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Dialogics of strategic communication : Embracing conflicting logics in an emerging field

Christensen, Emma LU and Christensen, Lars Thøger (2018) In Corporate Communications 23(3). p.438-455
Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze how the field of strategic communication is shaped and driven by several different logics that not only simply underpin each other, but also and simultaneously oppose each other and point in many different directions. Design/methodology/approach: The authors address the multiple logics in strategic communication and their interplay by drawing on Edgar Morin’s theory of “dialogics.” According to Morin, complex systems are characterized by multiple logics that are at once complementary, competitive and antagonistic with respect to one another. Findings: The authors present and discuss five dialogics that challenge conventional notions of managerial control: deliberate vs emergent... (More)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze how the field of strategic communication is shaped and driven by several different logics that not only simply underpin each other, but also and simultaneously oppose each other and point in many different directions. Design/methodology/approach: The authors address the multiple logics in strategic communication and their interplay by drawing on Edgar Morin’s theory of “dialogics.” According to Morin, complex systems are characterized by multiple logics that are at once complementary, competitive and antagonistic with respect to one another. Findings: The authors present and discuss five dialogics that challenge conventional notions of managerial control: deliberate vs emergent perspectives on communication strategy; top-down vs participatory approaches; bounded vs unbounded notions of communication; consistency vs inconsistency in organizational messages; and transparency vs opacity in organizational practices. Originality/value: While the dialogical perspective defies the ideal of strategic communication as a unitary discipline, the authors argue that the field can only develop by acknowledging, embracing and bringing to the fore of analysis principles that are at once complementary, competitive and antagonistic.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Communication management, Corporate communications, Strategic management
in
Corporate Communications
volume
23
issue
3
pages
438 - 455
publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
external identifiers
  • scopus:85047835232
ISSN
1356-3289
DOI
10.1108/CCIJ-08-2017-0073
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3c78142e-0ae8-427d-ba0a-0d2e53b7a58d
date added to LUP
2018-06-13 13:27:34
date last changed
2022-04-17 20:59:43
@article{3c78142e-0ae8-427d-ba0a-0d2e53b7a58d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze how the field of strategic communication is shaped and driven by several different logics that not only simply underpin each other, but also and simultaneously oppose each other and point in many different directions. Design/methodology/approach: The authors address the multiple logics in strategic communication and their interplay by drawing on Edgar Morin’s theory of “dialogics.” According to Morin, complex systems are characterized by multiple logics that are at once complementary, competitive and antagonistic with respect to one another. Findings: The authors present and discuss five dialogics that challenge conventional notions of managerial control: deliberate vs emergent perspectives on communication strategy; top-down vs participatory approaches; bounded vs unbounded notions of communication; consistency vs inconsistency in organizational messages; and transparency vs opacity in organizational practices. Originality/value: While the dialogical perspective defies the ideal of strategic communication as a unitary discipline, the authors argue that the field can only develop by acknowledging, embracing and bringing to the fore of analysis principles that are at once complementary, competitive and antagonistic.</p>}},
  author       = {{Christensen, Emma and Christensen, Lars Thøger}},
  issn         = {{1356-3289}},
  keywords     = {{Communication management; Corporate communications; Strategic management}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{438--455}},
  publisher    = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
  series       = {{Corporate Communications}},
  title        = {{Dialogics of strategic communication : Embracing conflicting logics in an emerging field}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/CCIJ-08-2017-0073}},
  doi          = {{10.1108/CCIJ-08-2017-0073}},
  volume       = {{23}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}