A secondary stakeholder, driven by urgency and public perception, creates significant pressure for the company to respond swiftly. Meanwhile, a primary stakeholder has emphasized that resources should remain focused on core operations. Which management response best demonstrates an understanding of stakeholder theory by addressing these competing pressures while minimizing potential risks?

Management should engage both the primary and secondary stakeholders temporarily, but focus primarily on sustaining long$-$term stability within core operations.

Management should delay response to the secondary stakeholder, assuming urgency will decline if$,$ public attention wanes, thereby avoiding distraction from primary objectives.

Management may assume that the reputational impact is minimal if primary stakeholders do not directly raise concerns about the secondary stakeholder's issues.

Management should primarily consult with primary stakeholders to reaffirm core operational focus and proceed based on their input regarding the urgency raised by the secondary stakeholder.

Management should prioritize the secondary stakeholder's concerns as if they were a primary stakeholder due to high reputational risk.