The CommUnity Lab

• Lab Talk #5 - "Speaking Up Authentically" with Prof. Ganga S. Dhanesh

  Welcome to The CommUnity Lab! The knowledge transfer podcast where we dive deep into the fascinating world of professional communication research and its application! Hosted by Danny (Daniel Wolfgruber), this series brings together leading scholars to explore how communication shapes workplaces, relationships, and society at large. In each episode, we break down communication research and real-world insights, making them accessible and relevant for communication professionals, leaders, fellow scholars, students, and anyone curious about the magic of communication. Today’s guest is Prof. Ganga Dhanesh from the University of Maryland, USA. In this episode, we dive into her research on professional communication, focusing on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate social advocacy (CSA). We explore, among other things, why organizations should only take a stand on societal issues when it’s genuine — and what can happen when this is not the case. Want to explore more? Here are five scientific publications related to today’s episode: Cammarota, A., D’Arco, M., Marino, V., & Resciniti, R. (2023). Brand activism: A literature review and future research agenda. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 47(5), 1669–1691. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12967 Dhanesh, G.S. (2020). Who cares about organizational purpose and corporate social responsibility, and how can organizations adapt? A hypermodern perspective. Business Horizons, 63(4), 585-594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2020.03.011 Dhanesh, G.S., & Nekmat, E. (2019). Facts over stories for involved publics: Framing effects in CSR messaging and the roles of issue involvement, message elaboration, affect, and skepticism. Management Communication Quarterly, 33(1), 7–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/0893318918793941 Dhanesh, G. S. (2024). Communicating corporate social advocacy (CSA) in polarized times: A stoic turn from dancing to wrestling. Business Horizons. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2024.08.004 Verk, N., Golob, U., & Podnar, K. (2021). A dynamic review of the emergence of corporate social responsibility communication. Journal of Business Ethics, 168, 491–515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04232-6 Follow The CommUnity Lab on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Podcastle, subscribe on YouTube, and join the conversation on LinkedIn. Your feedback helps shape this podcast into a must-listen for all communication enthusiasts. Let’s decode the way we (try to) connect, one conversation at a time!

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• Lab Talk #4 - "Let's Get 'Woke'!" with Prof. Silvia Ravazzani

  Welcome to The CommUnity Lab! The knowledge transfer podcast where we dive deep into the fascinating world of professional communication research and its application! Hosted by Danny (Daniel Wolfgruber), this series brings together leading scholars to explore how communication shapes workplaces, relationships, and society at large. In each episode, we break down communication research and real-world insights, making them accessible and relevant for communication professionals, leaders, fellow scholars and students, and anyone curious about the magic of communication. Today’s guest is Prof. Silvia Ravazzani from IULM University in Milan, Italy. We are talking about her research on the role of communication in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) management and the importance of a well-crafted DEI communication strategy to bring a truly inclusive work environment to fruition. Want to explore more? Here are five scientific publications related to today’s episode: Olsen, J.E., & Martins, L.L. (2012). Understanding organizational diversity management programs: A theoretical framework and directions for future research. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 33, 1168-1187. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.1792 Trittin, H., & Schoeneborn, D. (2017). Diversity as polyphony: Reconceptualizing diversity management from a communication-centered perspective, Journal of Business Ethics, 144, 305–322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2825-8 Maier, C. D., & Ravazzani, S. (2019). Bridging diversity management and CSR in online external communication. Corporate Communications: An International Journal, 24(2), 269-286. https://doi.org/10.1108/CCIJ-01-2018-0015 Frémeaux, S., (2020). A common good perspective on diversity. Business Ethics Quarterly, 30(2), 200-228. https://doi.org/10.1017/beq.2019.37 Ravazzani, S., Mazzei, A., Fisichella, C, & Butera, A. (2025). Making DEI communication work inside and out: A study of experiences and challenges among Italian companies. Journal of Marketing Communications. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527266.2025.2459644 Follow The CommUnity Lab on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Podcastle, subscribe on YouTube, and join the conversation on LinkedIn. Your (constructive) feedback helps shape this podcast into a must-listen for all communication enthusiasts. Let’s decode the way we (try to) connect, one conversation at a time!

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• Lab Talk #3 - "Communicative Capitalism" with Prof. Tim Kuhn

