What is the connection between Corporate Communication and Communication Studies? Finding this connection may be more difficult than first perceived. What we do know is that both of these subjects have broad definitions which can be interpreted and defined in a variety of ways. Communication studies at UNCW is one of the largest undergraduate programs on campus. The department focuses on eight core skills that are vital to the success of each person within the department. These eight skills include: confidence, intellectual curiosity, responsibility, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, civility, and praxis. Within communication studies, students have the opportunity to focus on a number of different concentrations. The central aspect that each concentration revolves around is the statement of clarifying who we are and what we are about. This idea creates a strong link between the communication studies major and personal development as a whole.
All this being said, how does this relate in the slightest bit to Corporate Communication? Our team defined Corporate communication as the communicative interaction of building and maintaining a reputation and consistent brand while fostering relationships internally and externally within each level of an organization. The eight core skills of our department go hand in hand with this definition. Here are the definitions of them……Core Skills
After reminding ourselves of the definitions of these skills, it is easier to see how they are necessary for work in a Corporate Communication profession. We can see that without confidence and praxis, we will be unable to take responsibility for the decisions made when dealing with a company’s reputation and brand; and without the combination of intellectual curiosity and critical thinking, the organization will remain at a stand still. Beyond this we are able to easily say that corporate communication involves various positions within a company. This requires collaboration and civility with and among each individual. Lastly, problem solving is a conjunction of all of these things. Problems that are brought to a company regarding their corporate communication can be successfully solved only by utilizing the other seven skills.
That is how we view Corporate Communication in terms of our Communication Studies department and skills. It is an extreme understatement to say that we will simply use our skills in our future professions. They will be the cornerstones upon which we operate day to day and all that we do will in some way relate back to one of those skills.
Haley Williams
Arielle Williams
Lora Hampton
Danielle Dorantich
IMC Hawks Blog 