Research in the making: how foundation-supported studies are identified and funded.It was a hot afternoon in the middle of the Nevada desert. The glitz glitz Informal n. Ostentatious showiness; flashiness: "a garish barrage of show-biz glitz" Peter G. Davis. tr.v. and glamour exuding from the notorious Las Vegas Strip The Las Vegas Strip (also known as The Strip) is a 4 mi (6.7 km) section of Las Vegas Boulevard South, most of which has been designated an All-American Road. flashed with temptation Temptation Terror (See HORROR.) apple as fruit of the tree of knowledge in Eden, has come to epitomize temptation. [O.T.: Genesis 3:1–7; Br. Lit. . But nothing could deter the 24 senior communication professionals who traveled to the gaming capital of the world for the IABC IABC International Association of Business Communicators IABC Indo-Americans for Better Community Research Foundation Think Tank 2003. Their mission: Develop a list of timely topics worthy of research dollars. Since 1997, the Think Tank has served as the first step in the foundation's time-honored process of identifying, funding and developing research projects that provide new information and insights for today's communication professionals. The foundation annually grants approximately US$40,000 for project research, starting with recommendations from the Think Tank. AN IDEA IS BORN Each year, a carefully selected group of communication professionals and academicians from around the world pool their expertise and insights about the communication industry to identify existing and emerging issues for potential research projects. This year's Think Tank participants consulted the foundation's research agenda (see chart) and followed a three-step process: 1. Identifying issues. Using a brainstorming process to identify issues that challenge professional communicators, the group generated a sprawling list of 23 topics, from daily stressors to hot and emerging trends, for which communicators should plan and manage. 2. Prioritizing the issues. Next, the Think Tank weighed the merit of each issue, focusing on long-term trends as well as emerging or future concerns. In small groups, participants categorized cat·e·go·rize tr.v. cat·e·go·rized, cat·e·go·riz·ing, cat·e·go·riz·es To put into a category or categories; classify. cat and prioritized the issues into a manageable list of 13 topics. 3. Summarizing the top issues and developing a consensus. The prioritized lists from each subgroup sub·group n. 1. A distinct group within a group; a subdivision of a group. 2. A subordinate group. 3. Mathematics A group that is a subset of a group. tr.v. were brought together, evaluated and then merged into a list of top issues. Often issues are grouped into categories, as many are the result of a combination of communication concerns. The result was a list of eight issues for the foundation to consider for further research: * The role of new technology in building communities (in the workplace and in the world). * The integration of disciplines that professional communicators must understand to be successful in their work (i.e., traditional communication skills plus business performance skills and organizational development expertise). * Branding and all the implications it has for communication, marketing, relationship building, business development, etc. * Knowledge network management and the role of the professional communicator. * Measuring communication behavior, from measuring the success of communication interventions to showing ROI (Return On Investment) The monetary benefits derived from having spent money on developing or revising a system. In the IT world, there are more ways to compute ROI than Carter has liver pills (and for those of you who never heard of that expression, it means a lot). of individual projects and the long-term value of ongoing communication practices and systems. * Leadership--the communication characteristics of successful leaders as well as the role of leadership for communicators. * The career path of today's successful professional communicators (update the IABC Career Matrix). * The new role of today's communicators and the activities they do that add the most value to today's organizations, (How can communicators add the greatest value to their organizations?) FROM CONCEPTION TO PUBLICATION The Think Tank report is then developed into requests for proposals by the foundation's RFP (Request For Proposal) A document that invites a vendor to submit a bid for hardware, software and/or services. It may provide a general or very detailed specification of the system. 1. (business) RFP - Request for Proposal. 2. panel. This panel, which meets during the IABC international conference, is composed of senior communicators and IABC leaders, some of whom may have served as members of the Think Tank. The task of the committee is to prioritize pri·or·i·tize v. pri·or·i·tized, pri·or·i·tiz·ing, pri·or·i·tiz·es Usage Problem v.tr. To arrange or deal with in order of importance. v.intr. further the issues identified by the Think Tank, using a number of filters to boil down to reduce in bulk by boiling; as, to boil down sap or sirup. See also: Boil the list to those ideas that will be funded for future development. These filters include consideration of whether the topic helps to build IABC's body of knowledge and whether it is relevant, practical and marketable Marketable are securities that can be easily converted into cash. Such securities will generally have highly liquid markets allowing the security to be sold at a reasonable price very quickly. to IABC's audience. The panel's recommended list of projects with descriptions provides the starting points Noun 1. starting point - earliest limiting point terminus a quo commencement, get-go, offset, outset, showtime, starting time, beginning, start, kickoff, first - the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the for RFPs, which are then sent with the research agenda to researchers around the world. Some topics are considered for full studies; others are considered for expert panel discussions at conference or for short term projects during the year. All full research studies must include sound methods and a diagnostic instrument that communication professionals can implement. Research agencies, academic research groups and research practitioners submit proposals to the foundation in response to the RFPs. These proposals are reviewed and juried by members of the foundation's Research Committee. Proposals are weighed against the initial charge of the RFPs. Timeliness, method, international scope and merit are some of the criteria used to judge proposals and move them forward for funding. Depending on the complexity, research projects are usually completed six to 18 months later, and then published for use by communication professionals. All foundation funded studies can be accessed through the foundation web page (www.iabc.com/fdtnweb/index.html), and highlights of the research often are featured in Communication World and CW Bulletin. RESEARCH FOUNDATION: RESEARCH AGENDA The five-part framework outlined below provides direction for all future IABC Research Foundation research. This agenda balances practitioners' immediate information needs and emerging professional development concerns. The IABC Research Foundation supports short- and long-term research projects resulting in a variety of research tools to augment aug·ment v. aug·ment·ed, aug·ment·ing, aug·ments v.tr. 1. To make (something already developed or well under way) greater, as in size, extent, or quantity: its growing research portfolio. Additional information about the IABC Research Foundation's research products and opportunities is available at www.iabc.com/fdtnweb. IABC RESEARCH FOUNDATION Environmental Scanning Environmental scanning is a concept from business management by which businesses gather information from the environment, to better achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. : * Communication "report cards" on organizations * Impact of market trends on communication Original Research/ Large-scale: * Diversity * Language of the workplace * Universal access to communication technology * Changing relationships among employers and employees * Impact of electronic communication Professional Roles: * Position and salary profiles * Status of women/minorities in profession * HR influence on employee communication * School-to-work transitions School-to-work transition is a phrase referring to on-the-job training, apprenticeships, cooperative education agreements or other programs designed to prepare students to enter the job market. for communicators * Small business/entepreneur concerns * Ethics in communication * Tax issues Research Tools: * Compilations of existing research * Applications for past and current research Current Issues/Short-term: * Best practices * Privacy concerns and public opinion * Implications of court decisions * Telecommunication telecommunication Communication between parties at a distance from one another. Modern telecommunication systems—capable of transmitting telephone, fax, data, radio, or television signals—can transmit large volumes of information over long distances. regulation impact * Employee attitudes * Internet issues Tamara Gillis, Ed.D., ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. , is an associate professor of communication and department chairman at Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown College is a small comprehensive college located in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania in Lancaster County. The school was founded in 1899 by members of the Church of the Brethren. It is commonly referred to as "E-town. in Elizabethtown, Pa., and past chairman of the IABC Research Foundation. She can be reached at gillistl@etown.edu. |
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