Article: Business and Community: From Unholy Neighbors to Strategic Alliance in the 21st Century Journal: Journal of Business and Management (JBM) 1993 Vol.1 No.1 pp.41 - 59 Abstract: Corporate community relations is an issue of increasing importance for organizations; the cultivation of goodwill with area neighbors, regulators, and special interest groups is increasingly viewed as a wise investment by management. In recent years the absence of an established community relations program has proven costly for many organizations: chemical spills have led to lawsuits by neighbors; expansion plans by universities and hospitals have been met with protests and negative public relations; even major corporations such as The Walt Disney Company have found their image tarnished by a barrage of criticism from local interests. The article discusses the evolution of community relations as a managerial priority in recent years, analyzes responses to a national survey of major corporations, and features a series of recommendations aimed at helping practitioners develop a program of local goodwill that may help ameliorate concern within its host community that business is often an uncaring, insensitive neighbor. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Business and Community: From Unholy Neighbors to Strategic Alliance in the 21st Century

Authors: Lawrence Barton

Addresses: Author address listing can be found in the "About the Authors" section at the end of the article.

Abstract: Corporate community relations is an issue of increasing importance for organizations; the cultivation of goodwill with area neighbors, regulators, and special interest groups is increasingly viewed as a wise investment by management. In recent years the absence of an established community relations program has proven costly for many organizations: chemical spills have led to lawsuits by neighbors; expansion plans by universities and hospitals have been met with protests and negative public relations; even major corporations such as The Walt Disney Company have found their image tarnished by a barrage of criticism from local interests. The article discusses the evolution of community relations as a managerial priority in recent years, analyzes responses to a national survey of major corporations, and features a series of recommendations aimed at helping practitioners develop a program of local goodwill that may help ameliorate concern within its host community that business is often an uncaring, insensitive neighbor.

Keywords: Community relations; goodwill; strategic alliance; corporate relations; lawsuits; host community.

DOI: 10.1504/JBM.1993.140990

Journal of Business and Management, 1993 Vol.1 No.1, pp.41 - 59

Published online: 05 Sep 2024 *

Title: Business and Community: From Unholy Neighbors to Strategic Alliance in the 21st Century

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