Optimum profits may be what businesses can do in economic downturns, or under new government regulation. Being socially responsible means businesses must divert some potential profits to fund social programs. Short term goals versus long term goal. Stockholders expect management to maximize the wealth of the stockholders, and not the stakeholders. Good managers must balance between the stockholders goals and the stakeholders' goals.
Management is under a legal obligation to act in the best interest of the stockholders.
Therefore, management has a delicate task. The final answer as to how corporations should be managed with many competing goals is still not recorded. Businesses are still struggling with the dilemma.