Stakeholder

Any individual, group or business with a vested interest (a stake) in the success of an organization is considered to be a stakeholder. A stakeholder is typically concerned with an organization delivering intended results and meeting its financial objectives. In general, a stakeholder can be one of two types: internal (from within an organization) or external (outside of an organization). Examples of a stakeholder are an owner, manager, shareholder, investor, employee, customer, partner and/or supplier, among others. A stakeholder may contribute directly or indirectly to an organization's business activities. Other than traditional business, a stakeholder may also be concerned with the outcome of a specific project, effort or activity, such as a community development project or the delivery of local health services. A stakeholder usually stands to gain or lose depending on the decisions taken or policies implemented.