directors.

Anyone who owns stock in a company can vote. However, this flare is highly dependent on the number of shares owned. Investors with large shares have more influence over the company's overall strategic plan

Types of Shareholders

Depending on the type of shares owned, the shareholder can be an ordinary shareholder or a preferred shareholder. You can buy both types of stock through a normal brokerage account, but they offer different advantages. Here are the advantages that can be obtained.

  • Shareholder common stock. Common Stock usually generates a higher rate of return in the long term and gives shareholders some ownership of the company. That means anyone who owns common stock in a company can vote on company policies and elect members of the board of directors. However, common stockholders assume slightly more risk if a company goes into liquidation. They can only claim assets after bondholders, preferred stockholders, and other debtholders have been paid in full.
  • Preferred stock shareholders. Preferred stock usually yields lower long-term returns but provides shareholders with a guaranteed annual dividend payment. Elected shareholders usually cannot vote on policies or elect board members, so they do not have a say in the future of the company. However, they carry less risk—if the company goes into liquidation, preferred shareholders can claim the assets before the general stakeholders.

Getting to Know Stakeholders

A Stakeholder is someone who can influence or be influenced by the project being worked on. Stakeholders can be more than just team members working on a joint project. For example, a shareholder may become a project stakeholder if the results will impact the share price.

Stakeholders come in many forms, from independent contributors to corporate executives. This group of people also does not have to be within the organization, for example external agents working together. Likewise, customers can become stakeholders when their preferences directly affect your product.

Stakeholder Types

1. External stakeholders

This group of people has a direct relationship with the company. They are teammates and cross-functional partners. They are often employed by companies, although not always. For example, shareholders are internal stakeholders because they are tied to your company through the shares they own. Thus, they are directly affected by projects that affect stock prices.

2. External stakeholders

This group of people has no direct relationship with the company. They are like customers, end users and suppliers, to distributors. Even though external stakeholders are outside the organization, the projects they run will depend heavily on them. For example, scaling up a manufacturing project will require additional resources from suppliers

The main differences between Stakeholders and Shareholders

The terms shareholder and stakeholder are often used interchangeably, but they are actually very different. Apart from the different definitions that we have outlined above, shareholders and stakeholders are separated by the following main differences:

1. Different priorities

Shareholders and stakeholders have very different priorities. Shareholders have a financial interest in the company because they want to get the best return on their investment, usually in the form of dividends or share appreciation.

That means their first priority is usually to increase their earnings and overall share price. Shareholders of private companies and individuals can also be held liable for corporate debt which gives them additional financial incentives.

On the other hand, stakeholders focus on more than finances. Internal stakeholders want their projects to be successful so that the company can do well as a whole. Plus, they want to be treated well and to get ahead in their role.

External stakeholders also want to benefit from your project. However, that can mean different things, such as receiving a great product, experiencing solid customer service, or participating in a mutually respectful and mutually beneficial partnership.

2. Have a different timeline

Stakeholders and shareholders also have different timelines for achieving their goals. Shareholders will focus more on short-term goals because it can affect the value of their shares.

On the other hand, stakeholders are more interested in the company's long-term goals. They usually focus less on short-term economic performance and fluctuations in stock prices. Instead, they want the organization to perform well as a whole.

Stakeholders expect more:

  • Employees want to stay at a company that treats them well and gives them opportunities for growth.
  • Customers want to keep receiving the products they like.
  • Suppliers want to maintain their relationship with your company and continue to benefit from your business in the long term.

Why Stakeholders Are More Important

Shareholders are important for the company. However, your business should really prioritize stakeholder theory. That's because shareholders are usually more concerned with short-term goals that impact stock prices than the long-term health of the company.

Stakeholder theory can help you act responsibly toward your employees, customers, and business partners. By prioritizing the closest stakeholders, you can create a better work environment that promotes employee well-being and customer satisfaction.

When teams feel heard, they are more motivated to do their best work and help the project succeed. Research shows that only 15% of employees feel that their organization really listens to them. So, back to your business, which one do you want to prioritize.

Prasetiya Mulya Executive Learning Institute
Prasetiya Mulya Cilandak Campus, Building 2, #2203
Jl. R.A Kartini (TB. Simatupang), Cilandak Barat, Jakarta 12430
Indonesia
Prasetiya Mulya Executive Learning Institute
Prasetiya Mulya Cilandak Campus, Building 2, #2203
Jl. R.A Kartini (TB. Simatupang), Cilandak Barat,
Jakarta 12430
Indonesia