Lincoln Electric considers customers and employees to be more important stakeholders than shareholders. Is it appropriate for

Question:

Lincoln Electric considers customers and employees to be more important than shareholders. Is it appropriate for management to define some as more important than others? Should all be considered equal?

Stakeholders
A person, group or organization that has interest or concern in an organization. Stakeholders can affect or be affected by the organization's actions, objectives and policies. Some examples of key stakeholders are creditors, directors, employees,...