Stakeholder Perception Study

A Stakeholder Perception Study is a structured research exercise that explores how an organisation is perceived by its key stakeholders — including investors, customers, employees, regulators, communities, civil society organisations, and media — with respect to its ESG performance, social licence to operate, and overall reputation. The study involves designing and conducting structured interviews or surveys with a representative cross-section of stakeholders — gathering their perceptions, expectations, and concerns in a systematic and confidential manner.

The analysis identifies the gaps between stakeholder expectations and the organisation's current ESG performance and communication — providing actionable insights for improving stakeholder relations, ESG strategy, and disclosure. It is used to inform materiality assessments, ESG strategy reviews, investor engagement programmes, and sustainability reporting — and provides organisations with an independent, evidence-based understanding of how they are perceived by the stakeholders whose views matter most to their licence to operate and long-term value creation.