Why the Time Has Come to Retire Instrumental Stakeholder Theory

In their recent article, "How Applying Instrumental Stakeholder Theory Can Provide Sustainable Competitive Advantage," Jones, Harrison, and Felps (2018) adeptly answer the call of Freeman, Harrison, Wicks, Parmar, and de Colle (2010) to establish the theoretical links between instrumental stakeholder theory (IST) and the resource-based view of the firm (RBV). Jones and colleagues have done such a great job in demonstrating what is necessary to link instrumental stakeholder strategies to a sustainable competitive advantage. Jones and colleagues (2018) demonstrate the dangerous theoretical implications of continuing to push IST. These dangers are real.