Corporate Communications: An International JournalTable of Contents for Corporate Communications: An International Journal. List of articles from the current issue, including Just Accepted (EarlyCite)https://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/issn/1356-3289/vol/29/iss/7?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestCorporate Communications: An International JournalEmerald Publishing LimitedCorporate Communications: An International JournalCorporate Communications: An International Journalhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/proxy/containerImg?link=/resource/publication/journal/5d9edf4c1c4518f0eb2d3ddde4e2dff6/urn:emeraldgroup.com:asset:id:binary:ccij.cover.jpghttps://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/issn/1356-3289/vol/29/iss/7?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestIs your employer branding strategy effective? The role of employee predisposition in achieving employer attractivenesshttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-07-2022-0070/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestEmployer branding (EB) has become a powerful tool for organizations to attract employees. Recruitment communication ideally reveals the image that companies want to portray to potential employees to attract talents with the right skills and competences for the organization. This study explores the impact of EB on employer attractiveness by testing how pre-existing employee preferences interact with EB and how this interaction affects employer attractiveness. A quasi-experiment among 289 final-year students was used to test the relationships between EB, perceived employer image, person-organization (P-O) fit and employer attractiveness, and the potential moderating variables of pre-existing preferences, in this case operationalized as locational preferences. Students are randomly assigned to four vacancies: one with and one without EB cues in two different locations: Groningen and Amsterdam. The authors used standard scales for attractiveness, perceptions of an employer and person-organization fit. The authors test the relationships using a regression analysis. Results suggest that if respondents have previous predispositions, then their preference can be enhanced using an EB-targeted strategy. Based on these results, the authors can conclude that EB and related practices can be successful avenues for organizations in the war for talent, particularly if they reaffirm previous preferences of potential employees. The research is original in the way it provides empirical evidence on the relationship between EB and attractiveness, particularly when previous employee preferences exist. This is of value to employers using EB as a tool to influence employer attractiveness.Is your employer branding strategy effective? The role of employee predisposition in achieving employer attractiveness
Antonia Z. Hein, Wim J.L. Elving, Sierdjan Koster, Arjen Edzes
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. 29, No. 7, pp.1-20

Employer branding (EB) has become a powerful tool for organizations to attract employees. Recruitment communication ideally reveals the image that companies want to portray to potential employees to attract talents with the right skills and competences for the organization. This study explores the impact of EB on employer attractiveness by testing how pre-existing employee preferences interact with EB and how this interaction affects employer attractiveness.

A quasi-experiment among 289 final-year students was used to test the relationships between EB, perceived employer image, person-organization (P-O) fit and employer attractiveness, and the potential moderating variables of pre-existing preferences, in this case operationalized as locational preferences. Students are randomly assigned to four vacancies: one with and one without EB cues in two different locations: Groningen and Amsterdam. The authors used standard scales for attractiveness, perceptions of an employer and person-organization fit. The authors test the relationships using a regression analysis.

Results suggest that if respondents have previous predispositions, then their preference can be enhanced using an EB-targeted strategy. Based on these results, the authors can conclude that EB and related practices can be successful avenues for organizations in the war for talent, particularly if they reaffirm previous preferences of potential employees.

The research is original in the way it provides empirical evidence on the relationship between EB and attractiveness, particularly when previous employee preferences exist. This is of value to employers using EB as a tool to influence employer attractiveness.

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Is your employer branding strategy effective? The role of employee predisposition in achieving employer attractiveness10.1108/CCIJ-07-2022-0070Corporate Communications: An International Journal2024-01-12© 2023 Antonia Z. Hein, Wim J.L. Elving, Sierdjan Koster and Arjen EdzesAntonia Z. HeinWim J.L. ElvingSierdjan KosterArjen EdzesCorporate Communications: An International Journal2972024-01-1210.1108/CCIJ-07-2022-0070https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-07-2022-0070/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Antonia Z. Hein, Wim J.L. Elving, Sierdjan Koster and Arjen Edzeshttp://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
Corporate social advocacy and gender equality: how call-to-action messages influence corporate reputationhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-10-2023-0142/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestCorporations are confronted with growing demands to take a stand on socio-political issues, i.e. corporate social advocacy (CSA), which affects their reputation in the public. Companies use different CSA message strategies, including calling the public to support and act on the issue they advocate. Using reactance theory, the authors investigate the impact of CSA messages with a call to action on corporate reputation in the case of a company's gender equality initiative. A one-factorial (CSA message with or without a call to action) between-subjects experiment was conducted by surveying 172 individuals living in Switzerland. The CSA messages were created in the context of gender equality. The authors' study indicates that CSA messages with a call to action compared to those without overall harmed corporate reputation due to individuals' reactance, which is higher for CSA messages with a call to action, negatively affecting corporate reputation. The impact of the CSA message strategy with a call to action on corporate reputation remains significant after controlling for issue alignment and political leaning. Communicating about socio-political issues, especially taking a stand, is a significant challenge for corporations in an increasingly polarized society and has often led to backlash, boycotts and damage to corporate reputation. This study shows that the possible adverse effects of advocating for socio-political issues can be related to reactance. It emphasizes that companies advocating for contested issues must be more cautious about the message strategy than the issue itself.Corporate social advocacy and gender equality: how call-to-action messages influence corporate reputation
Sarah Marschlich, Laura Bernet
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. 29, No. 7, pp.21-38

Corporations are confronted with growing demands to take a stand on socio-political issues, i.e. corporate social advocacy (CSA), which affects their reputation in the public. Companies use different CSA message strategies, including calling the public to support and act on the issue they advocate. Using reactance theory, the authors investigate the impact of CSA messages with a call to action on corporate reputation in the case of a company's gender equality initiative.

A one-factorial (CSA message with or without a call to action) between-subjects experiment was conducted by surveying 172 individuals living in Switzerland. The CSA messages were created in the context of gender equality.

The authors' study indicates that CSA messages with a call to action compared to those without overall harmed corporate reputation due to individuals' reactance, which is higher for CSA messages with a call to action, negatively affecting corporate reputation. The impact of the CSA message strategy with a call to action on corporate reputation remains significant after controlling for issue alignment and political leaning.

Communicating about socio-political issues, especially taking a stand, is a significant challenge for corporations in an increasingly polarized society and has often led to backlash, boycotts and damage to corporate reputation. This study shows that the possible adverse effects of advocating for socio-political issues can be related to reactance. It emphasizes that companies advocating for contested issues must be more cautious about the message strategy than the issue itself.

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Corporate social advocacy and gender equality: how call-to-action messages influence corporate reputation10.1108/CCIJ-10-2023-0142Corporate Communications: An International Journal2024-01-30© 2024 Sarah Marschlich and Laura BernetSarah MarschlichLaura BernetCorporate Communications: An International Journal2972024-01-3010.1108/CCIJ-10-2023-0142https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-10-2023-0142/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2024 Sarah Marschlich and Laura Bernethttp://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
Forms and strategies of personal influence in “public” relations practices: evidence from Italyhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-02-2023-0018/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestPersonal influence is one of the most powerful strategies to influence publics’ behaviours. Yet, there is scant attention on how personal influence is leveraged for different public relations purposes in different cultural contexts. This study empirically investigates the presence and use of personal influence among Italian public relations professionals. A survey was conducted through a self-administrated, web-based questionnaire and was developed from earlier studies investigating personal influence in public relations literature. Survey participants included public relations professionals across public, non-profit and private sectors. The findings empirically show the presence and regular use of personal influence by professionals from all sectors to cultivate interpersonal relationships. Personal influence is considered a personal resource and used to leverage own influencing power. The findings also document four major manifestations of personal influence, which were named: relational closeness strategy, engagement strategy, expertise strategy and added value strategy. This study enhances our understanding of personal influence in a specific cultural context and offers strategic insights for international professionals seeking to leverage influence in the socio-political environment of Italy. It also offers elements to improve public relations education and training. The study offers some preliminary understandings of how Italian professionals leverage their personal influence in their daily public relations activities contributing with empirical evidence to the body of knowledge in public relations.Forms and strategies of personal influence in “public” relations practices: evidence from Italy
Chiara Valentini, Krishnamurthy Sriramesh
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. 29, No. 7, pp.39-57

Personal influence is one of the most powerful strategies to influence publics’ behaviours. Yet, there is scant attention on how personal influence is leveraged for different public relations purposes in different cultural contexts. This study empirically investigates the presence and use of personal influence among Italian public relations professionals.

A survey was conducted through a self-administrated, web-based questionnaire and was developed from earlier studies investigating personal influence in public relations literature. Survey participants included public relations professionals across public, non-profit and private sectors.

The findings empirically show the presence and regular use of personal influence by professionals from all sectors to cultivate interpersonal relationships. Personal influence is considered a personal resource and used to leverage own influencing power. The findings also document four major manifestations of personal influence, which were named: relational closeness strategy, engagement strategy, expertise strategy and added value strategy.

This study enhances our understanding of personal influence in a specific cultural context and offers strategic insights for international professionals seeking to leverage influence in the socio-political environment of Italy. It also offers elements to improve public relations education and training.

The study offers some preliminary understandings of how Italian professionals leverage their personal influence in their daily public relations activities contributing with empirical evidence to the body of knowledge in public relations.

