Who are the individuals or groups that have an interest in the success of a company?

Stakeholders are individuals or groups that have an interest in the success and performance of a company. This broad category includes various parties such as employees, customers, suppliers, investors, and the community at large. Each of these stakeholders has a vested interest in the company’s actions and outcomes, as they can be directly or indirectly affected by the company's performance.

For example, employees are stakeholders because their job security and career growth depend on the company's success. Customers rely on the company to provide quality products or services that meet their needs. Similarly, investors and shareholders look to the company for good returns on their investments. The community also plays a role, as the company's operations can impact local economies and environments.

In contrast, the other options focus more narrowly on specific types of stakeholders. While partners, stockholders, and shareholders are indeed important and may represent subsets of stakeholders, they do not encompass the full range of interested parties. Partners may refer to business alliances, stockholders typically refer to those who own stock, and shareholders usually denote individuals or entities that hold shares specifically in a corporation. Thus, the term "stakeholders" is the most encompassing and accurate choice, capturing all who are interested in the company's well-being and success.