The literature presents several frameworks for stakeholder analysis, mainly focusing on identification and characterization. However, there is a notable lack of frameworks aimed at comprehensively understanding stakeholders’ perspectives. Neglecting stakeholders’ viewpoints risks biasing overarching analyses, given the relational and perspective–based nature of stakeholders’ relevance and characteristics. Moreover, this gap is particularly salient in today’s polarized landscape, where understandings of issues can markedly diverge. To address this gap, this paper introduces a stakeholder analysis framework designed to facilitate a deeper understanding of stakeholders’ perspectives.
This paper introduces a narrative approach to stakeholder analysis through conceptual arguments and illustrates it through a case study – the introduction of 5G technologies in Italy.
The paper illustrates how a narrative approach to stakeholder analysis enhances an understanding of stakeholders’ perspectives by revealing issue-specific sentiments and assumptions, objectives and expectations regarding other stakeholders’ behaviors and relationships in place.
Introducing a narrative approach to understanding stakeholders’ perspectives fills a gap in the literature on stakeholder analysis. This proves valuable for managers and is conceptually relevant, fostering a systemic approach to stakeholder thinking in a polarized world.
