In a multi-stakeholder approach, how does economic strategy differ from social strategy?

• A. They are identical in focus
• B. Economic strategy ignores profits; social strategy focuses on profits
• C. Economic strategy focuses on marketing; social strategy focuses on product design
• D. Economic strategy prioritizes shareholder value; social strategy considers stakeholders like customers, employees, and communities

Answer: (D)

In a multi-stakeholder approach, economic strategy concentrates on financial performance and creating value for shareholders. Social strategy broadens the focus to include other groups affected by the business—customers, employees, communities, suppliers, and the environment—and aims to generate social value alongside financial results. The best answer captures this difference by noting that economic strategy prioritizes shareholder value, while social strategy considers a wider set of stakeholders. This distinction matters because long-term success often depends on maintaining trust and legitimacy with those stakeholders, not just on profits. The other options mischaracterize the focus, such as profits being ignored or reducing social/economic aims to marketing or product design.