Abstract
For almost two decades, CCI (Corporate Communication International) has conducted research on practices and trends in the field in the USA, Europe, South Africa, and China. This chapter reviews the results of those studies done in the USA and China (www.corporatecomm.org/studies).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Christina Genest, CCI Associate Director, and Kelley Bertoli, Susanne Hoelzlwimmer, Lauren Wolman, Research Assistants, worked on all aspects of the 2013 study. For 2013, the overall goal of the CCI Corporate Communication International “Practices and Trends Study” was to outline and analyze the state of the art for corporate communication practice in publicly traded, multinational companies. It was determined in the first CCI study in 2000 to focus on publicly traded companies for several reasons. First, information in such companies is public and more readily accessible. Second, public companies are often in the vanguard of corporate practices because of the pressures of the capital market, their need to respond to the media, and the realities of the global marketplace. And finally, public companies have a greater understanding that their “license to operate” comes from public approval and is maintained by public trust.
The CCI Study 2013 continues the studies from 2000 to 2011. CCI Corporate Communication International determined that the practices and trends study could be conducted every two years, and this cycle of research was implemented with the study in 2005. In years the practices and trends study was not conducted, the focus of CCI’s research has been on particular issues that have an impact on the profession. In 2006 and 2008, CCI conducted benchmark studies of the Corporate Communication Practices and Trends in China. A CCI study was also conducted in China in 2010 and reported in June 2011 at the CCI Annual Conference in New York City. In 2008, CCI, along with research partners in South Africa, conducted a benchmark study in South Africa. Information gathering for these benchmark studies was based on previous CCI research studies as well as other studies of public relations and public affairs such as Chen (2004).
For the 2013 research, we also compared the results with the CCI studies from 2000 to 2011. The results of these studies are posted on the CCI website at www.corporatecomm.org/studies.
- 2.
Feng, Jieyun, and Michael B. Goodman. (With the assistance of Nan Zhang and Liyuan Tian). “Corporate Communication Practices and Trends: A China Study 2010.” Proceedings of the International Conference on Corporate Communication, June 7–10, pp. 169–190, New York, US.
Underwritten by Prudential Financial, Inc., this investigation in 2010 identifies the corporate communication practices and trends in China. Specifically, this study addresses the following questions:
-
What are the main roles that corporation communication plays in China?
-
What are the main functions of corporation communication in China?
-
For what purposes do Chinese companies use third-party agencies or vendors in their activities and programs of corporate communication?
-
Is the top management in Chinese companies directly involved in corporate communication, and to what extent is it involved?
-
To what extent is crisis management emphasized as part of corporate communication?
-
What are the core competencies that define excellence for corporate communication personnel practitioners?
-
What are the similarities in the three China studies concerning corporate communication practices?
As the latest study concerning corporate communication in China, this investigation provides information and insight into the development of corporate communication practices in the world’s largest emerging economy. This study was undertaken in September–December 2010, using a convenience sample of 114 Beijing-based Chinese companies. The inclusion of companies of varying sizes in a variety of industries was to provide a “representation” of the Chinese enterprise landscape.
The survey questionnaire consisted of two main parts. Part one was multiple-choice questions that focused on the structure and practice of corporate communication in China. The questions for the Chinese study were largely based on the corporate communication survey conducted by CCI (Corporate Communication International) among US companies and translated into Chinese and modified for Chinese cultural understanding of key concepts. Part two involved open-ended questions which address the challenges facing corporate communication, its contribution to a company’s success, and the core competencies of an excellent corporate communicator.
The questionnaire was originally developed in English and translated into Chinese by professional researchers in Beijing. The Chinese translation was checked and reviewed by two bilingual researchers, and discussions were held to reach an agreement on the final translation. As part of the data collection and analysis procedure, the names and affiliations of the respondents are held in strict confidence and are not associated with individual responses. In order to motivate the respondents to provide detailed answers and spend adequate time on the questionnaires, they were informed that the research findings of the present study would be provided for them after the study was completed.
-
- 3.
References
CCI corporate communication practices and trends studies: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013. Retrieved from www.corporatecomm.org/studies.
CCI corporate communication practices & trends: A China study 2008 – Phase II. Conference on corporate communication 2008, June 2008.
CCI corporate communication practices and trends: A China benchmark 2006. Global communications forum, New York, NY. March 2007.
Corporate communication practices and trends in Greater China: A benchmark study 2006. ABC International Convention, October 2006.
Chen, R.Y.R. 2004. Effective public affairs in China: MNC-government bargaining power and corporate strategies for influencing foreign business policy formulation. Journal of Communication Management 8(4): 395–413.
de Wet, G., C. Meintjes, I. Niemann-Struweg, and M.B. Goodman. 2008. Corporate communication practices and trends: South Africa benchmark study 2007/8. New York: CCI. [Paper presented at the International Conference on Corporate Communication, June 6–9, 2008, Wroxton, England.]
Feng, J.Y., and M.B. Goodman. 2010. Corporate communication practices and trends: A China study 2010. Proceedings of the International Conference on Corporate Communication, New York 169–190, June 7–10.
Frandsen, F., and W. Johansen. 2008. Corporate communication practices and trends: A European Union benchmark study 2008. New York: CCI. Retrieved from http://www.corporatecomm.org/pdf/EUPreliminary13_3_2008%20final.ppt.
Goodman, M.B. 2005. Restoring trust in American business: The struggle to change perception. Journal of Business Strategy 26(4): 29–37.
Goodman, M.B. 2011. CCI corporate communication practices and trends: US study. Proceedings of the international conference on corporate communication, New York 105–107, June 7–10.
Goodman, M.B., and P.B. Hirsch. 2010. Corporate communication: Strategic adaptation for global practice. New York: Peter Lang.
Goodman, M.B., and J. Wang. 2007. Tradition and innovation: The China business communication study. Journal of Business Strategy 28(3): 34–41.
Wang, J., and M.B. Goodman. 2006. Corporate communication practices and trends: A China benchmark study 2006. New York: CCI. Retrieved from www.corporatecomm.org/pdf/ChinaBenchmarkStudy.pdf.
Wang, J. (with the assistance of Michael B. Goodman, Vidhi Chaudhri and Deng Lifeng). 2008. Corporate communication practices and trends: A China study 2008 – Phase II . New York: CCI. Retrieved from www.corporatecomm.org/studies.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Goodman, M.B. (2015). A Review of Corporate Communication Practices and Trends in the USA and China. In: Ng, P., Ngai, C. (eds) Role of Language and Corporate Communication in Greater China. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-46881-4_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-46881-4_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-46880-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-46881-4
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawSocial Sciences (R0)