A comparative excellence framework for communication management

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 270-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dejan Vercic ◽  
Ansgar Zerfass
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Communication Management ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
General Management ◽  
Excellence Theory ◽  
Self Assessments ◽  
Multidisciplinary Perspective

Purpose Why are excellent communication departments actually outstanding? The purpose of this paper is to address this question from a multidisciplinary perspective and identify two different strands of the excellence debate, one from general management and the other from public relations and communication management. Insights from both perspectives are combined in a new approach – the comparative excellence framework (CEF). This framework has been applied in two studies among 3,691 communication departments across Europe. Characteristics of excellence identified in this empirical exercise are described. The results are then matched with insights from the excellence literature to test the plausibility of the new approach. Design/methodology/approach A literature survey has been used to identify current excellence approaches and to build the comparative framework. In the empirical part, two subsequent editions of an annual online survey of communication professionals across Europe were used to test the approach. Excellent departments were identified across four dimensions: advisory influence, executive influence, success and competence. Approximately one-fifth of each sample was identified as excellent. Findings The study shows that excellent communication departments are not simply better at communication; they are different. The characteristics identified are in line with popular organizational excellence models from management theory. Excellent departments employ different people (more experienced, with higher positions and in more strategic roles); they partner and collaborate more closely with the executive board and other departments in the organization; they base their work on different processes with more listening and research; and they produce more products at the strategic level, like overall communication and messaging strategies. There is also a strong congruence with excellence theory in communication management. Research limitations/implications The CEF uses a limited number of variables to distinguish excellent from other communication departments. This is typical for excellence approaches based on benchmarking and self-assessments. It helps to apply such approaches in practice. The empirical testing is based on data collected on one continent (Europe). Further research should employ data from other regions of the world and test whether results vary. Practical implications In its pragmatic simplicity, the CEF is a viable tool for practitioners for the assessment of communication department and for establishing a quality control system. It can also guide the development of training and education in communication management. Originality/value The paper demonstrates that communication management research fits into a larger stream of research in the field of quality management.

scholarly journals Between a rock and a hard place: publishing issues in public relations and communication management

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Bridge ◽  
Johanna Fawkes ◽  
Ralph Tench
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Career Stages ◽  
Career Stage ◽  
Communication Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hard Place

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the pressures to publish facing European public relations (PR) and communication management scholars across career stages.Design/methodology/approachThe Delphi method was used with PR and communication management scholars at associate professor level or higher across Europe. An online survey was then shared with the wider academic community to gather insights from scholars at different career stages.FindingsThe suitability and status of the journal and the language of the outputs are considered. Academics are caught between the rock of publishing inside the field to support its development and the hard place of being required to publish in high-ranking journals for funding and promotion. Scholars are evaluated regularly, with journal articles being the main unit of assessment. Academics, regardless of career stage, feel under pressure to publish.Research limitations/implicationsThe wider survey enabled publishing insights to be gathered from academics across the career spectrum, but it was completed by a small sample. Nevertheless, similar concerns emerged from both methods of data gathering, suggesting a clear agenda for discussion and further research.Practical implicationsPR and communications management is an academic discipline without an accepted list of high-impact journals. This study provides an annotated journal list to aid institutional evaluations, aid scholarly journal publishing decisions and support early career researchers navigating the publishing process.Originality/valueThis adds to the somewhat limited discussion regarding how academics in PR and communication management decide where to publish and provides a resource that can be used by scholars, institutions and funders.

scholarly journals Organizational diversity: making the case for contextual interpretivism

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 496-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Greeff
Keyword(s):  
Diversity Management ◽  
Internal Communication ◽  
Organizational Diversity ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Contexts ◽  
Organizational Settings ◽  
Managing Diversity ◽  
Functional Aspects ◽  
Excellence Theory

