Which ethical stance, as described by Johnson, Scholes and Whittington, advocates multiple stakeholder obligation?

• A. Short term shareholder interest
• B. Longer term shareholder interest
• C. Multiple stakeholder obligation
• D. Shaper of society

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is stakeholder theory—the view that managers owe duties to a range of groups affected by the firm, not just to shareholders. Johnson, Scholes and Whittington describe a stance that explicitly emphasizes obligations to multiple stakeholder groups, so decisions should balance the interests of owners, employees, customers, suppliers, and the broader community. This makes the category described in the question the best fit, because it directly states multi-stakeholder obligation.

Other options focus on shareholders or on society in a broader sense. Short-term shareholder interest centers on immediate gains for owners, while longer-term shareholder interest still prioritizes shareholders, albeit with a longer horizon. Shaper of society suggests the firm should influence social norms, which is broader than the specific duty to multiple stakeholder groups.