Communication management under the spotlight – A literature review
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Published:
Sep 26, 2019
Keywords:
Communication Management, Corporate Communication, Public Relations, Strategic Communication
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Abstract
Purpose: Although communication management is a widely used term, little emphasis is given to understanding it as a concept in its own right. The paper aims to establish a foundation for acknowledging communication management as a distinct concept through charting its multiple understandings in order to identify its defining features.
Design/methodology/approach: A systematic review of understandings of communication management in public relations, corporate communication, strategic communication, and integrated communication literature was performed. Out of a total of 113 sources 40 were reviewed through a narrative synthesis.
Findings: There is widespread and ambiguous use of the term rooted in two main strands of literature and a third, less coherent, strand. In addition, the different understandings point to central features linking communication, management, and strategy.
Theoretical and practical implications: To make fully use of the potential of communication management as a unifying concept within and across different communication fields, it is suggested to view it at the intersection of, and through the lenses of, the features identified as central to existing understandings of communication management, i.e. communication, management, and strategy. Such conceptualization would lay the foundation for developing communication management as a concept that is useful for empirically exploring the social phenomenon to which it refers.
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How to Cite
Grove Ditlevsen, M., & Johansen, T. S. (2019). Communication management under the spotlight: – A literature review. Communication & Language at Work, 6(2), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.7146/claw.v6i2.116131
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The journal is published under a Creative Commons license Attribution Non-commercial No derivatives (cc by-nc-sa) http://creativecommons.org/about/license. CLaW allows the author(s) to retain publishing rights without restrictions. Copyright remains with authors without restrictions.
References
*These publications were not part of the systematic literature review.
*Bates, M. J. (1989). The design of browsing and berrypicking techniques for the online search interface. Online Review, 13(5), 407-424.
Brønn, P.S. (2008). Communication management. In The International Encyclopedia of Communication.
Brønn, C., van Ruler, B. & Verčič, D. (2005). Organizations, communication and management. In Brønn, P.S. and Berg, R.W. (Eds), Corporate Communication. A strategic approach to building reputation (pp. 59-82). Oslo: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag.
*Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cornelissen, J. (2000). Integration in communication management: Conceptual and methodological considerations. Journal of Marketing Management, 16(6), pp. 597-606.
Cornelissen, J (2014). Corporate communication. A guide to theory and practice (4th edition). London: Sage.
*Cornelissen, J. (2017). Corporate communication. A guide to theory and practice (5th edition). London: Sage.
*Cutlip, Scott M., Center, Allen H. & Broom, G. M. (2000). Effective public relations. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall International.
*Deetz, S. (2001). Conceptual foundations. In Jablin, F.M. & Putnam, L.L. (Eds), The new handbook of organizational communication: Advances in theory, research, and methods (pp. 3-46). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
*Donsbach, W. (Ed.) (2008). The international encyclopedia of communication. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Dozier, D.M., Grunig, L.A. & Grunig, J.E. (1995). Manager’s guide to excellence in public relations and communication management. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
*Ellis, D. (1989). A behavioural approach to information retrieval system design. Journal of Documentation, 45(3), 171-212.
Elving, W., van Ruler, B., Goodman, M. & Genest, C. (2012). Communication management in the Netherlands. Trends, developments, and benchmark with US study. Journal of Communication Management, 16(2), 112-130.
*Esmark, A., Lausten, C.B. & Andersen, N.Å. (2005). Socialkonstruktivistiske analysestrategier – en introduktion. In Esmark, A., Lausten, C.B. & Andersen, N.Å. (Eds), Socialkonstruktivistiske analysestrategier (pp. 7-30). Frederiksberg: Roskilde Universitetsforlag.
Grandien, C. & Johansson, C. (2012). Institutionalization of communication management. A theoretical framework. Corporate Communications: An International Journal, 17(2), 209-227.
Gregory, A. (2013). Corporate reputation and the discipline of communication management. In The handbook of communication and corporate reputation (pp. 81-93). Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
Gregory, A. (2018). Communication management. In R.L. Heath & W. Johansen (Eds), The international encyclopedia of strategic communication (pp. 216-229). Boston, MA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Grunig, J.E. (Ed.) (1992). Excellence in public relations and communication management. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Grunig, J.E. (2006). Furnishing the edifice: Ongoing research on public relations as a strategic management function. Journal of Public Relations Research, 18(2), 151-176.
