Who qualifies as an internal stakeholder in a business?

An internal stakeholder in a business is someone who works within the organization and contributes to its operations. Employees clearly fit this definition as they are directly involved in the day-to-day activities, decision-making processes, and the overall direction of the business. They have a vested interest in the performance and success of the organization because their roles and livelihoods depend on it.

In contrast, customers, suppliers, and government entities are external stakeholders. Customers have an interest in the products or services a business offers but do not work within the organization. Suppliers provide materials or services and also do not have a direct role within the company. Meanwhile, government influences businesses through regulations and policies but is also not part of the internal workings or employee structure of a business. Therefore, employees stand out as the distinctive internal stakeholder in this context.