Financial Accounting: An Integrated Statements Approach, 2nd Edition

Chapter 1 The Role of Accounting in Business 9

Owners and stockholders want to maximize the economic value of their investments.

Capital market stakeholders expect to receive a return on their investments propor-

tionate to the degree of risk they are taking. Since banks and long-term creditors have

first preference to the assets in case the business fails, their risk is less than that of the

owners, thus, their overall return is lower.

Product or service market stakeholders include customers who purchase the busi-

ness’s products or services as well as the vendors who supply inputs to the business.

Customers have an economic interest in the continued success of the business. For

example, in the early 2000s, customers of the Internet provider @home.comwere ini-

tially unable to retrieve their e-mail or connect with the Internet when @home.com

declared bankruptcy. Customers who purchase advance tickets on Delta Air Lineshave

an economic interest in whether Delta will continue in business. Similarly, suppliers

are stakeholders in the continued success of their customers. Suppliers may invest in

technology or other capital equipment to meet a customer’s buying and manufacturing

specifications. If a customer fails or cuts back on purchases during downturns, sup-

pliers may see their business decline also. This has been the case for Delphi, a major

supplier to General Motors, during GM’s downturn in 2005.

Various governments have an interest in the economic performance of businesses.

As a result, city and state governments often provide incentives for businesses to locate

within their jurisdictions. City, county, state, and federal governments collect taxes

from businesses within their jurisdictions. The better a business does, the more taxes

the government can collect. In addition, workers are taxed on their wages. In contrast,

workers who are laid off and unemployed can file claims for unemployment compen-

sation, which results in a financial burden for the government.

Internal stakeholders include individuals employed by the business. The managers

are those individuals who the owners have authorized to operate the business.

Managers are primarily evaluated on the economic performance of the business. The

managers of businesses that perform poorly are often fired by the owners. Thus, man-

agers have an incentive to maximize the economic value of the business. Owners may

offer managers salary contracts that are tied directly to how well the business per-

forms. For example, a manager might receive a percent of the profits or a percent of

the increase in profits.

Employees provide services to the company they work for in exchange for pay.

Thus, employees have an interest in the economic performance of the business because

their jobs depend upon it. During business downturns, it is not unusual for a business

to lay off workers for extended periods of time. In the extreme, a business may fail and

the employees may lose their jobs permanently. Employee labor unions often use the

good economic performance of a business to argue for wage increases. In contrast,

businesses often use poor economic performance to argue for employee concessions

such as wage decreases.

Business Stakeholder Interest in the Business Examples

Capital market Providers of major financing for the Banks, owners,

stakeholders business stockholders

Product or service Buyers of products or services and Customers and

market stakeholders vendors to the business suppliers

Government Collect taxes and fees from the Federal, state, and

stakeholders business and its employees city governments

Internal stakeholders Individuals employed by the business Employees and

managers

Exhibit 2

Business Stakeholders