Grunig, J.E. (2013). Furnishing the edifice: Ongoing research on public relations as a strategic management function”. In Sriramesh, K., Zerfass, A. & Kim, J.N. (Eds), Public relations and communication management. Current trends and emerging topics (pp. 1-26). New York, NY: Routledge.
Grunig, J.E. & Grunig, L.A. (2000). Public relations in strategic management and strategic management of public relations: theory and evidence from the IABC Excellence project. Journalism Studies, 1(2), 303-321.
Grunig, J.E. & Grunig, L.A. (2008). Excellence theory in public relations: Past, present, and future. In Zerfass, A., van Ruler, B. and Sriramesh, K. (Eds), Public relations research. European and international perspectives and innovations, (pp. 327-347). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Grunig, L.A., Grunig, J.E. & Dozier, D.M. (2002). Excellent public relations and effective organizations. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Grunig, J.E. & Hunt, T. (1984). Managing public relations. New York, N.Y.: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers.
Grunig, J.E. & Repper, F.C. (1992). Strategic management, publics, and issues. In Grunig, J.E. (Ed.), Excellence in public relations and communication management, (pp. 117-157). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Hallahan, K. (2005). Communication management. In Heath, R.L. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of public relations. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Hallahan, K. (2013). Communication management. In Heath, R.L. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of public relations. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
*Hallahan, K., Holtzhausen, D., van Ruler, B., Verčič, D. & Sriramesh, K. (2007). Defining strategic communication. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 1(1), 3-35.
*Heath, R. (Ed.) (2005). Encyclopedia of public relations. Thousand Oaks, CA and London: Sage Publications.
*Heath, R. (Ed.) (2013). Encyclopedia of public relations. Thousand Oaks, CA and London: Sage Publications.
*Kastberg, P., Schreiber, T., Ditlevsen, M.G., Harbo, K. & Lauridsen, O. (2007). Personligt knowledge management – fra information til viden via læring [Personal knowledge management – from information to knowledge via learning]. Frederiksberg Samfundslitteratur.
Long, L.W. & Hazelton, V., Jr. (1987). Public relations: A theoretical and practical response. Public Relations Review, 13, 3-13.
*Mays, N., Pope, C., & Popay, J. (2005). Systematically reviewing qualitative and quantitative evidence to inform management and policy-making in the health field. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 10(1_suppl), 6-20.
Moss, D. & DeSanto, B. (Eds) (2011). Public relations. A managerial perspective. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi, Singapore: Sage Publications.
Moss, D., Newman, A., & DeSanto, B. (2005). What do communication managers do? Defining and refining the core elements of management in a public relations / corporate communication context. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 82(4), 873-890.
Nothhaft, H. (2010). Communication management as a second-order management function. Roles and functions of the communication executive – results from a shadowing study. Journal of Communication Management, 14(2), 127-140.
*Peters, T.J. & Waterman, R.H. (1982). In search of excellence. New York, NY: Harper & Row.
Raupp, J. & Hoffjann, O. (2012). Understanding strategy in communication management. Journal of Communication Management, 16(2), 146-161.
Raupp, J. & van Ruler, B. (2006). Trends in public relations and communication management research. A comparison between Germany and the Netherlands. Journal of Communication Management, 10(1), 18-26.
Siano, A., Vollero, A, Confetto, M.G. & Siglioccolo, M. (2013). Corporate communication management: A framework based on decision-making with reference to communication resources. Journal of Marketing Communications, 19(3), 151-167.
Steyn, B. (2003). A conceptualisation and empirical verification of the “strategist”, (redefined) ”manager” and ”technician” roles of public relations. Paper delivered at BledCom 2003, 10th PR Research Symposium, Lake Bled, Slovenia.
Steyn, B. (2007). Contribution of public relations to organizational strategy formulation. In J.E. Grunig, L.A. Grunig and E.L. Toth (Eds), The future of excellence in public relations and communication management: Challenges for the next generation (pp. 137-172). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Steyn, B. (2009). The strategic role of public relations is strategic reflection: A South African research stream. American Behavioral Scientist, 53(49), 516-532.
