“The term ‘stakeholder’ has been defined as “those groups without whose support the organization would cease to exist” and originally included shareowners, employees, customers, lenders and society (Freeman, 1984, 31-32). The stakeholder concept has become widely used in recent years, due to factors such as increased public interest and concern about corporate governance (Metcalfe, 1998; also see Greenwood & De Cieri, 2005).” (Bardoel & De Cieri)
Bardoel, A. & De Cieri, H. (2006). Developing a work/life strategy in a multinational enterprise (MNE), a Sloan Work and Family Encyclopedia entry. Retrieved on March 6, 2007, from the Sloan Work and Family Research Network web site: http://wfnetwork.bc.edu/encyclopedia_entry.php?id=3814&area=academics.