The State of Our Art: Latest Trends in the Field of European Communications

The State Of Our Art:
Latest trends in the field of European
communications
CASE Europe Annual Conference 09

David Willows
Director of External Relations, International School of Brussels
Member of the Board, European Association of Communication Directors
Member, CASE Commission on Marketing and Communications

Key Questions
What is the EACD?
A brief introduction
What is the state of our art?
Identifying the key trends and challenges we face as communications professionals in the educational field
What can we learn by looking over the fence towards European Corporations and Organisations?Innovation as Cross-Pollination
How can we keep the conversation going?
How to get involved in the EACD and future CASE-EACD collaboration

Introducing
The European Association of Communication Directors

Why did I get involved?
A professional development and networking opportunity
Supporting the work of Communications Directors in Education at a European Level
Highlighting the pedagogical nature of many communications tasks

What is the state of our art?
Identifying the key trends and challenges we face as communications professionals in the educational field

Group Activity
Which of the following issues and themes are most important in your stratetgic plans for next year? Which do you see as being most relevant over the next 3-5 years?
Policy issues, public affairs or lobbying
Market and socio-demographic shifts
Impact of the recession, budgetary and financial concerns
Social media and online communications
Salaries, qualifications, recruitment and training issues
Use of data and empirical evaluation tools
The role of communications in the hierarchy of the organisation
The role of mass media
Crisis communication
CSR and sustainability
Internal communications
Marketing and branding

What can we learn by looking over the fence towards European Corporations and Organisations?
Innovation as Cross-Pollination

What can we learn by looking over the fence towards European Corporations and Organisations?
Innovation as Cross-Pollination
These are the people who look over the fence, explore other industries and cultures, bringing back ideas and solutions that are relevant on home soil.
The Ten Faces of Innovation (Tom Kelley)

Key facts
European Communication Monitor 2009
Most comprehensive analysis of the European market until now with morethan 1,850 participating professionals from 34 countries
Annual research project conducted since 2007 by renowned universitiesfrom 11 countries, organised by the European Public Relations Education andResearch Association (EUPRERA)
Partners: European Association of Communication Directors (EACD),Communication Director Magazine; sponsored by Cision
The research highlights:
_ Challenges for communication management in the recession and media crisis
_ Strategic issues, developments of disciplines and instruments
_ Trends in internal communication, measurement/evaluation and interactive communication
_ Communication executives‘ influence on management decisions
_ Salaries and qualification needs

Academic task force
Research team
_ Ansgar Zerfass, Prof. Dr., University of Leipzig (GE) – Lead Researcher
Angeles Moreno, Prof. Ph.D., University Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid (ES)
Ralph Tench, Prof. Ph.D., Leeds Metropolitan University (UK)
Dejan Verčič, Prof. Ph.D., University of Ljubljana (SI)
Piet Verhoeven, Ass. Prof. Dr., University of Amsterdam (NL)
Advisory board
Emanuele Invernizzi, Prof. Dr., IULM University, Milano (IT)
Valerie Carayol, Prof. Dr., University of Bordeaux (FR)
Francesco Lurati, Ass. Prof. Dr., University of Lugano (CH)
Sven Hamrefors, Prof. Dr., Mälardalen University (SE)
Øyvind Ihlen, Prof. Dr., BI Norwegian School of Management, Oslo (NO)
Ryszard Lawniczak, Prof. Dr., Poznan University of Economics (PL)

Research design andsocio-demographic analysis

Research framework and questions
E
Person (Communication Manager)
Organisation
A
B
Selfperception
Education
Jobstatus
Demo-graphics
Country
Culture
Structure
European homebase, Q17
Professionalrole, Q7Optimism, Q16
Age, Q17Gender, Q17Association Member, Q17Social NetworkMember, Q17
Experience, Q17Hierarchy, Q17
Academic, Q17Communicative, Q17
Characteristics of organisational culture, Q15
Type of organisation/agency, Q17
Situation
Perception
C
D
Future
Present
Disciplines and fields of practice, Q4Communication channels, Q5Strategic issues, Q6Impact of the media crisis, Q2Emerging interactive channels, Q10Online communities, Q11Internal communication, Q12, Q13Needs for training and qualification, Q14
Communication objectives, Q8Evaluation practice, Q9Economic recession, Q1
Position
E
Advisory/executive influence, Q3Personal income, Q17