Szyszka, P. (2008). Organization and communication: An integrative approach to public relations and communication management. In Zerfass, A., van Ruler, B. and Sriramesh, K. (Eds), Public relations research European and international perspectives and innovations (pp. 97-109). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
*Tench, R. & Yeomans, L. (2014). Exploring public relations. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited.
*Thomas, G.F. & Stephens, K.J. (2015). An introduction to strategic communication. International Journal of Business Communication, 52(1), 3-11.
*van Riel, C.B.M. (1995). Principles of corporate communication. Harlow: Prentice Hall.
van Ruler, B. (2000). Future research and practice of public relations, a European approach. In Verčič, D., White, J. & Moss (Eds), Public relations, public affairs and corporate communications in the new millennium: The future, Proceedings of the 7th Internal Public Relations Research Symposium, 7th-8th July 2000, Lake Bled, Slovenia (pp. 157-163). Ljubljana: Pristop Communications.
Van Ruler, B. & de Lange, R. (2003). Barriers to communication management in the executive suite. Public Relations Review, 29, 145-158.
Van Ruler, B. & Verčič, D. (2002). 21st century communication management - the people, the organization. In Brønn, P.S. & Wiig, R. (Eds), Corporate communication. A strategic approach to building reputation (pp. 277-294). Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk.
Van Ruler, B. & Verčič, D. (2003). Reflective communication management, a public view on public relations. Paper presented at the 53rd Annual Conference of the International Communication Association “Communication in Borderlands”, May, 23-27, 2003, San Diego, CA, USA.
van Ruler, B. & Verčič, D. (2008). Communication management in Europe - Challenges and opportunities. In Zerfass, A., van Ruler, B. & Sriramesh, K. (Eds), Public relations research. European and international perspectives and innovations (pp. 313-324). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
van Ruler, B, Verčič, D, Bütschi, G. & Flodin, B. (2000). The European body of knowledge on public relations / communication management: The report of the Delphi research project 2000, European Association for Public Relations Education and Research, Ghent, Ljubljana.
Verčič, D. (2000). The European public relations body of knowledge. Journal of Communication Management, 4(4), 341-354.
Verčič, D., van Ruler, B., Bütschi, G. & Flodin. B. (2001). On the definition of public relations: A European view. Public Relations Review, 27, 373-387.
Verčič, D. & Zerfass, Z. (2016). A comparative excellence framework for communication management. Journal of Communication Management, 20(4), 270-288.
Wehmeier, S. (2008). Communication management, organizational communication and public relations: Developments and future directions from a German perspective. In Zerfass, A., van Ruler, B. & Sriramesh, K. (Eds), Public relations research. European and international perspectives and innovations (pp. 219-231). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
*Wilcox, Dennis L. & Cameron, Glen T. (2014, 10th). Public relations. Strategies and tactics. Pearson International Edition.
*Zerfass, A., van Ruler, B. & Sriramesh, K. (Eds) (2008). Public relations research. European and international perspectives and innovations. Wiesbade
*Bates, M. J. (1989). The design of browsing and berrypicking techniques for the online search interface. Online Review, 13(5), 407-424.
Brønn, P.S. (2008). Communication management. In The International Encyclopedia of Communication.
Brønn, C., van Ruler, B. & Verčič, D. (2005). Organizations, communication and management. In Brønn, P.S. and Berg, R.W. (Eds), Corporate Communication. A strategic approach to building reputation (pp. 59-82). Oslo: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag.
*Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cornelissen, J. (2000). Integration in communication management: Conceptual and methodological considerations. Journal of Marketing Management, 16(6), pp. 597-606.
Cornelissen, J (2014). Corporate communication. A guide to theory and practice (4th edition). London: Sage.
*Cornelissen, J. (2017). Corporate communication. A guide to theory and practice (5th edition). London: Sage.
*Cutlip, Scott M., Center, Allen H. & Broom, G. M. (2000). Effective public relations. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall International.
*Deetz, S. (2001). Conceptual foundations. In Jablin, F.M. & Putnam, L.L. (Eds), The new handbook of organizational communication: Advances in theory, research, and methods (pp. 3-46). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
*Donsbach, W. (Ed.) (2008). The international encyclopedia of communication. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Dozier, D.M., Grunig, L.A. & Grunig, J.E. (1995). Manager’s guide to excellence in public relations and communication management. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
*Ellis, D. (1989). A behavioural approach to information retrieval system design. Journal of Documentation, 45(3), 171-212.