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to make a case for contextual interpretivism in managing diversity in organizational settings, specifically in its bearing on internal communication, going against the dominating functionalistic stance of venerated and ubiquitous approaches. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative and quantitative methodologies were employed to explore the potential of contextual interpretivism within the mining and construction industries of South Africa, due to the fecund diversity context of its employee population. Findings – This paper points to the enriched understanding that could result from following a contextual interpretivistic approach to internal communication for diversity management, and in so doing discusses the ways in which this could take hold in organizations through the application of germane theoretical assertions of revered internal organizational communication literature, specifically the excellence theory and communication satisfaction. Research limitations/implications – The main limitation to this research is the restricted generalizability of its empirical research. Further research is required for the exploration of the central premise in other organizational contexts. Practical implications – The paper provides insights into the ways in which organizations could approach its diversity management so as to speak to more than just the functional aspects thereof, and rather to the importance of nurturing an understanding of employees’ interpretation of the organization’s diversity endeavors. Originality/value – The implications of applying a new approach to diversity management in organizational settings is discussed and argued, offering an empirical application thereof, which gives way to practical, data-driven recommendations for use in organizational settings.

scholarly journals Strategic predisposition in communication management

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soojin Kim
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Complex Environments ◽  
Environmental Complexity ◽  
Communication Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Strategic Approach ◽  
Bridging Strategy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify factors influencing an organization’s predisposition to bridging strategy, and tests relationships between those factors and bridging strategy. Design/methodology/approach – Online survey was conducted in South Korea. Hierarchical regression was used. Findings – Identified factors are environmental complexity, top management attitude toward stakeholders, analysis orientation, and authoritarian culture. Research limitations/implications – By adopting the concept and measures of bridging as an organization’s public-engagement strategy, this study was able to capture an organization’s strategic approach for problem-solving in communication management. Practical implications – Strong analysis orientation allows organizations to look into problems in their complex environments affecting their performance and their key stakeholders before deciding on strategies; resultantly, they are more likely to reduce problems and to improve their performance. In contrast, authoritarian culture discourages an organization’s adoption of bridging strategy. Originality/value – This study is the first empirical study investigating the dynamics of factors influencing organizations’ strategic predisposition in communication management.

Unpacking the relationship between organizational culture and excellent leadership in public relations

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 363-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Meng
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Public Relations ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Leadership Effectiveness ◽  
Reciprocal Relationship ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Excellent Leadership ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – By looking into the relationship between organizational culture and excellent leadership in public relations, the purpose of this paper is bifold: first, how and to what extent organizational culture can affect leadership effectiveness in communication management; and second, what possible impact excellent leadership in public relations may generate to reshape organizational culture in a way to further support the value of public relations. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey was distributed to a randomly selected group of 1,000 senior public relations executives in the USA by using the PR executive database of Heyman Associates, a PR executive search firm in New York City. A final sample of 222 senior public relations executives was recruited. This group of respondents mirrored the characteristics of senior executives in the public relations profession in the USA. Findings – The results identified the reciprocal relationship between organizational culture and excellent leadership in public relations. The testing of a non-recursive structural model confirmed that organizational culture generates a direct, positive effect on the achievement of excellent leadership in public relations. More importantly, excellent leadership in public relations also influences organizational culture by reshaping it in a favorable way to support public relations efforts in the organization. Originality/value – There is insufficient empirical research linking public relations leadership and organizational culture, although it is agreed these two institutional conditions are critical. Thus, this study unpacked the independent and dependent roles of organizational culture in influencing leadership effectiveness in public relations, which may generate implications for both research and practice purposes.

The dimensionality of corporate communication management (CCM)

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahtiar Mohamad ◽  
Bang Nguyen ◽  
TC Melewar ◽  
Rossella Gambetti
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Operational Definition ◽  
Corporate Communication ◽  
Corporate Management ◽  
Corporate Communications ◽  
Measurement Scales ◽  
Communication Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Advertising

