The aim of this dissertation research is to develop an understanding of how components of the organizational structure, leadership structures at the top level and resource allocation decisions may affect corporate reputation as defined by the reputation quotient(RQ),and which aspects of running a company top management should keep an eye on in order to maximize the reputation of their company? Based on a literature review on the topic of corporate reputation and governance, which comprises the first part of the dissertation, a positivistic, deductive approach was chosen and a self-administered questionnaire has been developed that was sent out to the CEOs of the 60 companies currently covered in the 2002 RQ-rankings. The detailed discussion of the research method can be found in the third chapter. Due to a low response rate, the original research approach had to be adapted, in that - where available - the information requested in the questionnaire was filled by the author with publicly-available data from various sources, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), brokerage reports, company web sites and third-party information providers, aggregating information from these sources. Because the data points obtained this way, in all cases are based on official company disclosures (i.e. SEC-filings,press releases, published web sites), for which the companies are held legally liable, it is assumed that the quality of the data points obtained this way is just as accurate as from having received it as part of the filled-out questionnaires. This for one, because of the legal implications mentioned above and for the other because the answers to the questionnaire would have been based on the same internal data used to provide information to the Securities and Exchange Commission and general public. This adaptation of approach narrowed down the original sample size of 60 to 32 companies, because for 28 companies not sufficient public information was available and/ or the companies were not listed in both the 2001 and 2002 RQ-rankings. A second effect is that fewer of the originally intended aspects, especially relating to leadership, could be investigated, as no reliable public information was available. Nevertheless, the sample size was sufficient to draw statistically valid conclusions.

The Vulnerability of Corporate Reputation explores the role that reputation plays in the success and failures of companies. This book focuses on the traditional topic of reputation risk management, the process of reputation, reputational excellence and examines leaders whose reputation and foresight could benefit the organization they steer.

Increasing media scrutiny, global coverage and communication via the internet means corporate reputation can be damaged quickly, and failing to successfully address challenges to corporate reputation has consequences. Companies generally suffer almost ten times the financial loss from damaged reputations than from whatever fines may be imposed. According to Ernst & Young, the investment community believes up to 50 per cent of a company's value is intangible - based mostly on corporate reputation. So recognizing potential threats, or anticipating risks, emerges as a critical organizational competence. Organizations can regain lost reputations, but recovery takes a long time. Corporate Reputation contains both academic content along with practical contributions, developed by those serving as consultants or working in organizations in the area of corporate reputation and its management or recovery. It covers: why corporate reputation matters, the increase in reputation loss, threats to corporate reputation, monitoring reputation threats online and offline, the key role of leadership in reputation recovery, and making corporate reputation immune from threats. Any book that is going to do justice to a subject that is so complex and intangible needs imagination, depth and range, and this is exactly what the contributors bring with them.

Developing a corporate ethics program is a hot issue that will be the next big thing for large organizations. A drive toward standardized reporting of corporate ethics practices was coming anyway; the recent public corporate disasters will only encourage corporate executive teams to scramble to demonstrate to customers and shareholders that their organization takes these issues seriously. This book is an executive briefing for business people explaining how a corporation can combine leading practices in risk and knowledge management with emerging international integrity guidelines in order to manage corporate reputation and risk. Through a mixture of leading practice case studies and a clear framework, it shows how existing knowledge management tools and systems can be re-engineered to manage corporate risk and integrity policies.

Even though corporate reputation is increasingly able to either generate or rapidly destroy shareholder value there is still very little guidance on the oversight function of the board in protecting and enhancing this corporate asset. Reputation Risk: A Corporate Governance Perspective provides recommendations on how corporate boards can ensure companies develop a robust reputational risk management process integrated within their enterprise-wide risk management (ERM) program. Also a number of practical cases of corporate reputation failures and reputation risk management, including cases drawn from public source documents involving: Johnson & Johnson; Nike Inc.; Sony Corp.; Mattel Inc.; BP plc; Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., are presented.

Reputation has become an essential strategic asset for companies. Those businesses that enjoy a good reputation are able to differentiate themselves, thus attracting investments and retaining customers and employees, while at the same time, stakeholders of such companies demonstrate higher levels of satisfaction and loyalty towards the companies’ products and brands. Currently, corporate reputation is one of the most popular non-financial indicators used by organizations, both in the public and private sectors. This book is an in-depth investigation of the psychosocial nature of corporate reputation, and we invite the reader to join us on a journey of discovery. When reputation first appeared as a concept, it brought about promises and hopes. It was viewed as a solution capable of reconciling the interests of different stakeholders and making the whole organization stronger. However, this giant soon turned out to have feet of clay, as it was lacking in sufficient theoretical and methodological foundation. Nonetheless, when we step into the terra incognita of corporate intangible assets, we will understand that the vague idea of reputation is gradually acquiring a scientific form thanks to the development of measurement tools and models that lay a foundation for the long sought-after means of managing reputation.

What creates corporate reputations and how should organizations respond? Corporate reputation is a growing research field in disciplines as diverse as communication, management, marketing, industrial and organizational psychology, and sociology. As a formal area of academic study, it is relatively young with roots in the 1980s and the emergence of specialized reputation rankings for industries, products/services, and performance dimensions and for regions. Such rankings resulted in competition between organizations and the alignment of organizational activities to qualify and improve standings in the rankings. In addition, today’s changing stakeholder expectations, the growth of advocacy, demand for more disclosures and greater transparency, and globalized, mediatized environments create new challenges, pitfalls, and opportunities for organizations. Successfully engaging, dealing with, and working through reputational challenges requires an understanding of options and tools for organizational decision-making and stakeholder engagement. For the first time, the vast and important field of corporate reputation is explored in the format of an encyclopedic reference. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Corporate Reputation comprehensively overviews concepts and techniques for identifying, building, measuring, monitoring, evaluating, maintaining, valuing, living up to and/or changing corporate reputations. Key features include: 300 signed entries are organized in A-to-Z fashion in 2 volumes available in a choice of electronic or print formats Entries conclude with Cross-References and Further Readings to guide students to in-depth resources. Although organized A-to-Z, a thematic “Reader’s Guide” in the front matter groups related entries by broad areas A Chronology provides historical perspective on the development of corporate reputation as a discrete field of study. A Resource Guide in the back matter lists classic books, key journals, associations, websites, and selected degree programs of relevance to corporate reputation. A General Bibliography will be accompanied by visual maps noting the relationships between the various disciplines touching upon corporate reputation studies. The work concludes with a comprehensive Index, which—in the electronic version—combines with the Reader’s Guide and Cross-References to provide thorough search-and-browse capabilities

Managing and understanding the value of an organization's reputation is essential in the digital age, where the slightest negative incident can go "viral" and quickly become a major PR containment exercise. Reputation management is an integrated part of any organization's risk management plan, so this intangible yet vital asset has to be assessed, managed, and protected. Reputation Management provides advice on how to define and value your organization's reputation and techniques for maintaining and protecting it from risks that may arise on a daily basis. This book also covers where the responsibility for reputation management lies, risk identification, governance aspects, and containment and mitigation of a negative event. Aimed at the risk manager, corporate communicator, business strategist, auditor, and senior manager, Reputation Management covers: * The governance of reputation * Measuring and managing reputation * Managing and monitoring external perceptions * Reputation crisis management * Strategic planning and reputation * Reputation and investors