Elving, W., van Ruler, B., Goodman, M. & Genest, C. (2012). Communication management in the Netherlands. Trends, developments, and benchmark with US study. Journal of Communication Management, 16(2), 112-130.
*Esmark, A., Lausten, C.B. & Andersen, N.Å. (2005). Socialkonstruktivistiske analysestrategier – en introduktion. In Esmark, A., Lausten, C.B. & Andersen, N.Å. (Eds), Socialkonstruktivistiske analysestrategier (pp. 7-30). Frederiksberg: Roskilde Universitetsforlag.
Grandien, C. & Johansson, C. (2012). Institutionalization of communication management. A theoretical framework. Corporate Communications: An International Journal, 17(2), 209-227.
Gregory, A. (2013). Corporate reputation and the discipline of communication management. In The handbook of communication and corporate reputation (pp. 81-93). Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
Gregory, A. (2018). Communication management. In R.L. Heath & W. Johansen (Eds), The international encyclopedia of strategic communication (pp. 216-229). Boston, MA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Grunig, J.E. (Ed.) (1992). Excellence in public relations and communication management. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Grunig, J.E. (2006). Furnishing the edifice: Ongoing research on public relations as a strategic management function. Journal of Public Relations Research, 18(2), 151-176.
Grunig, J.E. (2013). Furnishing the edifice: Ongoing research on public relations as a strategic management function”. In Sriramesh, K., Zerfass, A. & Kim, J.N. (Eds), Public relations and communication management. Current trends and emerging topics (pp. 1-26). New York, NY: Routledge.
Grunig, J.E. & Grunig, L.A. (2000). Public relations in strategic management and strategic management of public relations: theory and evidence from the IABC Excellence project. Journalism Studies, 1(2), 303-321.
Grunig, J.E. & Grunig, L.A. (2008). Excellence theory in public relations: Past, present, and future. In Zerfass, A., van Ruler, B. and Sriramesh, K. (Eds), Public relations research. European and international perspectives and innovations, (pp. 327-347). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Grunig, L.A., Grunig, J.E. & Dozier, D.M. (2002). Excellent public relations and effective organizations. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Grunig, J.E. & Hunt, T. (1984). Managing public relations. New York, N.Y.: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers.
Grunig, J.E. & Repper, F.C. (1992). Strategic management, publics, and issues. In Grunig, J.E. (Ed.), Excellence in public relations and communication management, (pp. 117-157). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Hallahan, K. (2005). Communication management. In Heath, R.L. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of public relations. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Hallahan, K. (2013). Communication management. In Heath, R.L. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of public relations. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
*Hallahan, K., Holtzhausen, D., van Ruler, B., Verčič, D. & Sriramesh, K. (2007). Defining strategic communication. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 1(1), 3-35.
*Heath, R. (Ed.) (2005). Encyclopedia of public relations. Thousand Oaks, CA and London: Sage Publications.
*Heath, R. (Ed.) (2013). Encyclopedia of public relations. Thousand Oaks, CA and London: Sage Publications.
*Kastberg, P., Schreiber, T., Ditlevsen, M.G., Harbo, K. & Lauridsen, O. (2007). Personligt knowledge management – fra information til viden via læring [Personal knowledge management – from information to knowledge via learning]. Frederiksberg Samfundslitteratur.
Long, L.W. & Hazelton, V., Jr. (1987). Public relations: A theoretical and practical response. Public Relations Review, 13, 3-13.
*Mays, N., Pope, C., & Popay, J. (2005). Systematically reviewing qualitative and quantitative evidence to inform management and policy-making in the health field. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 10(1_suppl), 6-20.
Moss, D. & DeSanto, B. (Eds) (2011). Public relations. A managerial perspective. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi, Singapore: Sage Publications.
Moss, D., Newman, A., & DeSanto, B. (2005). What do communication managers do? Defining and refining the core elements of management in a public relations / corporate communication context. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 82(4), 873-890.
Nothhaft, H. (2010). Communication management as a second-order management function. Roles and functions of the communication executive – results from a shadowing study. Journal of Communication Management, 14(2), 127-140.
