Making and breaking sense: an inquiry into the reputation change

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to expand knowledge of reputation change as a social process and to explore the implications of a social constructivist view of reputation for the challenge of reputation management. Design/methodology/approach -The authors analyze the main characteristics of a social constructivist view of reputation, and study its implications for the task of reputation management by means of an interpretative arena model of reputation change. Findings -The authors build a framework for analyzing reputation change as dialogical interaction between an organization and active stakeholders. Practical implications -The arena model is a tool for analyzing the task of corporate reputation change management across a variety of contexts. The arena model provides a conceptual tool for making sense of the crucial and intricate challenge of strategic reputation management, which places organizations engaging in struggles and collaborations with the stakeholders in symbolic environments. Originality/value -The arena model is the first framework seeking to bridge the theoretical challenge of social constructivism with the managerial task of reputation change.

Social Media and the Formation of Organizational Reputation

“…This term, we argue, may be fruitfully applied to describe how, because of the more active role of audiences described above, reputational dynamics now play out in multiple, partly interconnected venues. Some of these arenas may host ongoing interactions among multiple actors, including organizations themselves (Aula & Mantere, 2013); others may form around events or issues that attract the attention and/or concern of interested stakeholders for a limited amount of time (Whelan et al, 2013). In some of these arenas, like-minded actors (re)produce uncontested, if partial, representations of organizations (Albu & Etter, 2016); in others, multiple evaluations co-exist in nuanced networked narratives (Barros, 2014).…”

Accumulated knowledge and innovation as antecedents of reputation in new ventures

“…Therefore, it is a competitive tool and organizations should not downplay its importance. In fact, a strong reputation is a powerful element in the search for competitive advantage and competitiveness (Gjerde and Slotnick, 2004;Bergh et al, 2010;Aula and Mantere, 2013).…”

Rumor Communities, Social Media, and Forthcoming Innovations: The Shaping of Technological Frames in Product Market Evolution

“…Etter, Ravasi, & Colleoni, 2018). Such arenas host interactions with multiple actors, including focal organizations (Aula & Mantere, 2013) and other stakeholders such as investors, suppliers, and analysts. Because these arenas are partly overlapping, this enables networked narratives (Barros, 2014) and new forms of reputational dynamics and social valuations (Etter et al, 2018) that make online product rumor communities important spheres for discussion, debate, and influence when it comes to shaping technological frames.…”