Regaining the organisational trust

Trust is a foundation of social (and organizational) order and also serves as the underpinning of healthy relationships, exchanges and transactions. There is a growing concern globally that social and organizational trust is eroding, and that it has become harder for organizations to build and protect relationships with stakeholders many of whom themselves seem to be in conflict. Digitalization and globalization have contributed significantly to changing the world order, leaving many people confused, disoriented and perhaps even scared. This has also contributed to people’s lack of trust in basic social institutions. Conspiracy theories are on the rise on a variety of topics. The ultra-rich are preparing for an apocalypse and building bunker-homes in New Zealand. In many countries there appears to be increasing support for authoritarian leaders because of their promise to protect against a disruptive future. In this respect, one is reminded of Bob Dylan’s song: ”The times they are a changin’.”In such a challenging environment, how does/should public relations (re)build trust and reputation to help us function as social beings operatying in harmonious societies?The following are a few of the many topics subsumed in this theme:What is trust and what is reputation?How does (should) communication and relationship management help individuals and organizations build trust and reputation?How do different stakeholders (such as employees to investors) experience, and perceive, trust and reputation in organizational settings?How relevant is it for us to talk about engagementin a world with diminishing trust?How do trust and reputation affect organizational and social success, or decline?How are 21stcenturey social processes such as digitalization and globalization affecting trust and reputation?How are media affecting trust and reputation?What benefits can organizations and the society get because of higher trust and reputation?How can communication management help us build reputation in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world?How is the rising inequality, within and between, societies affecting trust and reputation within and between societies, and with what effects?Are there similarities in the problem of lack of trust and reputation globally, or do they differ from one part of the world to another