*Peters, T.J. & Waterman, R.H. (1982). In search of excellence. New York, NY: Harper & Row.
Raupp, J. & Hoffjann, O. (2012). Understanding strategy in communication management. Journal of Communication Management, 16(2), 146-161.
Raupp, J. & van Ruler, B. (2006). Trends in public relations and communication management research. A comparison between Germany and the Netherlands. Journal of Communication Management, 10(1), 18-26.
Siano, A., Vollero, A, Confetto, M.G. & Siglioccolo, M. (2013). Corporate communication management: A framework based on decision-making with reference to communication resources. Journal of Marketing Communications, 19(3), 151-167.
Steyn, B. (2003). A conceptualisation and empirical verification of the “strategist”, (redefined) ”manager” and ”technician” roles of public relations. Paper delivered at BledCom 2003, 10th PR Research Symposium, Lake Bled, Slovenia.
Steyn, B. (2007). Contribution of public relations to organizational strategy formulation. In J.E. Grunig, L.A. Grunig and E.L. Toth (Eds), The future of excellence in public relations and communication management: Challenges for the next generation (pp. 137-172). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Steyn, B. (2009). The strategic role of public relations is strategic reflection: A South African research stream. American Behavioral Scientist, 53(49), 516-532.
Szyszka, P. (2008). Organization and communication: An integrative approach to public relations and communication management. In Zerfass, A., van Ruler, B. and Sriramesh, K. (Eds), Public relations research European and international perspectives and innovations (pp. 97-109). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
*Tench, R. & Yeomans, L. (2014). Exploring public relations. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited.
*Thomas, G.F. & Stephens, K.J. (2015). An introduction to strategic communication. International Journal of Business Communication, 52(1), 3-11.
*van Riel, C.B.M. (1995). Principles of corporate communication. Harlow: Prentice Hall.
van Ruler, B. (2000). Future research and practice of public relations, a European approach. In Verčič, D., White, J. & Moss (Eds), Public relations, public affairs and corporate communications in the new millennium: The future, Proceedings of the 7th Internal Public Relations Research Symposium, 7th-8th July 2000, Lake Bled, Slovenia (pp. 157-163). Ljubljana: Pristop Communications.
Van Ruler, B. & de Lange, R. (2003). Barriers to communication management in the executive suite. Public Relations Review, 29, 145-158.
Van Ruler, B. & Verčič, D. (2002). 21st century communication management - the people, the organization. In Brønn, P.S. & Wiig, R. (Eds), Corporate communication. A strategic approach to building reputation (pp. 277-294). Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk.
Van Ruler, B. & Verčič, D. (2003). Reflective communication management, a public view on public relations. Paper presented at the 53rd Annual Conference of the International Communication Association “Communication in Borderlands”, May, 23-27, 2003, San Diego, CA, USA.
van Ruler, B. & Verčič, D. (2008). Communication management in Europe - Challenges and opportunities. In Zerfass, A., van Ruler, B. & Sriramesh, K. (Eds), Public relations research. European and international perspectives and innovations (pp. 313-324). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
van Ruler, B, Verčič, D, Bütschi, G. & Flodin, B. (2000). The European body of knowledge on public relations / communication management: The report of the Delphi research project 2000, European Association for Public Relations Education and Research, Ghent, Ljubljana.
Verčič, D. (2000). The European public relations body of knowledge. Journal of Communication Management, 4(4), 341-354.
Verčič, D., van Ruler, B., Bütschi, G. & Flodin. B. (2001). On the definition of public relations: A European view. Public Relations Review, 27, 373-387.
Verčič, D. & Zerfass, Z. (2016). A comparative excellence framework for communication management. Journal of Communication Management, 20(4), 270-288.
Wehmeier, S. (2008). Communication management, organizational communication and public relations: Developments and future directions from a German perspective. In Zerfass, A., van Ruler, B. & Sriramesh, K. (Eds), Public relations research. European and international perspectives and innovations (pp. 219-231). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
*Wilcox, Dennis L. & Cameron, Glen T. (2014, 10th). Public relations. Strategies and tactics. Pearson International Edition.
*Zerfass, A., van Ruler, B. & Sriramesh, K. (Eds) (2008). Public relations research. European and international perspectives and innovations. Wiesbade