Sample: 1,863 participants from 34 European countries
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,863 PR Professionals from 34 European countries; Q 17

Professional roles, influence and contribution to organisational objectives

A clear majority of practitioners execute communication basedon business strategies, but only 6 out of 10 try to define them
84,8%
focus on supporting business goals by planning and executing communication
60,7%
feel responsible for helping to define business strategies
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,863 PR Professionals from 34 European countries; Q 7: In your dailywork, how much do you focus on supporting business goals by planning and executing communication? (1 = not at all; 7 = very much) / … how much do you feel responsible for helping to define business strategies? (1 = never; 7 = always); considered scale points 5-7

PR professionals enact different roles - this shapes and reflects the relation between communication and business strategies
Operational
Supporters
29.1%
Strategic
Facilitators
55.7%
Business
Advisers
5.0%
Isolated
Experts
10.2%
ALWAYS
HELPING TO DEFINE BUSINESS STRATEGIES
Scale: 5-7
NOT AT ALL
SUPPORTING BUSINESS GOALS BY MANAGING COMMUNICATION
VERY MUCH
SUPPORTING BUSINESS GOALS BY MANAGING COMMUNICATION
Scale: 1-4
Scale: 5-7
Scale: 1-4
NEVER
HELPING TO DEFINE BUSINESS STRATEGIES
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,863 PR Professionals from 34 European countries;Q 7: In your daily work, how much do you focus on supporting business goals by planning and executing communication? (1 = notat all; 7 = very much) / … how much do you feel responsible for helping to define business strategies? (1 = never; 7 = always)

64% of top level communicators are strategic facilitators,but 6% are not linked to business strategies in any way
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,863 PR Professionals from 34 countries; Q 7; Q 17

Communication executives are trusted advisors,but only two-thirds are involved in management decision
73.0%are taken seriously by senior management.
64.4%are involved in decision making and planning.
Appraisal of the profession has risen slightly (+2% since 2008), yet executive influence is still as low as the year before (+0.4%).
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / nmax = 1,267 PR Professionals in communication departments;Q 3: In your organisation, how seriously are PR recommendations taken by senior management? (1-7); To what extent are PR andreputational considerations factored into strategic decision making and planning in your organisation? (1-7); considered scale points 5-7

On average, professionals acting as strategic facilitators and those working in Northern Europe are more influential
Business Advisors
Operational Supporters
Strategic Facilitators
Isolated Experts
46.9%
52.5%
68.6%
83.5%
Advisory influence
34.7%
57.4%
52.8%
79.0%
Executive influence
Southern
Europe
Eastern
Europe
Western
Europe
Northern
Europe
67.8%
63.0%
74.6%
76.4%
Advisory influence
60.9%
59.3%
63.4%
68.9%
Executive influence
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / nmax = 1,267 PR Professionals in communication departments; Q 3; Q 16; Q 17

So here’s what I am wondering…
What’s going on in myorganisation?
What’s my role?
Am I taken seriously, or do I prefer to be the lone cowboy?
Does the organisational chart work for me?

