Showing papers in "International Journal of Strategic Communication in 2013"
TL;DR: In this paper, an initial theoretical framework for internal communication consulting in organizations has been proposed, which analyzes the consulting and enabling function within the role set of communication managers and provides a theoretical analysis of the role of communication professionals as consultants.
Abstract: This article analyzes the consulting and enabling function within the role set of communication managers and provides an initial theoretical framework for internal communication consulting in organizations. The idea of communication professionals as consultants has already been introduced by a number of researchers. Nevertheless, the necessity of this task as well as the specific dimensions and practices of internal communication consulting have not been elaborated until now. This article takes an initial step towards closing this gap by developing a new framework. After a short introduction, the necessity of the consulting function will be emphasized by introducing the concept of the communicative organization. In order to fulfill this requirement, communicative competencies in a much broader sense have to be developed. This leads to a new challenge for communication professionals: they are asked to advise organizational members and to enable them to resolve communication-related issues as well as task-r...
65 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper proposed and tested an integrative model that incorporated the antecedents of social media dependency, parasocial interaction, and community identification, as well as the effects of user engagement on relational outcomes of trust, satisfaction, and commitment.
Abstract: The importance of social media engagement as an influential factor for cultivating quality organization-public relationships has been increasingly recognized by strategic communication scholars and professionals. However, there exist few theoretical deliberations on the underlying mechanisms of organization-public engagement on social media. This study focused on organization-public engagement and relationship management via social networking sites. We proposed and tested an integrative model that incorporated the antecedents of social media dependency, parasocial interaction, and community identification, as well as the effects of user engagement on relational outcomes of trust, satisfaction, and commitment. Acknowledging the worldwide popularity of social networking sites, the proposed model was tested among users of leading social networking site in China (i.e., Renren, Sina Weibo), the country with the world's largest Internet population and second-largest economy. The study findings well supported th...
65 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the impact that various community features have on local governments' social media use and found that citizen expectations and perceived social media effectiveness by government officials are strong predictors of social media usage.
Abstract: Using data collected from more than 450 local government officials from municipalities across the United States, this study examines the impact that various community features have on local governments' social media use. It specifically addresses how staff and time resources, privacy concerns, citizen expectations, social media effectiveness, staff size, and public records requirements affect extent of use of social media for networking, research, and conferencing purposes. Ultimately, this examination of social media use reveals how they are used as a strategic and public relations function to promote more participatory and transparent government. Results indicate that, overall, citizen expectations and perceived social media effectiveness by government officials are strong predictors of social media use.
58 citations
TL;DR: This article examined the effects of a company's prior reputation and blog responsiveness on public perception of CSR motives, attitudes, and intention to engage in word-of-mouth (WOM) communication.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine what constitutes effective corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication in the corporate blog setting. This study examines the effects of a company's prior reputation and blog responsiveness on public perception of CSR motives, attitudes, and intention to engage in word-of-mouth (WOM) communication. The results show that prior company reputation has a strong effect on the public's interpretation of CSR motives, their attitudes towards the company, and their intentions to engage in WOM communication, while blog responsiveness influences the public's attitudes towards and perception of CSR motives. The interaction effect between prior reputation and blog responsiveness on WOM communication was confirmed, meaning that for a company with a negative reputation, responsiveness is critical when communicating CSR practices. We suggest that responding to the public's comments or questions about a company's CSR activities may convince them about the company's sincere...
48 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper examined consumers' corporate social responsibility (CSR) perception from a cultural perspective and found that CSR is important in China, with Chinese consumers having revealed a higher level of perceived importance of CSR and expectations about CSR than respondents in the United States.
Abstract: Using survey data from the U.S. and China, this cross-national study examines consumers' corporate social responsibility (CSR) perception from a cultural perspective. The results suggest that CSR is important in China, with Chinese consumers having revealed a higher level of perceived importance of CSR and expectations about CSR than respondents in the United States. The findings also show significant differences between the two countries with respect to purchase intentions. These results are discussed in terms of the role of cultural values in perceptions and behavior towards CSR. Theoretical and practical implications for global CSR strategies in communication are discussed.
37 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors employ both victim and preventable crises and find that CSR associations are more effective than CA associations in offsetting detrimental damage created by corporate crises and argue that the reason for more enduring and salient transferring effects of prior CSR association in crisis situations is because CSR Association are positioned on a company's virtue-related dimensions, whereas CA Association is positioned on its skill-focused dimensions.
