The Relational Lens
Understanding, Managing and Measuring Stakeholder Relationships

This book highlights the importance of stakeholder relationship building to effective organisations using the Relational Proximity® framework.

John Ashcroft (Author), Roy Childs (Author), Alison Myers (Author), Michael Schluter (Author)

9781107155763, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 19 October 2016

248 pages, 18 b/w illus.
25.4 x 18 x 1.7 cm, 0.59 kg

'The Relational Lens is a well-written book. It will appeal primarily to an applied and lay audience, but it references a good deal of psychological research. Its main contribution might be that it adds fuel to the burgeoning fire around the focus on interpersonal relationships in the organization. For this reason, it should be taken seriously by anyone who wants to understand the complexities of organizational life, relational life in particular.' Richard D. Harvey and Andrew Bleckman, PsycCRITIQUES

Drawing on the authors' combined years of experience in both private and public-sector organisations, this practical book highlights the importance of relationship building between individuals, groups and organisations in diverse contexts. It will make a valuable read for business professionals and graduate students in fields as varied as change management, leadership, organisational psychology, and organisational behaviour. Employing the Relational Proximity® framework, it provides tools for informing assessment of the relational impact of policy and management decisions, enabling evaluation of organisational relationships, providing a language for constructive discussion of strained relationships, and integrating a range of models and perspectives within one process. Using real-world case studies and models, the conditions within which people are more likely to form and conduct effective relationships are also examined. This combined approach provides the language and concepts to enable constructive discussion and actionable solutions in building trust and sustainable value.

Introduction. The dark matter of organisations
1. The value and importance of relationships
2. Why organisations should think relationally
3. How to measure relationships
4. Directness - high touch organisation
5. Continuity - connection across time
6. Multiplexity - context for breadth
7. Parity - power, balance, fairness
8. Commonality - overlap of purpose
9. What relational proximity builds
10. Relationships between stakeholders
11. Managing, measuring, reporting, regulating
Epilogue.

Subject Areas: Organizational theory & behaviour [KJU], Personnel & human resources management [KJMV2], Business & management [KJ], Psychology [JM]