This document presents a theory of stakeholder identification and salience. It defines stakeholders broadly as any group or individual that can affect or is affected by an organization's objectives. It identifies three attributes that determine a stakeholder's salience: power, legitimacy, and urgency. Based on these attributes, stakeholders can be classified into four classes ranging from latent to definitive. The document applies this framework to analyze BP's stakeholders following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, including which classes they fell into. It argues BP should have acknowledged responsibility earlier and prioritized the environment and communities over shareholders.