《哈佛管理全集》对公共关系一词定义作了比较明确的论述,即:公共关系首先是一种状态,因为在社会生活中,一个组织无论是否意识到公共关系,是否从事公共关系活动,但它总是与其他组织和个人存在着广泛的联系,因此,任何社会组织都存在于良好的平衡的或紧张的公共关系状态之中。这是不以人们的意志为转移的客观存在现象。 The Complete Works of Harvard Administration makes a clearer account of the definition of the term public relations: public relations is primarily a state, because in the social life an organization, regardless of whether it is aware of public relations or whether it is engaged in public relations activities, It has always had extensive contacts with other organizations and individuals, and therefore, any social organization exists in a well-balanced or intense public relations situation. This is an objective reality that does not depend on the will of the people.