Stakeholder Definition in a Network Context: The Case of Piazza dei Mestieri

Abstract

This article contributes to the body of stakeholder literature by providing a detailed analysis of the dynamics that pragmatically occur in a firm during the process of analysis of stakeholder relationships. This process can be fragmented when an entity operates through a coordinated combination of different firms (with several legal entities) that form a network. The application of stakeholder thinking could be difficult when the overall purpose of the network is to provide social goods for increasing social welfare in a critical community. Recent trends in the stakeholder salience model, such as stakeholder relationships model will be analyzed in detail. The case study focuses on a network of several entities that provide training and work possibilities to early school dropouts, i.e. young disadvantage people. The network analyzed is located in Italy and it is composed by several legal entities like profit, not-for-profit and training agencies. In recent years, the business model adopted by the network has demonstrated its validity in contrasting the social phenomena, and the network is currently in expansion. The methodological approach used is a Participatory Active Research (PAR) one, particularly important for testing the efficient application of a theory or the evolution of a theory in a proper manner. The case can add a contribution in the constant and still modern debate on stakeholder management in practice. Our research can bring useful insights for policy makers and all those organizations that provide guidelines for stakeholder engagement.

The authors would like to thank all the people involved in the project and especially the board and top managers of Piazza dei Mestieri. In particular, we thank Giulia Mancini and Andrea Martra for their passionate work that helped us in collecting data and design the project. In addition, we thank Dario Odifreddi, Cristiana Poggio and Giovanni Clot for demonstrating further that the cooperation can generate positive and unexpected results. In particular, we are glad and honored to have met and joined their incredible environment that have taught us more than we ever imagined.

Annex I Preliminary stakeholder analysis model

Entity perspective	Stakeholders	Specific notes on stakeholders’ relationships
All entities of Piazza	Students	Present and alumni Objectives Provide them the highest amount of scholarships Best training offer in order to find a high valuable work position Theoretical training and Practical application Be part of a family, self-esteem, positive future Allocate the highest percentage of students in stage and find them a job or perspective career Best practical training offer Possibility to work with awarded professional trainers (enriched their CVs)Be part of a family Understand the beauty in the word Interactions Daily and constant; when discontinuous is due to external negative influence Information sharing Bi-directional, practical and theoretical, creative Value High level of trust and profound involvement, “take care of” Learn Mutual for definition
Foundation	Founders Institutional founders (Region)	Historical Objectives Increase the offer of services in order to meet new societal need Business continuity and growth Increase the impact of Piazza in solving societal needs Be a tool for recognize new societal needs and help public regulators as new civil economy model Provide the highest amount of scholarships Interactions constant during the year with peaks during project applications and reviews Information sharing Accounting over projects; Represent an antenna on the district needs; Mutual sharing of daily practices to replicate the model Value High level of trust Learn Elevate propensity to reciprocal learn aimed to reach future improvements
	Donors and Institutional donors Partners (Private Companies) Small donors	Historical, Prospective, One-shot Objectives Transparency and accountability Best practice for the district Efficient allocation of funds Visibility Be involved in training programme in order to contribute to the training of their perspective employees Provide the highest amount of scholarships to students Partner in CSR actions Interactions Depending on projects (constant or discontinuous); tendency to getting more involved in projects. Information sharing Accounting over projects; usually mono-directional, but bi-directional when partners are active part in teaching and lectures Value High level of trust and continuity; transparency; accuracy. Learn Mutual in order to build long term relationships
	Human resources (managerial and technical staff)	Historical, Prospective Objectives Internal welfare Be part of a family of Piazza Recognition Interactions Daily Information sharing Continuous share Value High level of trust to assure the continuity and the guarantee the imagine of Piazza as “safe place” Learn New training needs that require new supports
	Association and other firms	Historical, Prospective Objectives Build up new business networks to collaborate and offer new professional training skills Efficient cost allocation Business partnering Interactions Discontinuous Information sharing Open and effective in order to increase mutual benefit Value Cooperation and collaboration, excluding competition
Training agencies and job centers	Family	Historical, Prospective Objectives Positive future and “taking care of” Definitive exit from critical situation of social disease Best training offer in order to find a high valuable work position Interactions Constant involvement and engagement, “forced in particular case” Information sharing “Training deal signed by three Piazza, the students and the family”. Sometimes not always easy, critical and urgent. Value High level of trust for the future of the family itself
	Social services (sometimes instead of families) Armed forces Local social educators	Historical, important for the future Objectives Prevent critical situation at high social risk Prevent and tackle the risk of violence and domestic abuses Prevent new social problems Interactions In specific cases Information sharing Critical and sensitive Value High level of trust and rapidity Learn Reciprocal and mutual learn in order to tackle and prevent high risky situation in time
	Local entities (cities, province…) Ministries	Historical Objectives Active role of Piazza in the district and community Public outcomes Effective results of the project financed by them Piazza as local best practice Interactions Constant and increasingly accentuated over time depending on reciprocal benefit Information sharing Normative, usually mono-directional, but Piazza aims to foster bi-directional dialogues Value Cooperation Learn Influence of Piazza as national and international best practice
	Trainers Teachers	Historical and perspective Objectives Be part of a family of Piazza Well-designed training activities Be more than a teacher Be creative and patient Interactions Daily on routine basis Information sharing From trainers to students and also from trainers to Piazza as a whole Value Collaboration, trust, role of guide
	Association and other partners	Historical and perspective Objectives Innovative training methodology Qualified workforce Partnering for projects and programme Interactions Depending on projects
	Customers	Objectives Effective job centers
Cooperative	Customers	Objectives High level quality and premium price Excellent taste Functional locations
	Professional trainers	Historical and perspective Objectives Professional proud Exclusivity Visibility Be the sounding board to attract students and customers Interactions Daily on routine basis Information sharing From trainers to students and from trainers to Piazza as a whole. Value Collaboration, reciprocal trust, role of guide
	Suppliers	Interactions Distinguishing between core suppliers and others Objectives Highest level of quality and excellence of the raw materials Reciprocal trust
Association	Students Student as members	Historical and perspective and alumni Invest their time in valuable activities to prevent social risks Help other students
	Volunteers	Objectives Give a practical help (for instance during training sessions) Guarantee a professional help