When to use it
Use it as a critical discussion aid alongside direct engagement.
When to be cautious
A label does not determine a person’s rights or justify ignoring vulnerable groups.
Apply it
- Identify the people affected and their specific claims.
- Examine the basis and urgency of those claims, including power differences.
- Decide how to engage and periodically revisit the assumptions.
An example in practice
An affected user group has little formal authority but faces an urgent accessibility barrier. Its needs warrant action despite limited influence.
Source & credit
Ronald K. Mitchell, Bradley R. Agle and Donna J. Wood, Academy of Management Review (1997). Original publication; this practical explanation is independently written.
Mitchell, Agle & Wood (1997): stakeholder identification and salience
This explanation and example are independently written. The source is a reading reference; linking it does not grant permission to reuse its text, figures or assessments.