ABSTRACT

This book examines the state of strategic communication as a discipline and how it has emerged as a unique area of scholarship in the beginning of the 21st century. Strategic communication encompasses all communication that is substantial for the survival and sustained success of entities like corporations, governments, non-profits, social movements, and celebrities. A major aspect of the field is the purposeful use of communication by an organization to engage in conversations of strategic significance to its goals. The contributions in this book provide unique insights, make compelling arguments, and highlight promising areas of scholarship in strategic communication. Presented in four parts, the chapters explore the emergence of strategic communication, its conceptual foundations, its expanding body of knowledge, and the foundation for further development and new directions in the field.

Of interest to those studying communication from the perspectives of communication science, management theory, organizational studies, or business administration, this volume will also be useful for readers who are new to strategic communication, and who are interested in the field for its new avenues of research. This book was originally published as a special issue of the International Journal of Strategic Communication.

chapter 2|15 pages

Strategic Communication

Reflections on an Elusive Concept

chapter 3|15 pages

Communication Theory

An Underrated Pillar on Which Strategic Communication Rests

chapter 4|17 pages

Strategic Communication and Emergence

A Dual Narrative Framework

chapter 6|16 pages

Evolutionary Psychology

A Framework for Strategic Communication Research

chapter 7|19 pages

Alignment

Explicating a Key Concept in Strategic Communication

chapter 8|17 pages

Expanding the Scope of Strategic Communication

Towards a Holistic Understanding of Organizational Complexity

chapter 9|18 pages

Expanding Evaluation to Progress Strategic Communication

Beyond Message Tracking to Open Listening

chapter 10|19 pages

Strategic Communication

Defining the Field and its Contribution to Research and Practice