Community relations is the practice of communicating with citizens - whether as individuals or as groups of stakeholders - to establish and maintain mutually good relationships, which may be developed through information dissemination and public consultation. It works best where the organisation identifies itself with the broader community and sees itself as part of that community. To be part of a community implies being recognised by it and invited into it. The primary goal of community relations is to gain understanding and support for what the organisation is doing - so maintaining and improving its closeness to customers, position in the marketplace and freedom to operate.