Introductory description

Organisational reputation has long been recognised as a strategic asset that requires careful management. Enhancing and protecting corporate reputation through healthy relationships and effective communications is an on-going business process. It is vital therefore that all individuals understand their role in ensuring the organisation’s brand values, and that its stakeholder value propositions are seen as credible, reliable and trustworthy in the co-creation of value for all parties.
This Master’s level module, which can be taken as a standalone short course, aims to provide managers with an understanding of how and why the development and management of corporate and individual reputation enables organisations to be seen in a positive light. Emphasis is placed on the application of academic and practical knowledge in how organisational vision, values, purpose and social responsibility guide strategic development of corporate reputation, identity, image, status, and brand positioning.
Attention is also given to the effective communication of desired reputation amongst all stakeholders through the design, development and deployment of a co-created relationship management plan based on the principles of ISO 44001 Collaborative Business Relationship Management Systems.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

1. Understanding the Nature and Characteristics of Reputation Management

1.1) Developing the Rationale for Managing Corporate Reputation

• Critical evaluation of the context and concepts of corporate and individual reputation
• Justification of the importance and significance of managing reputation
• Identification and impact assessment of the external, internal and relational forces that influence corporate and individual reputation in future scenarios

1.2) Determining the scope of Corporate Reputation

• Critical evaluation of the compatibility of an organisation's strategy, structure, systems and culture with its positioning and reputation
• Identification and assessment of key stakeholders’ view of and contribution to reputation
• Justification of indicators to evaluate the strength of corporate and individual reputation

1. Managing the Dimensions of an Organisation's and Individual’s Reputation

2.1) Understanding an Organisation's and Individuals Current Reputation

• Critical evaluation of corporate and individual character and personality
• Critical evaluation of the strength of corporate and individual identity and image
• Critical assessment of commercial systems for measuring reputation

2.2) Developing, Managing & Measuring Corporate Brands

• Drivers for corporate branding and typologies of branding strategy
• Identifying recommendations and cost/benefit assessment of changes in brand transformation to support reputation
• Critical Assessment of commercial systems for measuring brand equity

1. Developing, Managing and Measuring Relationships

3.1) Collaborative Business Relationships

• Critically evaluate the relative value and importance of organisational stakeholders’ mutuality in dynamic value networks
• Understanding the benefits, risks, management and measuring of stakeholder relationships
• Critical appraisal and application of ISO 44001:2017 - Collaborative Business Relationship Management Systems: Requirements and Framework

3.2) Co-created Customer Perceived Value Propositions and Stakeholder Value Propositions

• Critical evaluation of organisation-wide perceptions of value, customer/organisational buyer behaviour and other third-party stakeholders based on the 6 Markets model e.g. government, investors, regulatory bodies, suppliers etc
• Assessment of unique problems and forces that surround organisational and service sales settings and provide the ability to model the service sales process and understand the theories behind effectively communicating the organisation’s value propositions.
• Independently design a service sales process and key account management system that builds reputation and customer loyalty.

1. Developing and Managing Effective Corporate Communications

4.1) Determining the Dimensions of Corporate Communications

• Critical appraisal of the nature, characteristics and reasons for using communications
• Identification and justification of an integrated communications approach
• Justification of message content and measurement of effectiveness of communications

4.2) Corporate Communication Strategies and Methods

• Critical evaluation of alternative communication methods
• Identification and formulation of approaches to specific stakeholder groups
• Detection and marshalling of resources and application of public relations to deal with issues management and crisis communications

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Critically assess how the deployment, management and measurement of organisational reputation and relationships impacts on business strategy
• Identify and interpret events and market signals which can damage an organisation’s and individual’s reputation and relationships
• Critically evaluate and apply management practices based on ‘ISO 44001:2017 - Collaborative Business Relationships’ principles
• Critically evaluate and apply appropriate reputation and relationship management tools and techniques build, manage and measure a solid reputation between organisations/individuals and their stakeholders in the workplace.
• Effectively manage ‘collaborative mutuality’ between organisation/individuals and their stakeholders through the application of corporate brand vision, values, healthy relationships and effective integrated communications

Indicative reading list

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

Reputation & Relationship Management (Individual and Corporate) as input to organisational strategy; Organisational
Corporate Identity and Brand Image; Stakeholder Collaborative Working & Leadership through ISO 44001; Corporate
& Crisis Communications (offline and digital); Stakeholder Value Propositions through Trust & Commitment

Transferable skills

Critical thinking, Problem solving, Self-awareness, Communication, Teamwork and working effectively with others, Information literacy (research skills), Digital literacy, Sustainability, Ethical values, Intercultural awareness, Professionalism, Organisational awareness