Complex topics – simple techniques
 

Martin Eppler

Nicole Bischof

Lukas Zenk

Luc van Beers

Domna Lazidou

This was the topic of this year’s annual FEIEA Academy, a one-day conference that sets out to explore a specific theme from a range of both theoretical and practical angles.

Each year, the FEIEA Academy is hosted by one of FEIEA’s ten member associations. The event returned to the Austrian capital after four years. The Academy, organised this year by the Austrian internal communication association ViKom, took place on Friday 15 October in Vienna city centre at the House of Industry. The programme, presented in English, brought together communication experts from ten countries across Europe, from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, the UK and elsewhere.  

The Academy provided a platform for both academics and practitioners. In the morning, Martin Eppler and Nicole Bischof from the Institute for Media and Communications Management at the Swiss University of St. Gallen, presented their thoughts on the theme ‘How to be clear in communicating complex issues – lessons from the domain of knowledge communication.’  

Lukas Zenk from Austria’s Danube University Research Centre at the Department of Knowledge and Communication Management discussed different kinds of networks, the interesting ways in which they can be visualized, connections among actors in organisational networks and how to visualise change in dynamic networks. He also provided participants with the information about network tools, which enable them to visualise a network themselves.

The practical application of theoretical principles were highlighted in a showcase of two inspired internal campaigns for ING Bank by Dutch branding consultancy Proof Reputation. The ‘NWE Bank’ and ‘Verder’ campaigns were among the prize-winning entries in last year’s FEIEA Grand Prix awards competition. Presenter Luc van Beers was named last year as Communicator of the Year by Logeion, the Dutch communication association. This year he co-authored ‘Internal Branding 2.0’, soon to be available in an English edition.

A further practical case-study was from Austrian Airlines. Martin Hehemann, Senior Director Corporate Communications, outlined the role of communications in the restructuring of Austrian Airlines.

Not least, FEIEA was delighted to offer a platform for the first public presentation of Domna Lazidou’s doctoral research findings about the impact of culture (national and otherwise) on how employees interpret corporate values. The scenario she described was one of great complexity but one with a surprising outcome that offers internal communication professionals a simple solution to the challenge of creating common understanding across national boundaries.

» Click here for the full programme.