Exploring the Links between Reputation and Fame: Evidence from French Contemporary Architecture. Issue 10 (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boutinot, Amélie; Joly, Iragaël; Mangematin, Vincent; Ansari, Shaz
• Is Part Of: Organization studies. Volume 38:Issue 10(2017)
• Page Start: 1397
• Page End: 1420
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: architecture -- creative industries -- fame -- mediation -- reputation -- selection system theory -- structural equation model; Organizational sociology -- Periodicals; Organizational behavior -- Periodicals; Organization -- Periodicals; 302.35
• DOI: 10.1177/0170840616670433
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0170-8406

Abstract

Why are some organizations famous? We argue that fame results from a conjunction of several audience-specific reputations. Expert reputation (i.e. reputation among members of a knowledgeable group, such as a cultural elite or critics) acts as a mediator for achieving fame for organizations held in high esteem by their peers and clients. Based on a unique database of 103 architectural companies in France, our analysis uses structural equation modelling (SEM) combined with mediation effects to reveal that expert reputation can lead to fame by mediating peer and client reputations. We contribute to the literature by explaining why only some organizations already reputed among peers and clients are famous in society at large.