By Kevin McCauley
Though three out of four executives say corporate reputation is largely driven by internal culture, only five percent believe their internal culture is strong enough to fend off a crisis, according to a survey conducted by MWW Group.
The poll focuses on the crisis that hit Goldman Sachs after the New York Times published a critical op-piece written by a former employee of the investment bank. MWW conducted the survey of 100 executives at companies with at least 250 workers in April.
Seventy-seven percent of respondents agree that Goldman took a reputational hit from the letter, and two-thirds expect more of these letters in the future.
Forty percent are concerned that a disgruntled employee could trigger a Goldman-like letter crisis, while 22 percent are undecided. Only nine percent strongly agree that their company has a crisis plan in place to deal with a Goldman Sachs situation.
Carreen Winters, executive VP at MWW, notes that reputation management programs are too often centered on engaging with external audiences.
The survey "demonstrates a growing acknowledgement of the connection between internal culture and external reputation," according to Winters.
She told O’Dwyer’s "this issue of culture is an important topic, and more and more I am hearing clients talking about its role in their reputation, and their business."
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