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Forms and strategies of personal influence in “public” relations practices: evidence from Italy10.1108/CCIJ-02-2023-0018Corporate Communications: An International Journal2024-02-26© 2024 Chiara Valentini and Krishnamurthy SrirameshChiara ValentiniKrishnamurthy SrirameshCorporate Communications: An International Journal2972024-02-2610.1108/CCIJ-02-2023-0018https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-02-2023-0018/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2024 Chiara Valentini and Krishnamurthy Srirameshhttp://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
Fear of being replaced: The dark side of employee ambassadorship on social mediahttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-11-2023-0158/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThis study problematizes the prevailing normative and managerial-dominated view of self-initiated employee ambassadorship on social media from a power perspective. The aim is to provide a more nuanced and critical understanding of the negative aspects of this phenomenon. The empirical material encompasses qualitative interviews with employees from 14 organizations and Foucault’s concept of disciplinary discursive power to analyze which and how discourses exert power over employee communication on social media and what role visibility plays in it. This study indicates that employee ambassadors’ social media communication is governed by two discourses that create complex tensions, where ambassadors constantly must negotiate between self-branding requirements and an authenticity paradox. These tensions intensify through visibility on social media, where employees strategize and situationally silence their communication through self-monitoring and self-surveillance practices. Conclusively, the findings also outline the need for further critical research to offer a deeper understanding of power relations that influence the communication practices of organizational members. The paper contributes to a more nuanced understanding of self-initiated employee ambassadorship on social media and highlights disciplinary power relations that go beyond organizational borders. The findings underscore that organizations need to address the critical aspects of self-initiated employee ambassadorship and act as facilitators to support employees in their navigation process. This paper contributes a new critical power perspective on employee ambassadorship on social media.Fear of being replaced: The dark side of employee ambassadorship on social media
Alessandra Sossini, Mats Heide
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. 29, No. 7, pp.58-73

This study problematizes the prevailing normative and managerial-dominated view of self-initiated employee ambassadorship on social media from a power perspective. The aim is to provide a more nuanced and critical understanding of the negative aspects of this phenomenon.

The empirical material encompasses qualitative interviews with employees from 14 organizations and Foucault’s concept of disciplinary discursive power to analyze which and how discourses exert power over employee communication on social media and what role visibility plays in it.

This study indicates that employee ambassadors’ social media communication is governed by two discourses that create complex tensions, where ambassadors constantly must negotiate between self-branding requirements and an authenticity paradox. These tensions intensify through visibility on social media, where employees strategize and situationally silence their communication through self-monitoring and self-surveillance practices. Conclusively, the findings also outline the need for further critical research to offer a deeper understanding of power relations that influence the communication practices of organizational members.

The paper contributes to a more nuanced understanding of self-initiated employee ambassadorship on social media and highlights disciplinary power relations that go beyond organizational borders.

The findings underscore that organizations need to address the critical aspects of self-initiated employee ambassadorship and act as facilitators to support employees in their navigation process.

This paper contributes a new critical power perspective on employee ambassadorship on social media.

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Fear of being replaced: The dark side of employee ambassadorship on social media10.1108/CCIJ-11-2023-0158Corporate Communications: An International Journal2024-03-21© 2024 Alessandra Sossini and Mats HeideAlessandra SossiniMats HeideCorporate Communications: An International Journal2972024-03-2110.1108/CCIJ-11-2023-0158https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-11-2023-0158/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2024 Alessandra Sossini and Mats Heidehttp://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
Media-induced emotions and message sidedness in corporate criseshttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-01-2023-0005/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThis study examines the interplay between media-induced emotional crisis framing (anger vs sadness) and message sidedness of crisis response on publics’ attribution of crisis responsibility as well as subsequent company evaluation and supportive behavioral intention. A 2 (emotion: anger vs sadness) x 2 (crisis response: one-sided vs two-sided) online experiment was conducted among 161 participants in the USA. Results showed that anger-inducing media framing of the crisis elicited higher levels of crisis responsibility attribution and more negative company evaluation, compared with sadness-inducing media framing. One-sided message response was more effective than two-sided message response in lowering attribution of crisis responsibility when sadness was induced, but no difference was found under the anger-induced condition. Attribution of crisis responsibility fully mediated the effects of emotional crisis framing on company evaluation and supportive behavioral intention toward the company. This study is among the first to examine the interaction effect between emotional media framing and response message sidedness in an ambiguous crisis. Drawing on the interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks, this study integrates the situational crisis communication theory, appraisal-tendency framework and message sidedness in persuasion literature. As such, it contributes to theoretical development in crisis communication and offers communication managers guidance on how to effectively address emotionally framed crises.Media-induced emotions and message sidedness in corporate crises
Sining Kong, Weiting Tao, Zifei Fay Chen
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

This study examines the interplay between media-induced emotional crisis framing (anger vs sadness) and message sidedness of crisis response on publics’ attribution of crisis responsibility as well as subsequent company evaluation and supportive behavioral intention.

A 2 (emotion: anger vs sadness) x 2 (crisis response: one-sided vs two-sided) online experiment was conducted among 161 participants in the USA.

Results showed that anger-inducing media framing of the crisis elicited higher levels of crisis responsibility attribution and more negative company evaluation, compared with sadness-inducing media framing. One-sided message response was more effective than two-sided message response in lowering attribution of crisis responsibility when sadness was induced, but no difference was found under the anger-induced condition. Attribution of crisis responsibility fully mediated the effects of emotional crisis framing on company evaluation and supportive behavioral intention toward the company.

This study is among the first to examine the interaction effect between emotional media framing and response message sidedness in an ambiguous crisis. Drawing on the interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks, this study integrates the situational crisis communication theory, appraisal-tendency framework and message sidedness in persuasion literature. As such, it contributes to theoretical development in crisis communication and offers communication managers guidance on how to effectively address emotionally framed crises.

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Media-induced emotions and message sidedness in corporate crises10.1108/CCIJ-01-2023-0005Corporate Communications: An International Journal2024-03-05© 2024 Emerald Publishing LimitedSining KongWeiting TaoZifei Fay ChenCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2024-03-0510.1108/CCIJ-01-2023-0005https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-01-2023-0005/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2024 Emerald Publishing Limited
Public relations professionals' views of moral entrepreneurship: an exploration of the concept, its benefits and barriershttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-02-2023-0020/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThe purpose of this paper is to examine US public relations professionals' perceptions of the benefits and challenges associated with the concept of moral entrepreneurship, defined as the purposeful process of changing or creating new institutionalized ethical norms. This study argues that the concept of moral entrepreneurship provides organizations with a potentially valuable framework to actively recognize societal pressures and problems and act accordingly to better the environment in which the organization resides and operates. This exploratory study uses purposive in-depth interviews with 25 diverse public relations professionals, who represented communication firms, in-house public relations departments, higher education, nonprofits and government. Respondents assigned a high value to the concept of moral entrepreneurship: In addition to its being viewed as the right thing to do, they recognized its practice as a way to help organizations recruit and retain employee talent and improve stakeholder trust. However, based on the interviews, organizational leadership is the primary initiator of ethical changes; therefore, without a seat at the management table, practitioners lack the influence to initiate such new organizational directions and take on the role of moral entrepreneurs only when directed to do so by their superiors. Barriers to adopting a moral entrepreneurship approach included a limited budget and shortage of staff, employees' resistance to change, fear of failure, poor leadership and a politically polarized workplace. Practice implications include considerations for furthering moral entrepreneurship in organizations. This study is the first to explore the applicability of the concept of moral entrepreneurship in public relations. The paper underscores the need for further discussion around novel approaches to ethics in public relations that go beyond simple compliance with professional codes and industry standards and that help organizations lead societal change.Public relations professionals' views of moral entrepreneurship: an exploration of the concept, its benefits and barriers
Elina Erzikova, Diana Martinelli
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

The purpose of this paper is to examine US public relations professionals' perceptions of the benefits and challenges associated with the concept of moral entrepreneurship, defined as the purposeful process of changing or creating new institutionalized ethical norms. This study argues that the concept of moral entrepreneurship provides organizations with a potentially valuable framework to actively recognize societal pressures and problems and act accordingly to better the environment in which the organization resides and operates.

This exploratory study uses purposive in-depth interviews with 25 diverse public relations professionals, who represented communication firms, in-house public relations departments, higher education, nonprofits and government.

Respondents assigned a high value to the concept of moral entrepreneurship: In addition to its being viewed as the right thing to do, they recognized its practice as a way to help organizations recruit and retain employee talent and improve stakeholder trust. However, based on the interviews, organizational leadership is the primary initiator of ethical changes; therefore, without a seat at the management table, practitioners lack the influence to initiate such new organizational directions and take on the role of moral entrepreneurs only when directed to do so by their superiors. Barriers to adopting a moral entrepreneurship approach included a limited budget and shortage of staff, employees' resistance to change, fear of failure, poor leadership and a politically polarized workplace.

Practice implications include considerations for furthering moral entrepreneurship in organizations.

This study is the first to explore the applicability of the concept of moral entrepreneurship in public relations. The paper underscores the need for further discussion around novel approaches to ethics in public relations that go beyond simple compliance with professional codes and industry standards and that help organizations lead societal change.