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the conceptualisation of corporate communication management (CCM) and its dimensionality from the practitioners’ perspectives. It proposes to validate an operational definition and dimensions of the CCM construct, which have not been identified in the literature. Design/methodology/approach The initial concepts are based on academic literature and followed by 12 face-to-face interviews with corporate communication practitioners and consultants from Malaysia to confirm the practicality of each dimension. QSR Nvivo Version 9.0 software is used to analyse the qualitative data. Then, the data are classified through deductive content analysis based on key words or themes. Findings The diverse perspectives are shown from the practitioners and consultants on the dimensionality of CCM. Most of the interviewees suggest that CCM dimensions include corporate advertising, corporate affairs, investor relations and employee communication within the corporate communication and other departments. They also found the public relations and media relations are clearly under corporate communications manager’s supervision. This research confirms the concept of CCM and its dimensionality to operationalise the CCM construct. The CCM dimensions also offer opportunities for further research to develop the measurement scales. Originality/value This research contributes to the clarification on the subject matter by developing clear concepts of the CCM and by offering insights about the role of the CCM dimensions, which help managers to more successfully incorporate the CCM dimension into the corporate management strategy. This paper also examines the concept of CCM and confirms its dimensionality, which helps in developing the CCM measurement for further quantitative research.

scholarly journals Brand experience and brand attachment as drivers of WOM in hospitality

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-246
Author(s):  
Mónica Gómez-Suárez ◽  
Mónica Veloso
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Structural Equations ◽  
Brand Experience ◽  
Emotional Attachment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a model to measure the impact of brand experience in the hotel industry, on word-of-mouth (WOM) recommendations while accounting for the possible mediating role of people’s emotional attachment with the brand. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through an online survey of 416 hotel customers. The proposed model was tested with structural equations modelling (SEM). Findings The results suggest that brand experience in the hotel sector is a consequence of four dimensions: location, ambience, staff and Web, in that order of influence. In addition, the study confirms the mediating role of emotional attachment in the relationship between experience and WOM recommendations. However, the experience itself has a greater direct impact than the attachment. Practical implications By knowing the dimensions that comprise the hotel brand experience, managers can design more impactful experiences that create strong links with guests, thereby increasing WOM recommendations. Originality/value This paper enriches the existing literature on brand experience in the hospitality sector and provides evidence of the mediating role of emotional bonding. Previous research has proven that linking is a consequence of experience, but not yet examined its mediating role.

scholarly journals Breaking the measurement and evaluation deadlock: a new approach and model

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim Macnamara
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Corporate Communication ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Measurement And Evaluation

Purpose – Noting findings by Michaelson and Stacks in the USA and Zerfass and colleagues in Europe that research-based measurement and evaluation (M & E) of public relations and corporate communication are still not widely applied despite more than a century of discussion and intense focus since the 1970s, the purpose of this paper is to explore the causes of this deadlock and presents an alternative approach and model to overcome identified obstacles and provide new insights to advance this important area of theory and practice. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is informed by critical analysis of the large body of literature on M & E, analysis of M & E reports, and ethnographic research among senior management. Findings – This analysis reveals that, along with long-cited barriers such as lack of budget, lack of knowledge and lack of standards, three other obstacles prevent demonstration of the value of PR and corporate communication. Based on critical analysis of literature and M & E reports and ethnography, this paper presents a new approach and model for M & E to help practitioners overcome these obstacles. Research limitations/implications – This analysis and the approach and model presented address an area of concern identified in research globally, such as a 2008 Delphi study by Watson and the European Communication Monitor in 2011 and 2012. The findings provide theoretical and practical contributions to address the deadlock between normative theories of M & E and practical implementation. Originality/value – The approach and M & E model presented make a significant original contribution to theory and practice.

Applicability of a digitalization model based on augmented reality for building construction education in architecture

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tayibe Seyman Guray ◽  
Burcu Kismet
Keyword(s):  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Architectural Education ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Education

