Practitioner panel: The new role of IC in the 21st century workplace

Chair: Brane Gruban, ABC, Dialogos

1.  Katarina Klemenc, Lek, Sandoz, Slovenia 2.  Tamara Valenčič, Si. Mobil, Slovenia 3.  Uršula Menih Dokl, Gorenje, Slovenia 4.  Majda Šraj Mihelčič, Kovinoplastika Lož,

Slovenia

Trends in internal communication?

”People are interested in three things only:

who is sleeping with whom,

who got that job

and how much money they will get!"

(Tim Driberg, DAILY EXPRESS)

Strategic internal communication?

“The one that converts information into common understanding of meaning and

business context thus enabling engagement of employees to achieve business goals!”

1.  Information Model (informing, disemination of information) 2.  Persuasive Model (influencing, persuasion) 3.  Relationship Model (managing relationships) 4.  Discourse Model (managing different interests of internal

stakeholders) 5.  Integral or Reflective Model (combination of models)

•  understanding of meaning and context, leading change •  integral part of decision making process and management,

what managers do rather than what they deal with •  part of value based management agenda

Historic overview of IC models*?"

1.  A troublesome teenager with constant mood swings and neverending obsession with how they look?

2.  Real clarity about our role and frequent deep rooted doubts on why We exists, about our role and value?

3.  Science or an art, advisers or technical experts, luxury or mere necessity, hard business people or soft ”people people”?

4.  Just growing pains of adolescence or We are stuck in our professional development?

5.  Are We a part of something bigger or just of extension of what was always there in the past?

Eternal issues on who We are**?"

Top down or bottom up view?

1.  Democratization of information 2.  Strategic imperative, IC as business partner 3.  Employee engagement 4.  Demonstrating added value, ROI and being results not just

process driven! 5.  Segmentation, globalization and demographics: real

audience needs 6.  Need for simplicity, fundamentals have not changed 7.  Customization, personalization and individualization 8.  Social media hand in hand with… face to face!

Relevant trends?"

1.  Communication is in a large part of leadership! 2.  It is who You are and what You do and not what You

are dealing with!? 3.  It is much more than simply conveying information! 4.  It is building the relationships that drive the

organizations work! 5. Roger D Aprix: communication is the undoubted

lubricant to prevent the corporate machinery from self-destruction from the friction of global change!

Management paradigm shift?"

1.  Advisor to the top management and business partner?

2.  Change and culture transformation agent? 3.  ”CEO” (Chief Engagement Officer)? 4.  Functional specialist and social media expert? 5.  Advocate of employee communication needs?

Strategic roles of IC?"

1.  How You would describe the current status of internal communication in Your organizaton?

Appetizer question for all panelist"

1.  To what extent You are already in position to perform strategic roles of internal communication?

2.  How high on the IC agenda is the employee engagement issue (BCG ranks EE among top trends!)

3.  How do You view the importance of social media in practising strategic IC?

4.  What are top priorities of IC for the immediate future in Your companies?

5.  What are the most limiting factors for the strategic role of IC?

General questions for all panelist"

1.  Lek has a long lasting tradition in internal communication. What was the impact if any of the acquisition of Lek by Novartis on the field of IC?

2.  Does the ownership structure reflects any difference in communication strategy of the company?

Specific questions: Lek Sandoz"

1.  An important aspect of Simobil business strategy and activities is social awareness and corporate responsibility. How do You involve employees in those activities and what is the role of IC in all of that?

2.  As a mobile operator You are leading technology company. How does technology helps in performing internal communication?

Specific questions: Simobil"

1.  Gorenje was among the first Slovenian companies hardly hit by striking employees protesting low salaries. The trust between management, unions and employees eroded. Does that experience changed in any way the internal communication strategy, model or practice?

Specific questions: Gorenje"

1.  Recently You performed long ranging survey of internal communication practices in Kovinoplastika. What were the major findings and challenges?

2.  How high on the top management agenda are internal communication issues?

Specific questions: Kovinoplastika Lož"

Questions from the audience?

Thanks!