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Value Creating Communication
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In 2015 the Academic Society launched the world’s most comprehensive research program for strategic corporate communications.
Researchers from universities in Leipzig, Muenster, Wien, Hohenheim-Stuttgart and Berlin are set to collaborate with international researchers and corporate communications executives. They aim to research the key challenges facing communication management, create a consistent image of the profession and emphasize the contribution it can make to a company’s success.
The first two modules addressing the digitization of communication and it's strategic contribution will be finished in 2017. In parallel, the next research module analyzing the set-up, processes and collaboration of coroporate communications, is set to start.
Objectives & Benefits
Scientific research in the field of communication management has grown internationally in recent years. However, it is fragmented and rarely interdisciplinary. With its new research program Value Creating Communication, the Academic Society wants to change this and provide a comprehensive and multidimensional image of corporate communications: an image which is convincing internally and externally as well as an image which provides a common understanding of the profession and ultimately positions corporate communications at the top management level.
Key objectives are:
- Strengthen the internal position and acceptance of strategic communications, build a common understanding
- Showcase how corporate communication contributes to corporate goals and a company's success
- Deliver scientific results that are highly relevant for businesses
- Provide orientation for university education and professional training
- Strengthen German research that increasingly plays an important role on the world stage, but still needs the support of the local economy
Megatrends and changing conditions - digitalization & big data
What effect will digitalization and big data have on Corporate Communications?
Increasing digital networking has emerged as the most important megatrend. However, individualization and globalization have also had a significant impact on Corporate Communications.
Module I therefore focused on the potential of big (social) data for Corporate Communications - but always within the broader context of an increasingly globalized and individualized communication.
- Scientific lead: Professor Ulrike Röttger, Dr. Christian Wiencierz
- Research period: 2015 - 2017
Value creation through communication
How does communication contribute to the corporation's success?
Aligning communication and corporate strategy (strategic alignment) plays a key role in the Corporate Communications‘ ability to create value in an organization. Module II explored how Corporate Communications can best achieve strategic alignment and how communication can demonstrably contribute to a company's success.
- Scientific lead: Professor Ansgar Zerfass, Sophia-Charlotte Volk
- Research period: 2015-2017
Corporate communications in agile organizations
Cooperating with internal and external partners in flexible structures
In increasingly agile organizations with flexible project teams communication departments have to adjust their role, tasks and competencies. Interdisciplinary cooperation is gaining in importance. Corporate Communications is faced with the challenge of how to manage coordination and cooperation with internal and external partners efficiently.
- Scientific lead: Professor Ansgar Zerfass, Professor Ulrike Röttger, Professor Sabine Einwiller
- Research period: 2017-2020
Testimonials
"Science and economy with the common goal of clarifying the social relevance of corporate communications as well as its contribution to the business performance: this is new in Germany! A common understanding of the essential terms, concepts and tools of corporate communications would be helpful. In the best case, the program provides a deeper understanding of the interrelationships and impact of modern business communication."
- Prof. Dr. Christof Ehrhart, Executive Vice President Corporate Communications and Corporate Responsibility, Deutsche Post DHL Group
"The PR profession can greatly benefit from this research program by dealing with the results transparently and actively integrating them into the early stages of communication training. There must be a kind of self-understanding that corporate communication can provide results which significantly contribute to the company's success. Public Relations needs better PR for themselves - and needs to get out of the self-explaining mode."
- Nicole Gorfer, Head of Communications & Public Affairs, Roche Pharma
"Holding a PhD in communications and being a communication manager, I'm keen to maintain a close relationship with universities. Feedback from practical experience can provide impulses for the scientific research. In turn, the research results will help us in our daily work. PR magazines frequently publish articles which turn out to be commissioned research without intellectual depth and valid data. We need in-depth analyses and forecasts with a scientific claim. This kind of research can support the development of communication areas in the long term."
- Dr. Bernd Pütter, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications, HOCHTIEF AG
"A close relationship between business and science is also very useful in the field of communication. Our economic, social and media environments are changing rapidly. For me, the research program by the Academic Society provides an important basis for preparing corporate communications to meet the challenges of the future."
- Maximilian Schöberl, Head of Corporate Communications & Politics, BMW Group
"‘Co-creation’ is an important trend - not only in the digital world. Sharing ideas - here between research and practice - produces real value. Science and practice need to respond to the complex challenges of the digital world in which there are no easy answers. This program helps in the search for solutions."
- Dr. Christoph Zemelka, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications, Brand Management and Sustainability, Robert Bosch GmbH
Office:
Burgstr. 21, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
Contact:
Email: info@akademische-gesellschaft.com
Phone: +49 (0)341 97350-50 / -52
Fax: +49 (0)341 97357-48