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce a digitalization model (DM) for building construction courses in architectural education as a response to the recent emerging technologies in the era of digital transformations. This DM is developed and applied through augmented reality (AR) technologies to boost perception, understandings and ability to solve building construction details. Design/methodology/approach Based on a thorough review of recent technologies like AR, virtual reality (VR), building information modelling (BIM) and their applications in architectural education, the methodology involves the generation of a model, its application and evaluation. The model is based on the integration of BIM and AR which is applied into a third year “Building Construction Project” course. Each student has designed a residential building and accordingly prepared the construction drawings by adapting the DM. An online survey –based on Technology Acceptance Model – is conducted to evaluate the DM by quantitative data analysis from SPSS and Excel. Findings The key findings of the study include the following items: determination of the proper digital tools, the definition of the steps and workflow based on the building project phases to develop construction drawings and define precise details effectively. By the help of this, the DM is generated and applied. According to the survey and results, the DM which involves BIM-based AR is considered as beneficial, highly motivating and providing better perception on construction details. Originality/value Implication of AR/VR technologies is frequently seen in design studios, whereas building construction courses state its traditional approach. However, there is a huge potential in the digitalization of building construction education by increasing the perception of students together with the increased level of communication. The study aims to close the gap of digitalization by proposing a DM, which brings a systematic approach considering each phase of building construction project as conceptual, schematic, design development and construction documents by using BIM integrated AR. Moreover, the novel model specifically brings a new approach by generation of QR codes for construction details to embed videos or simulations into the two-dimensional drawing sheets. Furthermore, the DM proposes a new approach to satisfy emerging needs and requirements of the Architecture Engineering Construction industry.

Dimensions of gastronomic experience affecting on sharing experience: place attachment as a mediator and length of stay as a moderator

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nimit Soonsan ◽  
Umaporn Somkai
Keyword(s):  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Place Attachment ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Tourist Behavior ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the impact of gastronomic experience on sharing experiences, as well as place attachment as a mediator and length of stay as a moderator.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative method was used in this study. The paper conducted an online survey from 717 international tourists who visited Phuket, a city of gastronomy.FindingsThe result revealed that four dimensions of gastronomic experience – entertainment, escapist, education and aesthetic – affected sharing experience. The mediating role of place attachment was documented. As expected, the length of stay moderated the effect of the gastronomic experience on sharing experience through place attachment as a mediator.Practical implicationsThese results could help destination managers to develop tourist experiences and enhance customers' length of stay and place attachment. On the other hand, this research contributes to the understanding of the factors that affect sharing experience in the tourism industry with a special focus on the city of gastronomy.Originality/valuePrior research shows that tourism experience provides a future tourist behavior based on effective attitudinal variables. At the present, this research provides researchers with information on how to narrow the behavior gap through a range of marketing. This study gives additional insights into the indications of what visitors will transfer into behavior and why an area that has not been addressed previously in this context.

The relationship of employee status to organizational culture and organizational effectiveness

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 563-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackie W. Deem ◽  
Pam J. DeLotell ◽  
Kathryn Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Institutional Effectiveness ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Assessments ◽  
School Differences ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – This study investigates the relationship between employment status (full time (FT)/part time (PT)), organizational culture and institutional effectiveness in higher education. The purpose of this paper is to answer the question, “Does the growing population of PT faculty preclude effective cultures from developing and, accordingly, adversely affect institutional effectiveness?” Design/methodology/approach – The study surveyed 159 PT faculty and 65 FT faculty from seven schools of an online, proprietary university. The instrument, consisting of the Organizational Culture Survey Instrument and demographic questions, was distributed and data collected utilizing an online survey application. Statistical analysis methods including descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. Findings – The study found no significant differences between perceptions of organizational culture or institutional effectiveness FT and PT faculty. Inter-school differences in perceptions were identified. Further research in this area is warranted to investigate discipline as a cause for the inter-school differences. Research limitations/implications – The study included respondents from only one online university. Therefore, additional studies involving traditional, ground based and hybrid institutions are required to establish generalizability. Additionally, self-assessments of institutional effectiveness were used. Future studies should consider quantitative research models for the measurement of institutional effectiveness. Practical implications – The study indicates that PT faculty are not less committed to the institution than their FT counterparts. This strengthens the case for using PT faculty, particularly in an online environment. Originality/value – This study investigates the relationship between organizational culture and institutional effectiveness in higher education from the faculty perspective. This has not been done before.

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