Stakeholders
Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 6.5.1
Types of Stakeholder
Different stakeholders have different criteria for assessing the success of managing change in diverse urban communities.
What are stakeholders?
- Stakeholders are any groups or individuals involved in or interested in change.
- They range from residents, environmentalists and businesses to local councils and planners.
- They can also be classified into providers, users/beneficiaries, managers and influencers.
Provider stakeholders
- Provider stakeholders are the owners of the land/area being changed, and the people who will do the change e.g. builders.
User/beneficiary stakeholders
- User/beneficiary stakeholders include those who will make use of the change(s) either directly or indirectly.
Manager stakeholders
- Manager stakeholders are those who control and regulate the changes e.g. governments.
Influencer stakeholders
- Influencer stakeholders are those that have an opinion either before or after a change and may seek to adapt or prevent the change taking place.
- They may be local, national or international in scope.
Attitudes of Different Stakeolders
Stakeholders are affected differently and therefore have different attitudes towards issues.
Directly/indirectly
- Most stakeholders fall into two categories – those directly affected by the change and those indirectly affected.
- Each of these can be further subdivided into those having a positive attitude, and those having a negative attitude; note some may be indifferent.
- Several stakeholders may also have a ‘vested’ interest in a change based on their own personal objectives and perceptions.
Success and failure
- The reality and image of the place after change may not be the same for all.
- Assessing ‘success’ or ‘failure’ will depend on a range of criteria, some of which are personal.
- Often the best way to resolve an issue is by consensus and compromise.
Challenges Facing Rural Areas
There are many challenges facing stakeholder decisions in rural areas. These are important to think about in terms of rural case studies.
Economy and infrastructure
- Rural communities have lower incomes than urban areas.
- There is a need to diversify the rural economy.
- E.g. Strategies in areas such as the Lake District and Snowdonia.
- Access to modern infrastructure, such as high-speed broadband, is vital for both modern life and rural businesses.
Housing and services
- There is a shortage of affordable housing in rural areas.
- Many young people are forced out by the purchase of second-homes by people living in urban areas.
- In some national parks, there are restrictions on house construction.
- Rural areas are less-well provided for in terms of transport, education, healthcare and retailing.
Tourism and conservation
- Tourism is a key industry supporting employment, but excessive levels of tourism can impact negatively on a rural area.
- Many rural communities have important natural and/or historic heritage features which provide the basis for tourism.
- These resources need to be carefully managed.
Test yourself on Stakeholders
Which of these are types of stakeholder?
What do we call the owners of the land/area being changed and the people who will do the change?
What do we call the interest a stakeholder may have if its based on their own personal objectives and perceptions?
Which of the following is a key industry in many rural areas?