Abstract: This experimental study employing both victim and preventable crises supports strong transferring effects of corporate ability (CA) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) associations on the public's responses in corporate crises. In addition, CSR associations are found to be more effective than CA associations in offsetting detrimental damage created by corporate crises. The study argues that the reason for more enduring and salient transferring effects of prior CSR associations in crisis situations is because CSR associations are positioned on a company's virtue-related dimensions, whereas CA associations are positioned on its skill-focused dimensions.
30 citations
TL;DR: The authors provide a brief overview of the emergence and dynamics of the management consulting industry, summarize the findings from the extant literature, and identify relevant issues for related research in strategic communication, and discuss the implications of its main debates and insights for strategic communication.
Abstract: The purpose of this article is to: (i) provide a brief overview of the emergence and dynamics of the management consulting industry, (ii) summarize the findings from the extant literature, and (iii) identify relevant issues for related research in strategic communication. The article begins by putting management consulting into context by relating it to three other fields of management: practice, education and publishing, pointing out how their interaction furthers the diffusion of management ideas. Then, the article provides an overview of the development of management consulting, showing how consulting activities and firms changed in line with their client organizations, while managing to derive continued legitimacy by adapting their image to different types of “professionalism.” Finally, the article reviews the extant research on management consulting along three levels of analysis: industry, firm, and project, and discusses the implications of its main debates and insights for strategic communication ...
27 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined the corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies of 38 multinational corporations with operations in India and found that most of the companies follow a global approach to CSR management and communication in India.
Abstract: This study examined the corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies of 38 multinational corporations with operations in India. Seventy-six global and Indian corporate websites were cross-examined to determine the prominence and extent of CSR reporting as well as the dimensions most salient in the CSR content to determine whether these corporations follow a global, local, or glocal CSR strategy. The findings revealed that most of the companies follow a global approach to CSR management and communication in India. This context-specific examination of CSR strategies expands the knowledge of global CSR practices. Also, it exemplifies how cultural, political, and economic environments can inform strategic communication's understanding of transnational CSR programs, and contribute to theory building in an emerging area of glocalization in a transnational context.
24 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify the social, cultural, and interpretive influences of communication integration in a case of integration and identify the internal implications of a concept that requires organizational change and stands to redefine functional boundaries.
Abstract: Communication integration, a priority in strategic communication management, is at a crucible in its development. Until now, most research has considered integration a program of centralized control and has explored the impact of messaging and media that are coordinated for strategic impact. Underexplored are the internal implications of a concept that requires organizational change and stands to redefine functional boundaries. This study identifies the social, cultural, and interpretive influences of communication integration in a case of integration.
20 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify key building blocks of a sociologically based theory of external consulting in strategic communication and thereby redress a fundamental deficit in theory-building work, and recourse is made to systems theory and the theory of systemic consulting.
Abstract: Although there is a broad body of scientific and practice-oriented literature on management consulting (see Engwall & Kipping, this issue), communication science in general and PR research in particular still lack a basic theoretical approach to PR consulting. Broad sections of the literature on consulting are marked by a very narrow focus on practical areas of application. The literature on management consulting, in particular, is largely practice-oriented and characterized by a low degree of scientific reflection on consulting practice. The objective of this article is to identify key building blocks of a sociologically based theory of external consulting in strategic communication and thereby redress a fundamental deficit in theory-building work. For this purpose, recourse is made to systems theory and the theory of systemic consulting, which represents the most fully developed theoretical approach to consulting at the present time. The central difference between classical organizational consulting app...
20 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a focus group with 13 strategic communication professionals and institutional partners unveiled their identification, roles, and responsibilities with the organizational motivations and strategy and the event itself: an annual festival.
Abstract: This research analyzed the multiple dimensions of perceived authenticity with qualitative and quantitative methods. The study used a large-scale special event of a cultural and eco-archeological park in the Mayan Riviera of Mexico called Xcaret. A focus group with 13 strategic communication professionals and institutional partners unveiled their identification, roles, and responsibilities with the organizational motivations and strategy and the event itself: an annual festival. A face-to-face intercept survey of 575 visitors allowed the operationalization and testing of an index and identification of two factors of perceived authenticity (i.e., overall experience and active engagement), as well as significant associations between the dimensions and participants' gender, national origin, and age. Implications for strategic communication theory and practice and the study's limitations are also included.
TL;DR: The body of knowledge about the management consulting industry has been growing at an impressive speed in recent decades as discussed by the authors, and we have a detailed and empirically founded knowledge about management consulting.
Abstract: The body of knowledge about the management consulting industry has been growing at an impressive speed in recent decades. Today, we have a detailed and empirically founded knowledge about the histo...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compare the state of crisis consultancies in Singapore and Denmark and examine the level of expertise of public relations consultants in offering crisis management and communication consultancy to private and public organizations.
