Meaning

Meaning results from the creating, shaping, sharing, and interpreting of a word, text, symbol, concept, or action. Meaning conveys some form of significance, either implicitly or explicitly, determined by a combination of factors related to the[Page 419] sender and receiver of a message. Accordingly, a firm’s communication efforts are central to the process of meaning creation and how meaning about that organization is created, shaped, shared, and interpreted. Consequently, the meaning associated with an organization directly influences its reputation. This entry examines the process of meaning creation, the role of public relations in meaning creation, and the relationship between legitimacy and meaning creation.