If a company puts shareholders first, those shareholders (through the board that represents them) will end up making decisions that are better for short term profit that can end up killing the business for the long term. Cutting corners to save money for a specific quarter, deciding to launch a product that might be hot at the moment but won't have long term shelf life, etc.

In addition to that, if a company puts customers first, and builds their culture and company-wide objectives and key results with that in mind, employees will rally behind it. If a company tries building their culture and objectives around shareholders, the employees will be OUT.


>The purpose of a for profit business is profit. There are many
>non profitable/failing and/or failed businesses that have
>created and retained customers but don't turn profits.
>
>A business needs a model that creates profits/returns for
>shareholders. Part of the model includes customer
>satisfaction.