PB418 Half Unit
Corporate Communications
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Ben Shenoy
Availability
This course is available on the CEMS Exchange, Global MSc in Management, Global MSc in Management (CEMS MIM), Global MSc in Management (MBA Exchange), MBA Exchange, MSc in Behavioural Science, MSc in Human Resources and Organisations (Organisational Behaviour), MSc in Organisational and Social Psychology, MSc in Social and Cultural Psychology, MSc in Social and Public Communication, MSc in Societal and Environmental Psychology and MSc in Strategic Communications and Society. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: All PBS 0.5-unit courses in Winter Term are controlled access and capped. Students enrolled on PBS programmes will be given priority.
Each course is available with permission as an outside option to students outside of PBS where regulations permit, providing there is space. All students must submit a short statement (around 100 words) outlining their motivation for enrolling on the course, which will be considered by the course convenor.
Deadline for application: Please apply as soon as possible after the opening of course selection for all courses.
For queries contact: Pbs.msc@lse.ac.uk
Course content
The purpose of Corporate Communications is to establish and maintain a favourable reputation for an organization with its key stakeholders. As such, corporate communications affects each one of us in various guises: as customers, employees, investors, citizens or, more generally, as members of the public. Establishing and maintaining a favourable reputation turns out to be a considerable challenge in the complex times in which we live.
The focus of this course is corporate communications in ‘wicked’ times. ‘Wicked’ refers to the chaotic, ambiguous, polarized and confusing situations in which contemporary organizations find themselves. It aims to provide insights into tackling the challenge of ‘wickedness’ by adopting a ‘sociotechnical systems’ perspective to corporate communications that examines the interactions between an organisation’s work and its stakeholders. This approach will shed light on how key concepts (e.g. sensemaking, identity, trust, reputation and power) can explain how modern corporate communications is evolving. The course aims to bridge theory and practice by using the seminars to analyse contemporary cases of organisations handling communications challenges.
Teaching
10 hours of seminars and 15 hours of lectures in the Winter Term.
Formative assessment
Students will be expected to produce an outline plan of their summative assessment (see below).
Indicative reading
J Cornelissen, Corporate Communications: A Guide to Theory and Practice. Sage, 2020.
J M T Balmer & A Stephen (eds), Revealing the Corporation: Perspectives on Identity, Image, Reputation and Corporate Branding, Routledge, 2002.
Harvard Business Review on Crisis Management, Harvard School Press, 2000.
C B M Van Riel & C J Fombrun, Essentials of Corporate Communication: Implementing Practices for Effective Reputation Management, Routledge, 2007.
Ashforth, B.E., & Mael, F. (1989). Social identity theory and the organisation. Academy of Management Review, 14, 20-39. Kramer, R.M. (2010).
Collective trust within organisations: conceptual foundation and empirical insights, Corporate Reputation Review, 13, 82-97.
Assessment
Essay (100%, 3000 words)
Case study: memorandum and analysis. The summative assignment is comprised of two parts. The first part (1,000 words) is a memorandum to a senior decision maker of an organization chosen by the student advising her/him about a specific issue relating to the corporate communications of their organization. The second part (2,000 words) is a theoretical justification of the recommendations in the memorandum. The organization chosen could be a business corporation, a public sector organization or a third sector enterprise.
Key facts
Department: Psychological and Behavioural Science
Course Study Period: Winter Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 56
Average class size 2024/25: 19
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Communication
- Commercial awareness
- Specialist skills