StakeholdersCustomers

Businesses have many different stakeholders who each have a key interest in how a business operates. Stakeholders often have influence over the decisions made by business organisations.

Part ofBusiness managementUnderstanding business

Customers

Customers are the people who purchase the product or use the service. They are the stakeholders who decide whether the business will be a success or not.

Customers will show loyalty to a business they like. However if a firm does not satisfy customers’ needs continuously, the customers will simply take their business elsewhere. This will have disastrous results for the business.

Customers queue outside a tearoom
Image caption,
Customer loyalty and customer satisfaction are key for a business to succeed

Customers have an interest in a business doing well because they want:

  • quality products and services
  • low prices
  • value for money

Customers can influence how a business operates by:

  • deciding whether or not to purchase the product or use the service
  • affecting the organisation’s reputation by