Impression Management and Organizational Performance: the Portuguese case

Abstract

This study assesses the influence of performance in the adoption of impression management strategies. The study conducts a content analysis of a sample of 45 chairman’s statements, included in the annual reports for 2010 Portuguese companies in the non-finance sector. Findings indicate that performance does not explain impression management.Consistent with social psychology theory of impression management, larger companies present a favourable image of the firm, however consistent with an overall reading of the annual report. These companies are more verbose, consistent with the retrospective sense-making argument.