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Public relations professionals' views of moral entrepreneurship: an exploration of the concept, its benefits and barriers10.1108/CCIJ-02-2023-0020Corporate Communications: An International Journal2023-09-19© 2023 Emerald Publishing LimitedElina ErzikovaDiana MartinelliCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2023-09-1910.1108/CCIJ-02-2023-0020https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-02-2023-0020/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Emerald Publishing Limited
Health-oriented leadership communication matters: a trickle-down model to enhance employees' health and well-being during turbulent timeshttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-03-2023-0029/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThis study explored how organizational leaders at different hierarchical levels may communicatively enhance employees' health and well-being. Drawing on interdisciplinary research, it proposed a model that connects health-oriented leadership communication at supervisory and executive levels with remote workers' self-care and stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collected through a survey of 363 full-time United States (US) employees were analyzed to test the model. Results showed health-oriented communication at the two leadership levels directly influenced employees' self-care, which in turn reduced their stress levels. Further, executive leaders' health-oriented leadership communication indirectly impacted remote workers' self-care through its positive association with supervisors' health-oriented leadership communication. This study offers much-needed guidelines for executive leaders, supervisors and communication practitioners seeking to meet employees' growing expectations for a healthy work environment in today's post-pandemic era. Although the literature has established organizational leadership as a vital determinant for a healthy workforce, few studies have explored leaders' health-specific communication to enhance employee health. This study is the first to conceptualize health-oriented leadership communication at dual hierarchical levels and uncover its influence on employees. The results suggested the importance of health-oriented leadership communication across hierarchical levels in building a healthy workplace.Health-oriented leadership communication matters: a trickle-down model to enhance employees' health and well-being during turbulent times
Feifei Chen, Qiwei Luna Wu
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

This study explored how organizational leaders at different hierarchical levels may communicatively enhance employees' health and well-being. Drawing on interdisciplinary research, it proposed a model that connects health-oriented leadership communication at supervisory and executive levels with remote workers' self-care and stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data collected through a survey of 363 full-time United States (US) employees were analyzed to test the model.

Results showed health-oriented communication at the two leadership levels directly influenced employees' self-care, which in turn reduced their stress levels. Further, executive leaders' health-oriented leadership communication indirectly impacted remote workers' self-care through its positive association with supervisors' health-oriented leadership communication.

This study offers much-needed guidelines for executive leaders, supervisors and communication practitioners seeking to meet employees' growing expectations for a healthy work environment in today's post-pandemic era.

Although the literature has established organizational leadership as a vital determinant for a healthy workforce, few studies have explored leaders' health-specific communication to enhance employee health. This study is the first to conceptualize health-oriented leadership communication at dual hierarchical levels and uncover its influence on employees. The results suggested the importance of health-oriented leadership communication across hierarchical levels in building a healthy workplace.

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Health-oriented leadership communication matters: a trickle-down model to enhance employees' health and well-being during turbulent times10.1108/CCIJ-03-2023-0029Corporate Communications: An International Journal2023-08-29© 2023 Emerald Publishing LimitedFeifei ChenQiwei Luna WuCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2023-08-2910.1108/CCIJ-03-2023-0029https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-03-2023-0029/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Emerald Publishing Limited
Fashion industry in crisis: a systematic literature review 1972–2022https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-03-2023-0031/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThis systematic literature review presents the state of the field of fashion and crisis communication. The quantitative coding offers insight into dominant and emergent themes in one of the most crisis-prone industries. This review also offers a framework for future research. This study uses a systematic literature review approach. 205 academic articles were gathered in total using the search term “fashion industry crisis”. Subsequently, they were quantitatively coded using the Diers-Lawson (2016) Crisis Communication Code Book. Findings show an increase in the fashion industry crisis with clear emergent themes such as sustainability, emphasising the truly global and multidisciplinary nature of the industry. Findings also reveal a genuine lack of theoretical grounding, with over 80% of the articles coded using no crisis communication theory. The findings also suggest value co-creation ought to be a priority for this agenda moving forward, as it overlaps with emerging themes and is a practical tool and concept to support crisis prevention and management through an extension of the Stakeholder Relationship Model (SRM) Model. As a largely under-researched area in crisis communication, the findings present a new opportunity to explore fashion within its context and contribute. At this point, the research field is lacking, and there is room for theory testing and hypothesis building. The findings and themes from the research present a development of the original SRM model, SRM Val-Co. As well as research implications, the proposed framework provides practical solutions for the future of the fashion industry. As a largely under-researched area in crisis communication, the findings demonstrate a new opportunity to explore fashion within its context and contribute because there is a dearth of research and a lack of theoretical development. Therefore, the proposed framework provides practical solutions for the fashion industry’s future. The findings and themes from the research present a development of the original SRM model, SRM Val-Co.Fashion industry in crisis: a systematic literature review 1972–2022
Sophie Louise Johnson
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

This systematic literature review presents the state of the field of fashion and crisis communication. The quantitative coding offers insight into dominant and emergent themes in one of the most crisis-prone industries. This review also offers a framework for future research.

This study uses a systematic literature review approach. 205 academic articles were gathered in total using the search term “fashion industry crisis”. Subsequently, they were quantitatively coded using the Diers-Lawson (2016) Crisis Communication Code Book.

Findings show an increase in the fashion industry crisis with clear emergent themes such as sustainability, emphasising the truly global and multidisciplinary nature of the industry. Findings also reveal a genuine lack of theoretical grounding, with over 80% of the articles coded using no crisis communication theory. The findings also suggest value co-creation ought to be a priority for this agenda moving forward, as it overlaps with emerging themes and is a practical tool and concept to support crisis prevention and management through an extension of the Stakeholder Relationship Model (SRM) Model.

As a largely under-researched area in crisis communication, the findings present a new opportunity to explore fashion within its context and contribute. At this point, the research field is lacking, and there is room for theory testing and hypothesis building. The findings and themes from the research present a development of the original SRM model, SRM Val-Co.

As well as research implications, the proposed framework provides practical solutions for the future of the fashion industry.

As a largely under-researched area in crisis communication, the findings demonstrate a new opportunity to explore fashion within its context and contribute because there is a dearth of research and a lack of theoretical development. Therefore, the proposed framework provides practical solutions for the fashion industry’s future. The findings and themes from the research present a development of the original SRM model, SRM Val-Co.

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Fashion industry in crisis: a systematic literature review 1972–202210.1108/CCIJ-03-2023-0031Corporate Communications: An International Journal2024-03-12© 2024 Emerald Publishing LimitedSophie Louise JohnsonCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2024-03-1210.1108/CCIJ-03-2023-0031https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-03-2023-0031/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2024 Emerald Publishing Limited
The dark side of leadership communication: the impact of supervisor verbal aggressiveness on workplace culture, employee–organization relationships and counterproductive work behaviorshttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-04-2023-0050/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThis study is designed to bridge a gap in the existing leadership communication literature by delving into lesser-explored facets of the field. It particularly concentrates on investigating how the verbal aggressiveness of supervisors influences various aspects of the workplace, including workplace emotional culture, the quality of employee–organization relationships (EORs) and the prevalence of counterproductive work behaviors (CWB). This study employed a quantitative research design to investigate the impact of supervisors' verbal aggressiveness on employee and organizational outcomes. The data were collected from 392 full-time employees across various organizations and industries in the USA using a self-report questionnaire. The researchers used structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the data and test hypotheses. The findings of this study showed that supervisors' verbal aggressiveness had a significant positive association with negative emotional culture and employee CWB. However, it had no direct impact on employee–organization relationships. The effect of supervisor verbal aggressiveness on employee CWB was found to be mediated by a negative team-level emotional culture. This study advances the literature on leadership communication by highlighting the detrimental influence of the dark side of leadership communication. More specifically, by identifying negative emotional culture and employee CWB as the direct outcomes of supervisor verbal aggressiveness, the authors add to the existing theoretical knowledge on verbal aggressiveness in the workplace. Additionally, this study provides empirical evidence of the impact of a negative emotional culture on eliciting employees' CWBs and diminishing relationship quality, adding to the body of knowledge on why managing emotional culture is crucial for organizations and workgroups.The dark side of leadership communication: the impact of supervisor verbal aggressiveness on workplace culture, employee–organization relationships and counterproductive work behaviors
Cen April Yue, Yufan Sunny Qin, Linjuan Rita Men
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

This study is designed to bridge a gap in the existing leadership communication literature by delving into lesser-explored facets of the field. It particularly concentrates on investigating how the verbal aggressiveness of supervisors influences various aspects of the workplace, including workplace emotional culture, the quality of employee–organization relationships (EORs) and the prevalence of counterproductive work behaviors (CWB).

This study employed a quantitative research design to investigate the impact of supervisors' verbal aggressiveness on employee and organizational outcomes. The data were collected from 392 full-time employees across various organizations and industries in the USA using a self-report questionnaire. The researchers used structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the data and test hypotheses.

The findings of this study showed that supervisors' verbal aggressiveness had a significant positive association with negative emotional culture and employee CWB. However, it had no direct impact on employee–organization relationships. The effect of supervisor verbal aggressiveness on employee CWB was found to be mediated by a negative team-level emotional culture.