Impacts of the recessionand the media crisis

How the global downturn influences PR practice in Europe
“Focus on value to the core mission”
“Projects delayed till things get better”
“Costs”
“PR has to be more a tool – more sell than tell”
“In no way”
“Delaying important decisions”
“Reduce travel costs”
“Enforced focus on internal communication”
“Budget shift from
image to marketing”
“Move to digital”
“Harder to convince management
to replace staff leaving”
“Less big contracts,
but more small ones“
“More quality for less money”
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,863 PR Professionalsfrom 34 European countries;Q 1: How has the global downturn influenced your daily work? (open question)

PR practitioners face serious budget cuts; focusing activities and evaluating results gets more important
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,863 PR Professionalsfrom 34 European countries;Q 1: How has the global downturn influenced your daily work? (1 = not at all; 5 = significantly); considered scale points 4-5

PR professionals face the media crisis and try to adapt belief in the power of journalism and mass media is still strong
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,863 PR Professionalsfrom 34 European countries; Q 2: Publishers and broad-casters face serious difficulties: While commercial revenues are declining due to recession, audiences are switching to internet news and online communities. What does this mean for comm. management? (1=strongly disagree; 5=strongly agree); agreement = scale points 4-5

So here’s our story…

Focus on the data

Focus on the data
Look at what history was teaching us

Whatdoeshistoryteach us?

Whatdoeshistoryteach us?
1st Oil Crisis
Gulf War
9/11
2nd Oil Crisis

Focus on the data
See the ‘crisis’ as a real opportunity

Focus on the data
See the ‘crisis’ as a real opportunity
Reconsider our positioning in the marketplace

When school opened yesterday, our enrolment was higher than ever before and significantly higher than our most optimistic projections.

Development of disciplines and communication channels

Most important disciplines in communication management
In 2012
Today
Corporate Communication
1
1
Corporate Communication

Marketing/Brand and Consumer Communication
2
Internal Communication and Change Management
2

Marketing/Brand and Consumer Communication

Crisis Communication
3
3
CSR and Sustainability

Internal Communication and Change Management
4
4
5
Public Affairs / Lobbying

Public Affairs / Lobbying
5
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / nmax = 1,863 PR Professionals from 34 European countries;Q 4: How important are the following fields of practice in your organisation or consultancy? Will they gain more or lessimportance within the next three years? (1 = not important; 5 = very important); important discipline = scale points 4-5.Arrow symbols indicate changes within the ranking of most important disciplines; in general, all disciplines are ascending.

Long-term development of communication disciplines:Internal may overtake marketing/consumer in 2012
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / nmax = 1,863 PR Professionals from 34 European countries; Q 4;Zerfass et al. 2008 / n = 1,524 PR Professionals from 37 countries; Q 2; Zerfass et al. 2007 / n = 1,087 from 22 countries; Q 3

PR professionals expect a tremendous boost for online channels
Increase comparedto average
Interactive channels relevant for public relations
+11.6
+7.0
+1.3
+0.1
+2.4
-2.8
-4.6
-15.2
Importance todayImportance in 2010
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,863 PR Professionals from 34 European countries; Q 10: Can you indicate the level of importance for public relations today and in the next year of the following communication tools (1= not important; 5= very impor-tant); important = scale points 4-5. All are considered more important in 2010; comparison shows difference to avg. increase (29.28%).

85% of European communication professionals are membersof online communities like LinkedIn, Facebook and XING
No member (15.0%)
Professional and private profile (41.3%)
Private profile only (16.5%)
Professional profile only (27.3%)
Most popular social networks: LinkedIn (professional), Facebook (private)
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,863 PR Professionals; Q 17: Are you a member of one of those social networks? Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Plaxo, XING, Other (With my professional profile/With a private profile)

So here’s some key questions….
How are we using social media to have better conversations?
How are we using social media to listen to our customers?
What about internal communications?
How are we using old media in different ways?

Strategic issues, evaluationand communication performance

Most important strategic issues for PR professionals in Europe(compared to previous surveys)
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,863 PR Professionals from 34 European countries; Q 6; Zerfass et al. 2008 /n = 1,524 PR Professionals from 37 countries; Q 6; Zerfass et al. 2007 / n = 1,087 PR Professionals from 24 countries; Q 5: Here are some issues that might become relevant for public relations and communication management within the next three years.Please pick those 3 items which are most important from your point of view.

