COM 2011 Volume 16

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http://hdl.handle.net/11660/2530

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Browsing COM 2011 Volume 16 by Subject "Communication"

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    Different salves for different sores: international research remedies for a South African communication context
    (Department of Communication Science, University of the Free State, 2011) Greeff, W. J.
    A fact so widely accepted as to be considered common sense is that communication is influenced by the context in which it functions. It is for this reason that there is no single communication-related measurement scale suitable for all circumstances (Le Roux 2008: 264; Devlin 2003: 27). Yet, communication researchers continually make use of existing communication research methods in order to strengthen reliability and validity in research and to standardise measurement instruments for comparability of results. In most cases, these methods originate in the international arena. Le Roux (2008) proposed methods for adapting Communication Satisfaction and Relationship scales to the South African, third-world context specifically for use within the mining industry of South Africa. This article reports on a study testing Le Roux's (2008) adapted versions alongside those of the original questionnaires at the Gautrain project. The study confirmed Le Roux's adaptations, and adds additional recommendations for the distribution and administering of internationally generated questionnaires within the mining and construction industry of South Africa specifically, and the third-world context in general.
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    Stakeholder engagement: a crucial element in the governance of corporate reputation
    (Department of Communication Science, University of the Free State, 2011) Rensburg, Ronél; De Beer, Estelle
    The King III Report on Corporate Governance for South Africa (with a separate chapter on Governing Stakeholder Relationships) highlights the importance of stakeholder management in corporate governance. For the first time the inclusive approach to stakeholder relationship management is explained more fully and principles on how stakeholder relationships can be managed in a corporate governance context are provided. These have implications for corporate communication strategy in all organisations. The inclusion of all stakeholders in corporate issues has taken centre stage in corporate governance. In any given communication situation, a stakeholder could play many roles in an internal or external organisational environment. Total stakeholder involvement (engagement) is crucial and will have implications for organisational practices, reputation and corporate sustainability. The explosion in social media and networking has empowered stakeholders beyond imagination. Their roles are no longer merely employees, clients or the community in general, but on the virtual stage of communication, stakeholders are taking on roles as citizen editors, journalists, writers, recipients and interpreters of their own communication material. They can become reputation ambassadors or demolishers in the corporate environment. In this continuous neo-corporate communication environment, it is not about communication control, but about communication power-sharing. In this article stakeholder engagement as an allinclusive communication management approach will be illustrated by considering stakeholder theory, corporate governance and integrated reporting and the growing importance of reputation management.