This study advances the literature on leadership communication by highlighting the detrimental influence of the dark side of leadership communication. More specifically, by identifying negative emotional culture and employee CWB as the direct outcomes of supervisor verbal aggressiveness, the authors add to the existing theoretical knowledge on verbal aggressiveness in the workplace. Additionally, this study provides empirical evidence of the impact of a negative emotional culture on eliciting employees' CWBs and diminishing relationship quality, adding to the body of knowledge on why managing emotional culture is crucial for organizations and workgroups.

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The dark side of leadership communication: the impact of supervisor verbal aggressiveness on workplace culture, employee–organization relationships and counterproductive work behaviors10.1108/CCIJ-04-2023-0050Corporate Communications: An International Journal2023-12-14© 2023 Emerald Publishing LimitedCen April YueYufan Sunny QinLinjuan Rita MenCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2023-12-1410.1108/CCIJ-04-2023-0050https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-04-2023-0050/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Emerald Publishing Limited
Combatting the “great discontent”: the impact of employability culture and leadership empowerment on career growth, loyalty and satisfactionhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-04-2023-0058/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestMotivated by the organizational challenge coined the great discontent, employees are dissatisfied with their jobs, see minimal opportunities for growth and are actively searching for new roles. This research aims to take a novel approach to internal communication strategy by introducing employability culture and leadership empowerment as mechanisms for supporting employees' career growth and additional positive workplace outcomes. An online survey was designed and administered in the United States. The final sample size includes 425 full-time employees working in a variety of roles, industries and work arrangements. Findings point to the inherent need for revised internal communication strategy that goes beyond managing and disseminating information. Organizations must develop cultures and their leaders in ways that empower employees and help them understand the meaning of their work. Employability culture, or an organization's support for developing employees' adaptive skills as work roles change, positively predicted employees' perceptions of their career growth opportunities at their current place of employment, employee loyalty and engagement, and job satisfaction. Leadership empowerment behaviors also positively predicted all previously listed workplace variables. These perceptions as influenced by work arrangement (onsite, hybrid, fully remote) and younger versus older generations were also analyzed. Research findings offer new strategies for internal communications. Internal communication teams can partner alongside executive leadership to develop a culture that helps employees envision how their skills and expertise translates to different areas of the organization, empowering them to find meaning in their work, and be driven to support organizational growth.Combatting the “great discontent”: the impact of employability culture and leadership empowerment on career growth, loyalty and satisfaction
Danielle LaGree, Katie Olsen, Alec Tefertiller, Rosalynn Vasquez
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

Motivated by the organizational challenge coined the great discontent, employees are dissatisfied with their jobs, see minimal opportunities for growth and are actively searching for new roles. This research aims to take a novel approach to internal communication strategy by introducing employability culture and leadership empowerment as mechanisms for supporting employees' career growth and additional positive workplace outcomes.

An online survey was designed and administered in the United States. The final sample size includes 425 full-time employees working in a variety of roles, industries and work arrangements.

Findings point to the inherent need for revised internal communication strategy that goes beyond managing and disseminating information. Organizations must develop cultures and their leaders in ways that empower employees and help them understand the meaning of their work. Employability culture, or an organization's support for developing employees' adaptive skills as work roles change, positively predicted employees' perceptions of their career growth opportunities at their current place of employment, employee loyalty and engagement, and job satisfaction. Leadership empowerment behaviors also positively predicted all previously listed workplace variables. These perceptions as influenced by work arrangement (onsite, hybrid, fully remote) and younger versus older generations were also analyzed.

Research findings offer new strategies for internal communications. Internal communication teams can partner alongside executive leadership to develop a culture that helps employees envision how their skills and expertise translates to different areas of the organization, empowering them to find meaning in their work, and be driven to support organizational growth.

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Combatting the “great discontent”: the impact of employability culture and leadership empowerment on career growth, loyalty and satisfaction10.1108/CCIJ-04-2023-0058Corporate Communications: An International Journal2023-11-17© 2023 Emerald Publishing LimitedDanielle LaGreeKatie OlsenAlec TefertillerRosalynn VasquezCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2023-11-1710.1108/CCIJ-04-2023-0058https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-04-2023-0058/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Emerald Publishing Limited
Mitigating teleworkers' perceived technological complexity and work strains through supportive team communicationhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0061/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestTeleworkers need to use information and communication technology (ICT) to communicate and collaborate with their team members, however, when new and complicated information systems should be used, this can lead to stress. Receiving adequate information and emotional support from team members could reduce the stress caused by technological complexity and subsequent work and occupational strains. Participants (N = 400) teleworked at least half of their working hours and were employed in organizations with a minimum of 250 employees. Data from the online survey were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results demonstrate that aspects of informational and emotional communication contribute to perceived social support from team members, with emotional communication explaining more variance. Stress from technological complexity is mitigated by both supportive team communication and the extent of telework. Perceived stress from technological complexity, however, still increases work and occupational strains. The findings emphasize the importance of supportive internal communication to foster a collaborative telework environment. Practitioners in internal communication need to encourage teleworkers to help each other with adequate information and provide also emotional support to overcome the negative effects of complex ICT. The study shows that supportive communication among team members is important for teleworkers to reduce work and occupational strains, especially when facing difficulties with complex ICT.Mitigating teleworkers' perceived technological complexity and work strains through supportive team communication
Ingrid Wahl, Daniel Wolfgruber, Sabine Einwiller
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

Teleworkers need to use information and communication technology (ICT) to communicate and collaborate with their team members, however, when new and complicated information systems should be used, this can lead to stress. Receiving adequate information and emotional support from team members could reduce the stress caused by technological complexity and subsequent work and occupational strains.

Participants (N = 400) teleworked at least half of their working hours and were employed in organizations with a minimum of 250 employees. Data from the online survey were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Results demonstrate that aspects of informational and emotional communication contribute to perceived social support from team members, with emotional communication explaining more variance. Stress from technological complexity is mitigated by both supportive team communication and the extent of telework. Perceived stress from technological complexity, however, still increases work and occupational strains.

The findings emphasize the importance of supportive internal communication to foster a collaborative telework environment. Practitioners in internal communication need to encourage teleworkers to help each other with adequate information and provide also emotional support to overcome the negative effects of complex ICT.

The study shows that supportive communication among team members is important for teleworkers to reduce work and occupational strains, especially when facing difficulties with complex ICT.

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Mitigating teleworkers' perceived technological complexity and work strains through supportive team communication10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0061Corporate Communications: An International Journal2023-08-15© 2023 Ingrid Wahl, Daniel Wolfgruber and Sabine EinwillerIngrid WahlDaniel WolfgruberSabine EinwillerCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2023-08-1510.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0061https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0061/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Ingrid Wahl, Daniel Wolfgruber and Sabine Einwillerhttp://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
Customer perception of corporate social responsibility and its impact on customer engagement: critical significance of corporate reputationhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0063/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThe primary goal of this research is to examine how corporate social responsibility (CSR) affects customer engagement (CE) and how corporate reputation (CR) serves as a mediator of this relationship. The data for this paper were gathered from the customers who were actively engaging with the banks. A total of 445 questionnaires were circulated among the respondents, 397 were selected after removing the faulty ones, which estimates around 90% of the total questionnaire distributed. Customers were asked to record their perceptions regarding CSR, CR and CE. The data were collected from both the regions of Jammu and Kashmir simultaneously. The findings reinforced the hypothesized associations, indicating that CR successfully and positively mediates the association between CSR and CE. The outcomes of this study will assist top managers in the organization in understanding the significant impact of CSR and CR, as well as how they both positively impact the CE. This research introduces a fresh dimension by exploring the influence of cognitive biases in shaping the relationship between CSR efforts, reputation-building and customer engagement. Through this innovative approach, the study establishes a more intricate and comprehensive link between theories, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms that drive these dynamics within the realm of corporate behavior and consumer perceptions.Customer perception of corporate social responsibility and its impact on customer engagement: critical significance of corporate reputation
Zahoor Ahmad Parray, Junaid Iqbal, Rashid Mushtaq
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

The primary goal of this research is to examine how corporate social responsibility (CSR) affects customer engagement (CE) and how corporate reputation (CR) serves as a mediator of this relationship.

The data for this paper were gathered from the customers who were actively engaging with the banks. A total of 445 questionnaires were circulated among the respondents, 397 were selected after removing the faulty ones, which estimates around 90% of the total questionnaire distributed. Customers were asked to record their perceptions regarding CSR, CR and CE. The data were collected from both the regions of Jammu and Kashmir simultaneously.

The findings reinforced the hypothesized associations, indicating that CR successfully and positively mediates the association between CSR and CE.

The outcomes of this study will assist top managers in the organization in understanding the significant impact of CSR and CR, as well as how they both positively impact the CE.

This research introduces a fresh dimension by exploring the influence of cognitive biases in shaping the relationship between CSR efforts, reputation-building and customer engagement. Through this innovative approach, the study establishes a more intricate and comprehensive link between theories, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms that drive these dynamics within the realm of corporate behavior and consumer perceptions.

