SFB50514 Corporate Communication (Autumn 2027)

Mandatory course in:

• Bachelor's Programme in International Communication with a specialisation in strategic communication (year 2025)
• Bachelor's Programme in Communication

Elective course in:

• Bachelor's Programme in Digital Media and Design with a specialisation in communication
• Bachelor’s Programme in Languages

Bachelor's Programme in Communication: 3rd semester (autumn).

Ba(autumn).chelor's Programme in International Communication with a specialisation in strategic communication (year 2025), 5th semester

Bachelor's Programme in Digital Media and Design with a specialisation in communication, 5th semester (autumn)

Bachelor’s Programme in Languages: 5th semester (autumn)

This course looks critically at how corporations and organisations communicate in ongoing changing media environments, through stakeholder engagement and in issues management and crisis communication to build and maintain corporate identity and reputation, manage challenges and controversy, or implement corporate social responsibility practices. Students explore how communication practice and processes position corporate interests impacting the organisation and their multiple stakeholders.

• Organisation identity and corporate identity
• Corporate branding
• Image and reputation management
• Stakeholder relations
• Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
• Issues management and crisis communication

Knowledge

The student

• is familiar with the interrelation between organisations and their environments, and the importance of building relations with stakeholder groups.
• has become familiar with the importance of planned and coordinated communication for building internal and external reputation, and knows that organisational culture, common values and the identity perception of employees are key success factors.
• has basic knowledge and understanding of communication as a management strategy in private and public organisations.
• is able to think critically about past, current, and emerging communication strategies of corporate entities and the impact on varieties of environments they directly or indirectly affect.

Skills

The student

• can collect empirical data and use theory to write a larger academic assignment (case study).
• can write in an academic manner and demonstrate knowledge and correct use of sources.
• can express ideas regarding the curriculum orally in English, effectively and reflectively in a range of contexts

General competence

The student

• understands the importance of strategic communication and can document this in correct academic written form as well as express ideas effectively in oral format.

The course is organised in two parts. The first half of the semester is a taught course with lectures, activities and discussions.

In the second half of the semester the students carry out a supervised case study. The case study/project is group work with two to four students in each project group.

Language used in the course is English and the required reading is in English. The case study report is written in English. Following submission of the report, students discuss the case and other aspects of the curriculum in individual oral interviews as part of the assessment process.

The following group assignments must be submitted at given deadlines and approved before signing up for the final exam:

• Project proposal (approx. 500 words) with a brief summary of the case study
• Two scheduled tutorials per project group
• Oral presentation of a paper

Group project and individual oral exam

Group project - A case study is performed in groups in the second half of the semester being documented in a written final report of 12-15 pages (approx. 5,000 words). The case study takes its starting point in concrete organisations or cases related to one of the issues taught in the course. The final report is graded on the A - F grading scale. It is given a tentative grade of the report. This grade can be adjusted at the oral exam.

Individual oral exam - The individual oral exam consists of a discussion of the report. Duration approx. 10 min with questions from the examiners. Except the report, no supporting materials are allowed. The students will get an individual grade (A-F).

If a student decides to appeal their grade, the group report must be re-assessed. If the new assessment affects the tentative grading of the group project, a new oral exam will be arranged.

Upon re-examination, both parts of the examination must be retaken. Upon re-examination, a new project must be carried out.

A new and postponed exam is conducted simultaneously with the next regular exam. However, the department management may decide to arrange a postponed exam in the following semester

.