The International Encyclopedia of Organizational Communication

Abstract

Organizational image is a contested concept in interdisciplinary research, drawing upon organizational communication, corporate communication, organization, marketing, and public relations studies. As such, organizational image is seen as the impression of an organization that exists among both external stakeholders as well as organizational members themselves as "construed external images" and "desired images." This entry discusses the relationship between organizational image and organizational identity at both the collective and individual level, and outlines current debates around the linkages between image and "reality." It concludes by highlighting current practices and problems of image management.