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Customer perception of corporate social responsibility and its impact on customer engagement: critical significance of corporate reputation10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0063Corporate Communications: An International Journal2023-11-01© 2023 Emerald Publishing LimitedZahoor Ahmad ParrayJunaid IqbalRashid MushtaqCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2023-11-0110.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0063https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0063/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Emerald Publishing Limited
When relational transparency backfires: examining the various impacts of authentic leadership on employee trust during the COVID-19 pandemichttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0066/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThis study examines how the different attributes of authentic leadership influence trust and employee organization fit and how such influences differ by gender and the level of positions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employed a survey to examine US employees' perceptions toward different attributes of authentic leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study showed that self-awareness, balanced processing and internalized moral perspective positively relate to trust in the employer, mediated through employee–organization fit. However, relational transparency has a backfiring effect, negatively related to trust through the mediation of employee–organization fit. Additionally, this study highlights the differences in gender and level of positions in reactions to authentic leadership. This study contributes to the understanding of internal public relations in a turbulent crisis time by proposing a mediated model that explains the effects of authentic leadership on employees' trust through their fit with the organization. Additionally, it identified that gender and position level are important factors moderating such effects.When relational transparency backfires: examining the various impacts of authentic leadership on employee trust during the COVID-19 pandemic
Qi Zheng, Chuqing Dong, Yafei Zhang
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

This study examines how the different attributes of authentic leadership influence trust and employee organization fit and how such influences differ by gender and the level of positions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study employed a survey to examine US employees' perceptions toward different attributes of authentic leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study showed that self-awareness, balanced processing and internalized moral perspective positively relate to trust in the employer, mediated through employee–organization fit. However, relational transparency has a backfiring effect, negatively related to trust through the mediation of employee–organization fit. Additionally, this study highlights the differences in gender and level of positions in reactions to authentic leadership.

This study contributes to the understanding of internal public relations in a turbulent crisis time by proposing a mediated model that explains the effects of authentic leadership on employees' trust through their fit with the organization. Additionally, it identified that gender and position level are important factors moderating such effects.

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When relational transparency backfires: examining the various impacts of authentic leadership on employee trust during the COVID-19 pandemic10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0066Corporate Communications: An International Journal2023-10-02© 2023 Emerald Publishing LimitedQi ZhengChuqing DongYafei ZhangCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2023-10-0210.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0066https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0066/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Emerald Publishing Limited
Linking interacting/engaging environmental CSR communication strategy and employees' pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs): mediating roles of communal relationship and employee empowermenthttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0068/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestWith the growing concern for environmental and sustainability issues, especially in the aftermath of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, organizations feel compelled to pursue green sustainability in their operations. In this regard, the active involvement of employees in pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) is crucial for achieving organizational environmental sustainability goals (Saeed et al., 2019). To shed light on this important issue, this study aims to investigate the impact of interacting/engaging environmental corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication strategy on employees' PEBs through the mediating effects of communal relationship and employee empowerment. A total of 443 full-time USA employees working across various industries participated in an online survey. The interacting/engaging environmental CSR communication strategy fosters employees' perceived communal relationship with their organizations and empowers them to support their organization's environmental initiatives, which, in turn, positively influences employees' PEBs at work. This study advances CSR and internal communication literature through the lens of relationship management and self-determination theories. The findings theoretically suggest the effectiveness of the interacting/engaging environmental CSR communication strategy in nurturing favorable employee–organization relationships (EORs), employee empowerment and PEBs at work. The practical implications of CSR communication are also elaborated.Linking interacting/engaging environmental CSR communication strategy and employees' pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs): mediating roles of communal relationship and employee empowerment
Enzhu Dong, Ruoyu Sun, Yeunjae Lee
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

With the growing concern for environmental and sustainability issues, especially in the aftermath of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, organizations feel compelled to pursue green sustainability in their operations. In this regard, the active involvement of employees in pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) is crucial for achieving organizational environmental sustainability goals (Saeed et al., 2019). To shed light on this important issue, this study aims to investigate the impact of interacting/engaging environmental corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication strategy on employees' PEBs through the mediating effects of communal relationship and employee empowerment.

A total of 443 full-time USA employees working across various industries participated in an online survey.

The interacting/engaging environmental CSR communication strategy fosters employees' perceived communal relationship with their organizations and empowers them to support their organization's environmental initiatives, which, in turn, positively influences employees' PEBs at work.

This study advances CSR and internal communication literature through the lens of relationship management and self-determination theories. The findings theoretically suggest the effectiveness of the interacting/engaging environmental CSR communication strategy in nurturing favorable employee–organization relationships (EORs), employee empowerment and PEBs at work. The practical implications of CSR communication are also elaborated.

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Linking interacting/engaging environmental CSR communication strategy and employees' pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs): mediating roles of communal relationship and employee empowerment10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0068Corporate Communications: An International Journal2023-12-18© 2023 Emerald Publishing LimitedEnzhu DongRuoyu SunYeunjae LeeCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2023-12-1810.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0068https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0068/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Emerald Publishing Limited
Voice and “digital disruption” in internal communication job advertisements: proposing a vocality continuumhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0075/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThis study of job advertisements for internal communication practitioners aims to investigate the signals that organisations are sending the profession about what is required of these roles. The concept of corporate voice – the “voice” of the organisation – is problematised to explore tensions in vocality. The aim is to support communication practitioners to navigate multi-vocality in the evolving professional context of digital communication technologies and changes in the workplace. This qualitative study considers the role of voice in corporate communication practices and offers insights into “digital disruption” and the discursive pressure of employers' priorities on the profession and its practices. Job advertisements for internal communication practitioners were examined during 6-month periods in 2018, 2020 and 2022, which was a significant time of change for the profession with the global COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative content analysis of 514 internal communication job advertisements identifies that control and consistency are valorised, and continue to dominate descriptions of internal communication skills and responsibilities. The digital affordances that communication practitioners rely on has not changed significantly and a preference for “broadcasting” is evident. This study provides insights into how Australian organisations shape and sustain univocal corporate communication practices, and the incompatibility of narrow configurations of voice with emerging organisational challenges such as social connectedness.Voice and “digital disruption” in internal communication job advertisements: proposing a vocality continuum
Sonya Sandham
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

This study of job advertisements for internal communication practitioners aims to investigate the signals that organisations are sending the profession about what is required of these roles. The concept of corporate voice – the “voice” of the organisation – is problematised to explore tensions in vocality. The aim is to support communication practitioners to navigate multi-vocality in the evolving professional context of digital communication technologies and changes in the workplace.

This qualitative study considers the role of voice in corporate communication practices and offers insights into “digital disruption” and the discursive pressure of employers' priorities on the profession and its practices. Job advertisements for internal communication practitioners were examined during 6-month periods in 2018, 2020 and 2022, which was a significant time of change for the profession with the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Qualitative content analysis of 514 internal communication job advertisements identifies that control and consistency are valorised, and continue to dominate descriptions of internal communication skills and responsibilities. The digital affordances that communication practitioners rely on has not changed significantly and a preference for “broadcasting” is evident.

This study provides insights into how Australian organisations shape and sustain univocal corporate communication practices, and the incompatibility of narrow configurations of voice with emerging organisational challenges such as social connectedness.

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Voice and “digital disruption” in internal communication job advertisements: proposing a vocality continuum10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0075Corporate Communications: An International Journal2023-11-10© 2023 Emerald Publishing LimitedSonya SandhamCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2023-11-1010.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0075https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0075/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Emerald Publishing Limited
Waiting for the punch(line): the circuit of culture and internal public relations at Netflixhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0078/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThis study is concerned with the dynamics of the internal communications at Netflix following the release of The Closer and the public debate that followed, testing Netflix's long-standing reputation for promoting diverse content and supporting a progressive organizational culture. Using the circuit of culture (CoC) as a theoretical framework, this study applies a case study approach to analyze internal communication and strategic public relations in addressing this crisis. This study's findings illustrate that by failing to interpret two of the five moments of the CoC, production and identity, Netflix negated the very values that constitute its brand. These findings have implications for how public relations' long-standing focus on two-way symmetrical communication is problematic, especially in the workplace. The findings situate how the exertion of power within an organization, particularly in moments of identity and production, problematize the role of two-way symmetrical communication within an organization in crisis.Waiting for the punch(line): the circuit of culture and internal public relations at Netflix
Saima Kazmi, Mark Heisten, Burton St John III
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

This study is concerned with the dynamics of the internal communications at Netflix following the release of The Closer and the public debate that followed, testing Netflix's long-standing reputation for promoting diverse content and supporting a progressive organizational culture.

Using the circuit of culture (CoC) as a theoretical framework, this study applies a case study approach to analyze internal communication and strategic public relations in addressing this crisis.

This study's findings illustrate that by failing to interpret two of the five moments of the CoC, production and identity, Netflix negated the very values that constitute its brand. These findings have implications for how public relations' long-standing focus on two-way symmetrical communication is problematic, especially in the workplace.

The findings situate how the exertion of power within an organization, particularly in moments of identity and production, problematize the role of two-way symmetrical communication within an organization in crisis.