When measuring their activities, communication professionalsfocus on a small part of the overall process
Outflow
Outcome
Value Creation
Impact onStrategic and/or Financial Targets(Value Chain)
Impact onTangible and/orIntangible Ressources(Capital Accumulation)
Output
46.4%
Direct Outcome
PerceptionUtilization
Knowledge
Indirect Outcome
OpinionAttitudesEmotion
Behavioral DispositionBehavior
57.6%
Internal OutputProcess Efficiency
Quality
External OutputCoverageContent
Input
Resources
Personnel CostsOutsourcing Costs
38.3%
41.4%
73.9%
53.9%
38.8%
33.1%
ORGANISATION
STAKEHOLDERS
ORGANISATION
MEDIA/CHANNELS
Results ofCommunication Processes
Communication Processes
Initiation of Communication Processes
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,863 PR Professionals from 34 European countries;Q 9: Which items do you monitor or measure to assess the effectiveness of public relations / communicationmanagement? (1 = do not use at all; 5 = use continuously; methods used = scale points 4-5)Figures depicted within the DPRG/ICV (2009) framework for communication measurement, www.communicationcontrolling.com

Back to the dashboard: A three-dimensional approach to measurementorIt’s not just about the bottom line, coverage or productivity. It is about value creation

Salary and qualification needs

Basic annual salary of European PR practitioners (Euro)
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,768 PR Professionals from 34 European countries; Q 17: In which of the following bands does your basic annual salary fall?

Annual salaries of female and male PR practitioners
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,768 PR Professionals from 34 European countries; Q 17: In which of the following bands does your basic annual salary fall?; What is your gender?

60% of EACD members earn more than 90.000 Euro annually
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,768 PR Professionals from 34 European countries; Q 17: In which of the following bands does your basic annual salary fall?; Are you a member of a professional organisation?

Annual salaries in Western Europe are significantly higher
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,768 PR Professionals from 34 European countries; Q 17: In which of the following bands does your basic annual salary fall?

Training and qualification needs of PR professionals in Europe
www.communicationmonitor.eu / Zerfass et al. 2009 / n = 1,863 PR Professionals from 34 European countries; Q 14: Thinking ofyour own skills: if you have the right to choose one area of personal development next year, which of the following would you select?

Time to become a corporate, or is education still a vocation?What’s the ‘product’ we sell anyway?

Disclaimer and copyright
Preliminary results – not to be re-produced or published
This presentation contains preliminary results of the European Communication Monitor 2009 survey. Data and interpretations presented here may still be altered due to the ongoing analysis and interpretation of the data by the international research team.
Due to this fact, these charts are not authorized and may not be re-produced or published.Please refer to the full set of results, to be published in September 2009 as a book by EACD.
See www.communicationmonitor.eu for updates about the publication and the survey.
Copyright
© 2009 by Ansgar Zerfass and the research team for the whole document and all parts, charts and data. The material presented in this document represents empirical insights and interpretation by the research team. It is intellectual property subject to international copyright.
Illustration licensed by istockphoto.com. Title graphic provided by EACD.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Stephanie Krahl B.A. and Peter Schmiedgen B.A. (University of Leipzig) for statistical analysis and constructing the charts and to Grit Fiedler (EACD, Brussels) for valuable support and suggestions. Many thanks to all partners and the sponsor CISION.
Contact
Please contact any member of the research team or the advisory board in your country/regionif you are interested in discussing the insights of this survey or in joint research projects. Questions regarding the research project itself and future activities may be directed to thelead researcher, Prof. Dr. Ansgar Zerfass, zerfass@uni-leipzig.de

How can we keep this conversation going?
Join the EACD!
pass me your contact details after this workshop for a welcome pack
or visit www.eacd-online.eu
Future CASE-EACD Collaborations
Let’s design a survey, write an article or simply keep in touch
willowsd@isb.be

Thank you for your attention

The State of Our Art: Latest Trends in the Field of European Communications

by David Willows on Oct 25, 2009

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