  Welcome to The CommUnity Lab — the knowledge transfer podcast where we dive deep into the fascinating world of professional communication research and its application! Hosted by Danny (Daniel Wolfgruber), this series brings together leading scholars to explore how communication shapes workplaces, relationships, and society at large. In each episode, we break down communication research and real-world insights, making them accessible and relevant for communication professionals, leaders, fellow scholars and students, and anyone curious about the magic of communication. In this Lab Talk, I sit down with Prof. Tim Kuhn from the University of Colorado, Boulder, USA. We talk about his research on corporate purpose and communicative capitalism and also discuss how purpose is communicatively constituted and why it is always multiple – for good or for bad. Want to explore more? Here are five scientific publications related to today’s episode: Kuhn, T. (2024). What do corporations want?: Communicative capitalism, corporate purpose, and a new theory of the firm. Bristol University Press. doi:10.51952/9781529214307; ISBN: 9781529214307. Kuhn, T., Ashcraft, K.L., & Cooren, F. (2017). The work of communication: Relational perspectives on working and organizing in contemporary capitalism. Routledge. Ashcraft, K.L., Kuhn, T., & Cooren, F. (2009) Constitutional amendments: “Materializing” organizational communication. Academy of Management Annals, 3, 1-64. https://doi.org/10.5465/19416520903047186 Kuhn, T. (2012). Negotiating the micro-macro divide: Thought leadership from organizational communication for theorizing organization. Management Communication Quarterly, 26, 543-584. https://doi.org/10.1177/0893318912462004 Mumby, D.K. (2016). Organizing beyond organization: Branding, discourse, and communicative capitalism. Organization, 23, 884– 907. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508416631164 Follow The CommUnity Lab on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Podcastle, subscribe on YouTube, and join the conversation on LinkedIn! Your (constructive) feedback helps shape this podcast into a must-listen for communication enthusiasts. Let’s decode the way we (try to) connect, one conversation at a time!

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• Lab Talk #2 - "The Puppet Master" with Prof. François Cooren

  Welcome to The CommUnity Lab — the knowledge transfer podcast where we dive deep into the fascinating world of professional communication research and its application! Hosted by Danny (Daniel Wolfgruber), this series brings together leading scholars to explore how communication shapes workplaces, relationships, and society at large. In each episode, we break down communication research and real-world insights, making them accessible and relevant for communication professionals, leaders, fellow scholars and students, and anyone curious about the magic of communication. In this Lab Talk, I sit down with Prof. François Cooren from the Université de Montréal, Canada. We talk about his research on the communicative constitution of organization (CCO), the fact that we are all puppets - at least occasionally, and why thinking about the world in communicative terms is a fruitful avenue if we want to understand how organizations and our “reality” are being shaped in and through communication between human beings but also with so-called “other-than-human” actors. Want to explore more? Here are five scientific publications related to today’s episode: Austin, J.L. (1962). How to do things with words. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Cooren, F. (2010). Action and agency in dialogue: Passion, incarnation, and ventriloquism. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Honneth, A. (1996). The struggle for recognition: The moral grammar of social conflicts. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Latour, B. (2013). An inquiry into modes of existence: An anthropology of the moderns. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Taylor, J. R., & Van Every, E. J. (2000). The emergent organization. Communication as site and surface. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

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• Lab Talk #1 - "Hallo Daniel!" with Prof. Sabine Einwiller

  Welcome to The CommUnity Lab — the knowledge transfer podcast where we dive deep into the fascinating world of professional communication! Hosted by Danny (Daniel Wolfgruber), this series brings together leading scholars to explore how communication shapes workplaces, relationships, and society at large. In each episode, we break down communication research and real-world insights, making them accessible and relevant for communication professionals, business leaders, and anyone curious about the magic of words, interactions, and shared meaning. What to expect: • In-depth conversations with top experts in professional communication and management • Practical takeaways for leaders, communicators, and organizations • A touch of humor — because communication isn’t just serious business! • Five curated scientific references per episode for those who want to dive deeper In our first Lab Talk, I sit down with my former PhD advisor, Prof. Sabine Einwiller from the University of Vienna, Austria. We discuss her career, how communication studies and social psychology intersect, and why employee appreciation is key for retention and engagement. We also touch on complaint handling, communication KPIs, and our collaboration in research on DEI communication. Want to explore more? Here are five scientific publications related to today’s episode: Einwiller, S., & Korn, C. (2024). What’s happening at your company?! Employees’ reactions to inquiries of outsiders in the event of negative media coverage. In S. Einwiller, J. Seiffert-Brockmann, S. Romenti, & C. Valentini (Eds.), Communication in uncertain times. How organizations deal with issues, risks and crises (pp. 73-92). Emerald Publishing. Einwiller, S., Ruppel, C., & Stranzl, J. (2021). Achieving employee support during the COVID-19 pandemic – The role of relational and informational crisis communication in Austrian organizations. Journal of Communication Management, 25(3), 233-255. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCOM-10-2020-0107 Einwiller, S., & Weitzl, W. (2023). Digital corporate communication and complaint management. In V. Luoma-aho & M. Badham (Eds.), Handbook on digital corporate communication (pp. 193-207). Cheltenham UK and Northampton MA: Edward Elgar Publishing. Wolfgruber, D., Stürmer, L., & Einwiller, S. (2022). Talking inclusion into being: Communication as a facilitator and obstructor of an inclusive work environment. Personnel Review, 51(7), 1841-1860. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-01-2021-0013 Zerfass, A., Vercic, D., Nothhaft, H., & Werder, K.P. (2018). Strategic communication: Defining the field and its contribution to research and practice. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 12(4), 487-505. https://doi.org/10.1080/1553118X.2018.1493485 Follow The CommUnity Lab on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podcastle, and YouTube, and join the conversation on LinkedIn! Your feedback helps shape this podcast into a must-listen for communication enthusiasts. Let’s decode the way we connect, one conversation at a time!

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