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Waiting for the punch(line): the circuit of culture and internal public relations at Netflix10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0078Corporate Communications: An International Journal2023-09-01© 2023 Emerald Publishing LimitedSaima KazmiMark HeistenBurton St John IIICorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2023-09-0110.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0078https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0078/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Emerald Publishing Limited
Permanent scars, improvisation and new paths forward: communication agency leadership responses to COVID-19https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0079/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThe purpose of this paper is to provide rich, qualitative insights around internal communication in strategic communication agencies, addressing the evolutions in expectations and best practices for agency leadership through COVID-19. Qualitative interview study with 18 US-based leaders of public relations and advertising agencies to examine their experiences of leading and managing strategic communication teams during COVID-19. Synthesized findings around changes in leadership values and important facets of ongoing internal crisis communication led to the development of the following five categories—Improvisation and Flexibility, Transparency and Trust, Ownership and Embodiment, Care and Empathy, Relationships and Resilience. Using a high-value sample, the study is the first (to the best of the authors' knowledge) to focus on the crucial context of agencies and internal communication around COVID-19; diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and other pandemic-era challenges. It provides theoretical implications around ongoing, internal crisis communication and practical implications for agency leaders in crisis.Permanent scars, improvisation and new paths forward: communication agency leadership responses to COVID-19
Luke Capizzo, Teresia Nzau, Damilola Oduolowu, Margaret Duffy, Lauren Brengarth
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

The purpose of this paper is to provide rich, qualitative insights around internal communication in strategic communication agencies, addressing the evolutions in expectations and best practices for agency leadership through COVID-19.

Qualitative interview study with 18 US-based leaders of public relations and advertising agencies to examine their experiences of leading and managing strategic communication teams during COVID-19.

Synthesized findings around changes in leadership values and important facets of ongoing internal crisis communication led to the development of the following five categories—Improvisation and Flexibility, Transparency and Trust, Ownership and Embodiment, Care and Empathy, Relationships and Resilience.

Using a high-value sample, the study is the first (to the best of the authors' knowledge) to focus on the crucial context of agencies and internal communication around COVID-19; diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and other pandemic-era challenges. It provides theoretical implications around ongoing, internal crisis communication and practical implications for agency leaders in crisis.

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Permanent scars, improvisation and new paths forward: communication agency leadership responses to COVID-1910.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0079Corporate Communications: An International Journal2023-11-28© 2023 Emerald Publishing LimitedLuke CapizzoTeresia NzauDamilola OduolowuMargaret DuffyLauren BrengarthCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2023-11-2810.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0079https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-05-2023-0079/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Emerald Publishing Limited
Hosting and hoping on social media – a study on SoMe communication strategies among Danish cultural institutions and tourist attractions during COVID-19https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-06-2023-0083/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThe COVID-19 lockdown severely impacted organizations in the cultural and tourist business as their products all of a sudden “disappeared”. This study aims to explore if and how the unexpected and disruptive nature of the pandemic accelerated the development of new communication strategies on their social media. The study draws on data from 24 midsize cultural institutions and tourist attractions in Denmark over the first two months of the lockdown in 2020. Approximately 900 posts on Facebook were collected and analyzed through the netnographic method. The analysis followed a two-layered qualitative approach. First, open coding to identify typologies and enable a comparison with established strategies from the literature review. Then, an exploratory examination was conducted across the typologies. Nine different content categories were identified in the data and subsequently assessed and discussed in relation to the literature on strategies and dialogic intentions. This resulted in the emergence of two new overarching strategies: hope and host. While hope is particularly relevant in crisis situations, the utilization of employees in the host role presents an opportunity for further development and engagement. Further, the results call for future research that breaks with the traditional quest for ideal strategies for the benefit of exploring the notion of “strategic doers”. The identification of the hope and host strategies, along with the analysis of content categories and their alignment with various strategic intentions, contributes to the existing knowledge in this field. Further, the classic perception of engagement as driven by explicit interaction and dialogue is also challenged.Hosting and hoping on social media – a study on SoMe communication strategies among Danish cultural institutions and tourist attractions during COVID-19
Karina Villumsen, Hanne Elmer, Line Schmeltz
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

The COVID-19 lockdown severely impacted organizations in the cultural and tourist business as their products all of a sudden “disappeared”. This study aims to explore if and how the unexpected and disruptive nature of the pandemic accelerated the development of new communication strategies on their social media.

The study draws on data from 24 midsize cultural institutions and tourist attractions in Denmark over the first two months of the lockdown in 2020. Approximately 900 posts on Facebook were collected and analyzed through the netnographic method. The analysis followed a two-layered qualitative approach. First, open coding to identify typologies and enable a comparison with established strategies from the literature review. Then, an exploratory examination was conducted across the typologies.

Nine different content categories were identified in the data and subsequently assessed and discussed in relation to the literature on strategies and dialogic intentions. This resulted in the emergence of two new overarching strategies: hope and host.

While hope is particularly relevant in crisis situations, the utilization of employees in the host role presents an opportunity for further development and engagement. Further, the results call for future research that breaks with the traditional quest for ideal strategies for the benefit of exploring the notion of “strategic doers”.

The identification of the hope and host strategies, along with the analysis of content categories and their alignment with various strategic intentions, contributes to the existing knowledge in this field. Further, the classic perception of engagement as driven by explicit interaction and dialogue is also challenged.

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Hosting and hoping on social media – a study on SoMe communication strategies among Danish cultural institutions and tourist attractions during COVID-1910.1108/CCIJ-06-2023-0083Corporate Communications: An International Journal2024-02-27© 2024 Emerald Publishing LimitedKarina VillumsenHanne ElmerLine SchmeltzCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2024-02-2710.1108/CCIJ-06-2023-0083https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-06-2023-0083/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2024 Emerald Publishing Limited
Organized complexity of CSA communication strategyhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-07-2023-0101/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestBased on Lasswell’s communication model, this study investigates how four categories of factors (i.e. the source, content, medium and receiver) conjointly affect the relational, financial and social outcomes (i.e. what effect) of CSA communication. With a survey (N = 366), this study found configurations of core CSA communication factors leading to three different CSA communication outcomes. While this study found multiways to yield three different CSA outcomes, combinational logic indicated the combined effects from source, content, medium and receiver. With content and medium, individuals’ connectedness (receiver) to a CSA issue is a core factor leading to a high level of purchase intention and issue advocacy. This study also found that message strategies (i.e. informativeness, factual tone, no promotional tone) are core factors leading to a high level of trust and issue advocacy. With the theoretical guidance, this research contributes to strategic communication practice for various entities involved in advocacy communication by enabling an improved understanding of advocacy communication factors and triggering different communication outcomes. As CSA communication involves multiple strategies, conventional research agenda focusing on correlational and path analysis approaches provide limited understanding of communication practice. To fill this void, this study adopts a configurational approach to understand current CSA communication practices holistically.Organized complexity of CSA communication strategy
Minhee Choi, Baobao Song
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

Based on Lasswell’s communication model, this study investigates how four categories of factors (i.e. the source, content, medium and receiver) conjointly affect the relational, financial and social outcomes (i.e. what effect) of CSA communication.

With a survey (N = 366), this study found configurations of core CSA communication factors leading to three different CSA communication outcomes.

While this study found multiways to yield three different CSA outcomes, combinational logic indicated the combined effects from source, content, medium and receiver. With content and medium, individuals’ connectedness (receiver) to a CSA issue is a core factor leading to a high level of purchase intention and issue advocacy. This study also found that message strategies (i.e. informativeness, factual tone, no promotional tone) are core factors leading to a high level of trust and issue advocacy.

With the theoretical guidance, this research contributes to strategic communication practice for various entities involved in advocacy communication by enabling an improved understanding of advocacy communication factors and triggering different communication outcomes.

As CSA communication involves multiple strategies, conventional research agenda focusing on correlational and path analysis approaches provide limited understanding of communication practice. To fill this void, this study adopts a configurational approach to understand current CSA communication practices holistically.

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Organized complexity of CSA communication strategy10.1108/CCIJ-07-2023-0101Corporate Communications: An International Journal2024-02-12© 2024 Emerald Publishing LimitedMinhee ChoiBaobao SongCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2024-02-1210.1108/CCIJ-07-2023-0101https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-07-2023-0101/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2024 Emerald Publishing Limited
Mediated crises and strategic crisis communication of third sector organizations: a content analysis of crisis reporting in six countrieshttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-08-2023-0117/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThis study aims to contribute to strategic crisis communication research by exploring international media representations of third sector crises and crisis response; expanding the range of crisis types beyond transgressions; and developing a framework that integrates framing and crisis communication theory. Quantitative content analysis was applied to identify patterns in crisis reporting of 18 news media outlets in Canada, Germany, India, Switzerland, UK and US. Using an inductive framing approach, crisis coverage of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) between 2015 and 2018 was analyzed across a wide range of crises, including but not limited to prominent cases such as Oxfam, Kids Company, or the Islamic Research Foundation. The news media in six countries report more internal crises in the third sector than external crises. The most frequent crisis types were fraud and corruption, sexual violence/personal exploitation and attacks on organizations. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three components of crisis response strategies quoted in the media, conditional rebuild, defensive and justified denial strategies. Causal attributions and conditional rebuild strategies significantly influenced media evaluations of organizational crisis response. Three frames of third sector crises were detected; the critique, the damage and the victim frame. These frames emphasize different crisis types, causes, crisis response strategies and evaluations of crisis response. The study reveals the particularities of crises and crisis communication in the third sector and identifies factors that influence mediated portrayals of crises and crisis response strategies of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) from an international comparative perspective. The findings have relevant implications for crisis communication theory and practice.Mediated crises and strategic crisis communication of third sector organizations: a content analysis of crisis reporting in six countries
Andreas Schwarz, Audra Diers-Lawson
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

This study aims to contribute to strategic crisis communication research by exploring international media representations of third sector crises and crisis response; expanding the range of crisis types beyond transgressions; and developing a framework that integrates framing and crisis communication theory.

