Reclaiming Marginalized Stakeholders

Journal of Business Ethics · 2012 · Volume 111 · Issue 2

Abstract

Within stakeholder literature, much attention has been given to which stakeholders “really count.” This article strives to explain why organizational theorists should abandon the pursuit of “Who and What Really Counts” to challenge the assumption of a managerial perspective that defines stakeholder legitimacy. Reflecting on the paucity of employee rights and protections in marginalized work environments, I argue that as organizational researchers, we must recognize and take responsibility for the impact of our research models and visions. By confronting and rethinking the foundational assumptions of stakeholder theory, business and society scholars can identify and pursue research questions that more effectively address contemporary social challenges.

Keywords

Business ethics, Separation Thesis, Stakeholder theory, Stakeholder typology

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