How important is professionalism to corporate communication?
- 1 September 2001
- journal article
- Published by Emerald Publishing in Corporate Communications: An International Journal
- Vol. 6 (3) , 150-156
- https://doi.org/10.1108/eum0000000005739
Abstract
Professionalism is a hot topic in journals serving a wide range of disciplines, but few articles critically question the desirability or value of professionalism. This article raises doubts about the desirability and value of professionalism in corporate communication. It uses Heideggerian philosophy and Kuhnian paradigm theory to suggest that professionalism could transform a heterogeneous, flexible, dynamic, communication‐centred occupation into a routine science characterised by paradigmatic protocols and techniques and prescribed values and beliefs. It argues that the uniformity of thought and conformity of behaviour that underpin professionalism can reduce the value of corporate communication to strategic management and undermine the identity of corporate communicators.Keywords
This publication has 32 references indexed in Scilit:
- Are Business Managers “Professionals”?Business Ethics Quarterly, 2000
- Conceptualizing ProfessionalismThe American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 1999
- New Frontiers in Political ProfessionalismPolitical Communication, 1999
- Educating Leaders: From the Abstract and Rational to the Concrete and PersonalJournal of Leadership Studies, 1999
- Pluralistic ignorance and professional standards: underestimating professionalism of our peers in public relationsPublic Relations Review, 1998
- Educating for innovation and management: the engineering educators' dilemmaIEEE Transactions on Education, 1998
- Scientific Practice and Ordinary ActionBritish Journal of Sociology, 1995
- The secrets of successful empowermentNational Productivity Review, 1995
- The Mangle of Practice: Agency and Emergence in the Sociology of ScienceAmerican Journal of Sociology, 1993
- The paradigm struggle and public relations practicePublic Relations Review, 1993