Quantitative content analysis was applied to identify patterns in crisis reporting of 18 news media outlets in Canada, Germany, India, Switzerland, UK and US. Using an inductive framing approach, crisis coverage of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) between 2015 and 2018 was analyzed across a wide range of crises, including but not limited to prominent cases such as Oxfam, Kids Company, or the Islamic Research Foundation.

The news media in six countries report more internal crises in the third sector than external crises. The most frequent crisis types were fraud and corruption, sexual violence/personal exploitation and attacks on organizations. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three components of crisis response strategies quoted in the media, conditional rebuild, defensive and justified denial strategies. Causal attributions and conditional rebuild strategies significantly influenced media evaluations of organizational crisis response. Three frames of third sector crises were detected; the critique, the damage and the victim frame. These frames emphasize different crisis types, causes, crisis response strategies and evaluations of crisis response.

The study reveals the particularities of crises and crisis communication in the third sector and identifies factors that influence mediated portrayals of crises and crisis response strategies of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) from an international comparative perspective. The findings have relevant implications for crisis communication theory and practice.

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Mediated crises and strategic crisis communication of third sector organizations: a content analysis of crisis reporting in six countries10.1108/CCIJ-08-2023-0117Corporate Communications: An International Journal2024-02-20© 2024 Emerald Publishing LimitedAndreas SchwarzAudra Diers-LawsonCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2024-02-2010.1108/CCIJ-08-2023-0117https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-08-2023-0117/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2024 Emerald Publishing Limited
Effects of internal crisis communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: employee perceptions of communication quality, leadership and relational outcomeshttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-09-2022-0110/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThis study, informed by the Situational Crisis Communication Theory, aims to suggest two primary response strategies that can be used for effective internal crisis communication during a pandemic situation, such as COVID-19. The effect of base response strategies on employees' perceptions of communication quality, leadership and relational outcomes were investigated. An online survey of full-time employees in the United States was conducted. The findings showed that for an instructing information strategy, not all types of information were equally associated with positive employee responses in terms of perceived quality of internal communication related to the COVID-19 pandemic and transformational leadership. Specific information that employees need to know in order to safely perform daily tasks, such as organizational protocols and thorough preparation, seem to be the most needed and desired information. Adjusting information was positively associated with employee perceptions of internal communication quality and perceptions of CEO leadership. Employees' perceived quality of internal communication affected by the base crisis response strategies were positively correlated with perceptions of transformational leadership and relational outcomes (i.e. employee trust in the organization, employee perceptions of the organization's commitment to relationships with employees, employee support for organizational decision-making related to COVID-19). This study presents important theoretical and practical insights through an interdisciplinary approach that applies the theoretical framework and relationship-oriented outcomes of public relations to public health crisis situations.Effects of internal crisis communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: employee perceptions of communication quality, leadership and relational outcomes
Yeonsoo Kim, Shana Meganck, Iccha Basnyat
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

This study, informed by the Situational Crisis Communication Theory, aims to suggest two primary response strategies that can be used for effective internal crisis communication during a pandemic situation, such as COVID-19. The effect of base response strategies on employees' perceptions of communication quality, leadership and relational outcomes were investigated.

An online survey of full-time employees in the United States was conducted.

The findings showed that for an instructing information strategy, not all types of information were equally associated with positive employee responses in terms of perceived quality of internal communication related to the COVID-19 pandemic and transformational leadership. Specific information that employees need to know in order to safely perform daily tasks, such as organizational protocols and thorough preparation, seem to be the most needed and desired information. Adjusting information was positively associated with employee perceptions of internal communication quality and perceptions of CEO leadership. Employees' perceived quality of internal communication affected by the base crisis response strategies were positively correlated with perceptions of transformational leadership and relational outcomes (i.e. employee trust in the organization, employee perceptions of the organization's commitment to relationships with employees, employee support for organizational decision-making related to COVID-19).

This study presents important theoretical and practical insights through an interdisciplinary approach that applies the theoretical framework and relationship-oriented outcomes of public relations to public health crisis situations.

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Effects of internal crisis communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: employee perceptions of communication quality, leadership and relational outcomes10.1108/CCIJ-09-2022-0110Corporate Communications: An International Journal2023-09-11© 2023 Emerald Publishing LimitedYeonsoo KimShana MeganckIccha BasnyatCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2023-09-1110.1108/CCIJ-09-2022-0110https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-09-2022-0110/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Emerald Publishing Limited
The determinants of voluntary relational liabilities: empirical evidencehttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-09-2022-0116/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThe aim of this study is to analyse the factors that contribute to the disclosure of relational liabilities (RLs) of the US companies. The study uses content analysis to examine the disclosure of RLs in annual reports of the US companies listed on the Nasdaq-100 index from 2013 to 2015. The study finds a positive correlation between the disclosure of RLs and gender diversity of the board of directors as well as the education level of the CEO. By contrast, the disclosure of RLs is negatively associated with the age of the CEO. Companies in knowledge-intensive industries also tend to disclose more information about their RLs than those in other industries. This study focuses on the determinants of RLs, whereas previous research has mainly examined the positive impact of voluntary disclosure of intellectual capital on financial performance. The main objective of this study is to shed light on the factors that influence the disclosure of RLs.The determinants of voluntary relational liabilities: empirical evidence
Hend Guermazi, Salma Damak, Adel Beldi
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

The aim of this study is to analyse the factors that contribute to the disclosure of relational liabilities (RLs) of the US companies.

The study uses content analysis to examine the disclosure of RLs in annual reports of the US companies listed on the Nasdaq-100 index from 2013 to 2015.

The study finds a positive correlation between the disclosure of RLs and gender diversity of the board of directors as well as the education level of the CEO. By contrast, the disclosure of RLs is negatively associated with the age of the CEO. Companies in knowledge-intensive industries also tend to disclose more information about their RLs than those in other industries.

This study focuses on the determinants of RLs, whereas previous research has mainly examined the positive impact of voluntary disclosure of intellectual capital on financial performance. The main objective of this study is to shed light on the factors that influence the disclosure of RLs.

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The determinants of voluntary relational liabilities: empirical evidence10.1108/CCIJ-09-2022-0116Corporate Communications: An International Journal2024-03-12© 2024 Emerald Publishing LimitedHend GuermaziSalma DamakAdel BeldiCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2024-03-1210.1108/CCIJ-09-2022-0116https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-09-2022-0116/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2024 Emerald Publishing Limited
Examining the mediating effects of sincerity and credibility in crisis communication strategieshttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-09-2022-0118/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThis study aims to explore how source type can influence organizational assets proposed by source credibility theory (SCT) when paired with matched situational crisis communication theory (SCCT) strategies for accidental, preventable, and victim crises. Crisis communication delivered online provides an invaluable outlet for organizations to disperse information to stakeholders quickly. It has been shown that receivers of this information have motivational assumptions about sources having their own agenda for producing content. Thus, it is important to explore how sources tasked with delivering crisis responses can influence perceptions of the sincerity and credibility of the message. The researchers conducted a 3 (crisis response: matched accidental, matched preventable, matched victim) × 3 (source type: organization, CEO, The New York Times) online between-subjects experimental design (N = 623). By identifying how the source disseminating crisis responses influences message perceptions, findings from this study recognize how the crisis response is situated in a greater context. Since perceived sincerity and credibility were found to influence message acceptance and reputation, making intentional decisions that acknowledge both within a crisis communication strategy may benefit both future practice and research applications. The current study advances understandings afforded by SCCT, along with SCT, by experimentally testing the influence of these variables within crisis responses on outcomes such as account acceptance and organizational reputation.Examining the mediating effects of sincerity and credibility in crisis communication strategies
Courtney D. Boman, Erika J. Schneider, Heather Akin
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

This study aims to explore how source type can influence organizational assets proposed by source credibility theory (SCT) when paired with matched situational crisis communication theory (SCCT) strategies for accidental, preventable, and victim crises. Crisis communication delivered online provides an invaluable outlet for organizations to disperse information to stakeholders quickly. It has been shown that receivers of this information have motivational assumptions about sources having their own agenda for producing content. Thus, it is important to explore how sources tasked with delivering crisis responses can influence perceptions of the sincerity and credibility of the message.

The researchers conducted a 3 (crisis response: matched accidental, matched preventable, matched victim) × 3 (source type: organization, CEO, The New York Times) online between-subjects experimental design (N = 623).

By identifying how the source disseminating crisis responses influences message perceptions, findings from this study recognize how the crisis response is situated in a greater context. Since perceived sincerity and credibility were found to influence message acceptance and reputation, making intentional decisions that acknowledge both within a crisis communication strategy may benefit both future practice and research applications.

The current study advances understandings afforded by SCCT, along with SCT, by experimentally testing the influence of these variables within crisis responses on outcomes such as account acceptance and organizational reputation.

