Hidden Organizations and Reputation

Despite the attention to organizations that focus heavily on their reputations, the complex society of the twenty-first century is also characterized by organizations that either shun reputations or manage them in rather different ways in order to conceal themselves. These collectives can be referred to as hidden organizations, where key parts of the collective's identity are concealed by management or other members, for a variety of reasons, from various audiences. This chapter examines the major categories of hidden organization with special attention to aspects suggesting implications for reputation. The discussed hidden organizations are secret societies, criminal organizations, informal economy terrorist organizations, and secret government agencies. The chapter closes with a set of conclusions about reputation in these hidden organizations.