Organizational Transparency: A New Perspective on Managing Trust in Organization-Stakeholder Relationships. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schnackenberg, Andrew K.; Tomlinson, Edward C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of management. Volume 42:Number 7(2016)
• Page Start: 1784
• Page End: 1810
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: transparency -- disclosure -- clarity -- accuracy -- stakeholders -- trust -- trustworthiness; Management -- Periodicals; 658.005
• DOI: 10.1177/0149206314525202
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-2063

Abstract

Transparency is often cited as essential to the trust stakeholders place in organizations. However, a clear understanding of the meaning and significance of transparency has yet to emerge in the stakeholder literature. We synthesize prior research to advance a conceptual definition of transparency and articulate its dimensions, and posit how transparency contributes to trust in organization-stakeholder relationships. We draw from this analysis to explicate the mechanisms organizations can employ that influence transparency perceptions.