ABSTRACT
In the 1970s and 1980s, there was a great shift in the social representation of the economy. Companies suddenly became central in social matters. Until this time, profit was generally seen as ensuring the sustainable contribution of company activities to society, but now financial objectives were becoming business’s sole priority. The stakeholder view led to the emergence of a new research stream, ‘business in society’, mainly based on inclusiveness. Business should without question act on behalf of society, and society should not be reduced to a mere lever of profit making. Business was perceived as a part of, and playing a role within, society. A. Berle and G. Means were calling for new legal frameworks in order to fully recognize the role of managers as key players between suppliers, workers and society. The interplay between business and society has progressively become evident for all to observe.