Abstract: The aim of this article is to compare the state of crisis consultancies in Singapore and Denmark. Adapting and integrating indicators to assess professionalism, the study seeks to examine: 1) the level of expertise of public relations consultants in offering crisis management and communication consultancy to private and public organizations; 2) the level of experience of the consultants; and, 3) the value and expedience of the consultancy services offered to the clients. The research design comprised two stages. First, archival search of the websites of the public relations agencies that professed to offer crisis consultancy in the two countries was conducted. Second, the agencies that claimed to offer such services were contacted and a series of qualitative in-depth interviews with senior executives was conducted. The findings identified important differences and similarities between crisis consultancies in Singapore and Denmark.
TL;DR: The authors provides a detailed look at how public relations is defined, regardless of what it might be called, along with an assessment of the history and development of the public relations agency industry in the United States.
Abstract: Any examination of the history, dynamics, and role of public relations and communication management consulting would be incomplete without an assessment of the structure and development of the public relations agency industry This article provides a detailed look at how public relations is defined, regardless of what it might be called, along an assessment of the history and development of the public relations agency industry in the United States In addition, the article provides detailed information about the organizational structure of public relations firms, agency clients, fees charged by these firms, the role played by global holding companies along with an explanation about talent and staffing challenges
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined how Earth Hour used creative strategic communication to scale up a local community event to a global event promoting climate change, and raised questions on the impact and sustainability of single events in changing behaviours.
Abstract: This article examines how Earth Hour used creative strategic communication to scale up a local community event to a global event promoting climate change. Developed and run as a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) project in Sydney, Australia, Earth Hour was launched in 2007 as a symbolic “lights off” event. Five years later, 152 countries and over 6,895 towns, cities and municipalities have participated in this “global display of climate action.” Using a case study approach, this article discusses the key elements of Earth Hour's campaign development and raises questions on the impact and sustainability of single events in changing behaviours.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored public diplomacy and image repair strategies at the Arab embassies in the United States and found that Arab embassies focus predominantly on media relations and reflect an old public diplomacy structure.
Abstract: This study explores public diplomacy and image repair strategies at the Arab embassies in the United States. The analysis of data, consisting of 16 interviews and 84 hard copy and electronic documents, revealed that Arab embassies focus predominantly on media relations and reflect an old public diplomacy structure. Relationship management in public diplomacy may be complicated by political, cultural, and logistical constraints. In addition, the study suggests that religious diplomacy may offer new opportunities for government communication. Analysis of image repair strategies revealed that Arab embassies used three out of five strategies. Mortification and evading responsibility strategies were not used by the embassies.
TL;DR: The Sesame Street Talk, Listen, Connect (TLC) initiative is a multimedia example of Entertainment-Education that leveraged the popular Sesame TV platform to deliver key information to military families about how to communicate with children about feelings related to deployment and homecomings, and other tough issues related to military life as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The Sesame Street Talk, Listen, Connect (TLC) initiative is a multimedia example of Entertainment-Education that leveraged the popular Sesame Street platform to deliver key information to military families about how to communicate with children about feelings related to deployment and homecomings, and other tough issues related to military life. This paper is organized as an in-depth case study of the TLC initiative, including interviews with key program developers. The research analyzes the TLC initiative as an exemplar of Entertainment-Education, and compares this example of Entertainment-Education to a strategic communication model. Known and accepted models of strategic communication that appear widely in the literature were referenced. To develop an Entertainment-Education model, a review of the relevant literature was conducted and social cognitive theory, elaboration likelihood model and diffusion of innovation theory were employed as foundational theoretical frameworks. Recommendations for future ...
TL;DR: The authors analyzes the strategic discourse produced by the China-based transnational corporation, Haier, and finds that Haier's CEO and management discourse performs various rhetorical functions for internal and external stakeholders including leading, motivating, and inspiring Haier employees in China and around the world to navigate the global landscape with confidence.
Abstract: This study analyzes the strategic discourse produced by the China-based transnational corporation, Haier. Given the dearth of studies of the strategic communication practices of non-West-based corporations and how such discourses are shaping the meanings of contemporary globalization, this study is a contribution to strategic communication via organizational communication and intercultural communication literature. The findings show that Haier's CEO and management discourse performs various rhetorical functions for internal and external stakeholders including leading, motivating, and inspiring Haier employees in China and around the world to navigate the global landscape with confidence. The “glocal,” hybrid, and transculturation practices highlighted within this discourse demonstrate that Haier is challenging West-centric interpretations of globalization in the 21st century.