Corporations' ideologies: a new subfield of study of corporate communication

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to explain and establish theories and methodologies for the exploration of corporations' ideologies as a subfield of study of corporate communication. By a corporation's ideology is meant a system of ideas, beliefs, meanings, and concepts prioritised and institutionalised by a corporation in its internal and external communication.

Design/methodology/approach

Because the natural receptacle of a corporation's ideology is language, research into corporations' ideologies will necessarily involve the analysis of text: the social manifestation of language. A corpus‐driven approach, which is concerned not with what is going on in the minds of people and the way they understand words, phrases and text, but with the categories and probabilities of words, phrases and text, assures empiricity and objectivity.

Findings

Research into corporations' ideologies creates multiple avenues of enquiry related to corporate communication, corporations, and society.

Practical implications

A new understanding of corporate communication which enables its more reliable strategic management.

Originality/value

Offers a theoretical understanding and practical application of a new subfield of study of corporate communication: corporations' ideologies.

Citation

Fox, R. (2006), "Corporations' ideologies: a new subfield of study of corporate communication", Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. 11 No. 4, pp. 353-370. https://doi.org/10.1108/13563280610713842