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    Unconventional Insights for Managing Stakeholder Trust
    13 Feb 2008Working Paper Summaries

    Unconventional Insights for Managing Stakeholder Trust

    by Michael Pirson and Deepak Malhotra
    Most organizations understand the need to manage stakeholder trust. The bad news: Most organizations don't really understand how to manage the difficult job effectively. However, for those companies wishing to reap the benefits of improved cooperation with suppliers, increased motivation and productivity among employees, enhanced loyalty among customers, and higher levels of support from investors, managing stakeholder trust is a prudent, if not critical investment. Trust management may require an appreciation for some unconventional insights regarding the appropriate investment of resources. Stakeholders differ in regard to the kinds and degrees of vulnerability they face; what they need to believe before they will trust also differs. Would-be trust managers will be wise to consider these varying needs and to anticipate the tradeoffs that exist in strengthening relationships with specific stakeholders. Key concepts include:
    • Trust is multidimensional, and it is not obvious which dimension you need to focus on when dealing with any particular stakeholder group.
    • Stakeholder groups have different needs and vulnerabilities. Efforts aimed at solving one trust problem can exacerbate others.
    • Stakeholders of all types are interested in associating with organizations with whom they can identify, and with whom they perceive a match in values.
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    Author Abstract

    No abstract is currently available for this working paper.

    Paper Information

    • Full Working Paper Text
    • Working Paper Publication Date: January 2008
    • HBS Working Paper Number: 08-057
    • Faculty Unit(s): Negotiation, Organizations & Markets
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    Deepak Malhotra
    Deepak Malhotra
    Eli Goldston Professor of Business Administration
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