ABSTRACT

The second chapter is a direct reference to the second theoretical research thread raised in the monograph, which is the theory of stakeholders. It commences with a presentation of the genesis and essence of the theory of stakeholders, assuming active participation of all groups related to the enterprise in determining its objectives and directions of activity. In this chapter, in the second and third sections, key groups of internal and external stakeholders who exert influence on the activities of mining enterprises and industries are characterised. In the group of internal stakeholders, one can distinguish: owners, managers, employees and trade unions. The group of external stakeholders includes: suppliers, customers, competitors, central, local and regional authorities, as well as social environment and ecological organisations. Each of these groups is characterised by the same criteria, including its objectives and the strength of its impact on the activities of mining enterprises. The conducted considerations also take into account the strength of the particular stakeholders and the economic development of individual regions of the world in which mining enterprises operate. The considerations carried out in chapter 2 are based on theoretical literature studies in stakeholder theory and a review of international experience regarding the role of stakeholders in the functioning of enterprises and extraction industries.