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Examining the mediating effects of sincerity and credibility in crisis communication strategies10.1108/CCIJ-09-2022-0118Corporate Communications: An International Journal2023-08-08© 2023 Emerald Publishing LimitedCourtney D. BomanErika J. SchneiderHeather AkinCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2023-08-0810.1108/CCIJ-09-2022-0118https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-09-2022-0118/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Emerald Publishing Limited
Helpful or harmful? The impact of gender stereotypes on publics’ crisis responsehttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-09-2023-0131/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestAlthough situational crisis communication theory (SCCT) is centered on rationality and cognitive information processing, it ignores that people are also driven by irrationality and non-cognitive information processing. The purpose of this study aims to fill this gap by examining how gender stereotypes, based on perceived spokesperson sex influence the public’s perceptions of crisis response messages. A 2 (industry type: automotive vs daycare industry) × 2 (spokesperson’s sex: male vs female) × 2 (crisis response appeal: rational vs emotional) between-subject online experiment was conducted to examine the effect of gender stereotype in crisis communication. Results showed that either matching spokesperson sex with sex differed industry or matching sex differed industry with appropriate crisis response appeal can generate a more positive evaluation of the spokesperson and the organization. The results also revealed under which circumstances, the attractiveness of different sex of the spokesperson can either promote or mitigate people’s perceptions of the organization. Furthermore, when people are aware of a spokesperson’s sex, in a female-associated industry, a mismatching effect of a positive violation of a male-related stereotype overrides a matching effect of a female-related stereotype in crisis communication. This study is among the first to identify how the gender of a spokesperson and industry type affect publics’ crisis response.Helpful or harmful? The impact of gender stereotypes on publics’ crisis response
Sining Kong, Michelle Marie Maresh-Fuehrer, Shane Gleason
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

Although situational crisis communication theory (SCCT) is centered on rationality and cognitive information processing, it ignores that people are also driven by irrationality and non-cognitive information processing. The purpose of this study aims to fill this gap by examining how gender stereotypes, based on perceived spokesperson sex influence the public’s perceptions of crisis response messages.

A 2 (industry type: automotive vs daycare industry) × 2 (spokesperson’s sex: male vs female) × 2 (crisis response appeal: rational vs emotional) between-subject online experiment was conducted to examine the effect of gender stereotype in crisis communication.

Results showed that either matching spokesperson sex with sex differed industry or matching sex differed industry with appropriate crisis response appeal can generate a more positive evaluation of the spokesperson and the organization. The results also revealed under which circumstances, the attractiveness of different sex of the spokesperson can either promote or mitigate people’s perceptions of the organization. Furthermore, when people are aware of a spokesperson’s sex, in a female-associated industry, a mismatching effect of a positive violation of a male-related stereotype overrides a matching effect of a female-related stereotype in crisis communication.

This study is among the first to identify how the gender of a spokesperson and industry type affect publics’ crisis response.

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Helpful or harmful? The impact of gender stereotypes on publics’ crisis response10.1108/CCIJ-09-2023-0131Corporate Communications: An International Journal2024-03-12© 2024 Emerald Publishing LimitedSining KongMichelle Marie Maresh-FuehrerShane GleasonCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2024-03-1210.1108/CCIJ-09-2023-0131https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-09-2023-0131/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2024 Emerald Publishing Limited
How spokespeople help or hurt business through crisis messaging: experiments testing the roles of narratives, non-narratives and counterargumenthttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-10-2022-0133/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestWhen an audience mentally counterargues a spokesperson, the message is backfiring. In such cases, audience members are practically persuading themselves to take the opposite position advocated by the spokesperson. Yet spokespeople who are professional persuaders serving corporations often seem to instill counterargument. This paper examines the role of counterargument as the conduit through which a spokesperson's different message types affect a company during a crisis. The authors explore the paradox of spokespeople's (in)effectiveness by testing divides in research drawn from normative crisis communication theory, narrative persuasion theory and the theory of reporting bias. Two controlled, randomized experiments are reported. Participants (total N = 828) watch video clips of media interviews of a company spokesperson fielding questions about a scandal. In the first study, non-narrative information most effectively bolsters purchase intentions and reduces negative word-of-mouth. The effect is mediated by decreased counterargument. The second study replicates the results concerning on-topic narratives compared with spinning, while on-topic narratives and non-narratives perform equally well. This study addresses conflicts between two distinct traditions of theory as well as between normative crisis communication and its frequent practice. Reducing counterargument matters in the context of non-narrative persuasion, and non-narratives can perform at least as well as narratives in crisis communication.How spokespeople help or hurt business through crisis messaging: experiments testing the roles of narratives, non-narratives and counterargument
David Clementson, Tyler Page
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

When an audience mentally counterargues a spokesperson, the message is backfiring. In such cases, audience members are practically persuading themselves to take the opposite position advocated by the spokesperson. Yet spokespeople who are professional persuaders serving corporations often seem to instill counterargument. This paper examines the role of counterargument as the conduit through which a spokesperson's different message types affect a company during a crisis. The authors explore the paradox of spokespeople's (in)effectiveness by testing divides in research drawn from normative crisis communication theory, narrative persuasion theory and the theory of reporting bias.

Two controlled, randomized experiments are reported. Participants (total N = 828) watch video clips of media interviews of a company spokesperson fielding questions about a scandal.

In the first study, non-narrative information most effectively bolsters purchase intentions and reduces negative word-of-mouth. The effect is mediated by decreased counterargument. The second study replicates the results concerning on-topic narratives compared with spinning, while on-topic narratives and non-narratives perform equally well.

This study addresses conflicts between two distinct traditions of theory as well as between normative crisis communication and its frequent practice. Reducing counterargument matters in the context of non-narrative persuasion, and non-narratives can perform at least as well as narratives in crisis communication.

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How spokespeople help or hurt business through crisis messaging: experiments testing the roles of narratives, non-narratives and counterargument10.1108/CCIJ-10-2022-0133Corporate Communications: An International Journal2023-08-01© 2023 Emerald Publishing LimitedDavid ClementsonTyler PageCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2023-08-0110.1108/CCIJ-10-2022-0133https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-10-2022-0133/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2023 Emerald Publishing Limited
Inclusive sponsorship activation and gender equity in sports: the case of orange companyhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-10-2023-0147/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatestThis study aims to identify the determining factors of perceived altruism and attitude toward an inclusive sponsorship activation, as well as the impact of these variables on the attitude toward the sponsor. Online survey data were obtained from 1,228 respondents from France, the UK and South Africa. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that the cause-brand fit has a strong positive impact on the perceived altruism toward the motivations underlying inclusive activation, while skepticism toward advertising has a very weak negative impact. In return, perceived altruism positively influences the attitude toward inclusive activation and sponsor attitude. Furthermore, this attitude toward inclusive activation is positively influenced by involvement in women’s soccer and France men’s national football team identification. The attitude toward inclusive activation also positively influences the attitude toward sponsor attitude. However, contrary to what had been advanced, identification with the France women’s national football team and the nationality of the respondents (French, British or South African) had no impact on the attitude toward inclusive activation, while the perceived importance of the cause had very weak impact on attitudes toward inclusive activation. This study highlights the potential benefits of investing in inclusive sponsorship activations, particularly with respect to their positive impact on consumer attitude toward sponsor attitude. It also highlights the importance of establishing, in advance, a strong association between the brand image and the cause supported, so that the motivations underlying the inclusive activations are perceived as more altruistic.Inclusive sponsorship activation and gender equity in sports: the case of orange company
Pascale Marceau, Frank Pons
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.-

This study aims to identify the determining factors of perceived altruism and attitude toward an inclusive sponsorship activation, as well as the impact of these variables on the attitude toward the sponsor.

Online survey data were obtained from 1,228 respondents from France, the UK and South Africa. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

The results show that the cause-brand fit has a strong positive impact on the perceived altruism toward the motivations underlying inclusive activation, while skepticism toward advertising has a very weak negative impact. In return, perceived altruism positively influences the attitude toward inclusive activation and sponsor attitude. Furthermore, this attitude toward inclusive activation is positively influenced by involvement in women’s soccer and France men’s national football team identification. The attitude toward inclusive activation also positively influences the attitude toward sponsor attitude. However, contrary to what had been advanced, identification with the France women’s national football team and the nationality of the respondents (French, British or South African) had no impact on the attitude toward inclusive activation, while the perceived importance of the cause had very weak impact on attitudes toward inclusive activation.

This study highlights the potential benefits of investing in inclusive sponsorship activations, particularly with respect to their positive impact on consumer attitude toward sponsor attitude. It also highlights the importance of establishing, in advance, a strong association between the brand image and the cause supported, so that the motivations underlying the inclusive activations are perceived as more altruistic.

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Inclusive sponsorship activation and gender equity in sports: the case of orange company10.1108/CCIJ-10-2023-0147Corporate Communications: An International Journal2024-03-18© 2024 Emerald Publishing LimitedPascale MarceauFrank PonsCorporate Communications: An International Journalahead-of-printahead-of-print2024-03-1810.1108/CCIJ-10-2023-0147https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/CCIJ-10-2023-0147/full/html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_journalLatest© 2024 Emerald Publishing Limited