[Commlist] CFP: 2023 ICA preconference on Organizing in the Face of Global Crises: Communication, Strategy, and “Doing the Right Thing

CFP: 2023 ICA Preconference on Organizing in the Face of Global Crises: 
Communication, Strategy, and “Doing the Right Thing

Organisers: Cecilia Cassinger, Lund University, Sweden, John McClellan, 
Aalborg University, Denmark, Visa Penttilä, Hanken School of Economics, 
Finland, Monica Porzionato, Lund University, Sweden, Charlotte 
Simonsson, Lund University, Sweden. The preconference is sponsored by 
the Organizational Communication Division.

This preconference explores the complex communicative processes by which 
organizations constitute strategies to “do the right thing” in response 
to global crises. In concert with the conference theme of “Reclaiming 
Authenticity in Communication,” the preconference invites proposals that 
examine how organizations adjust their values and morals to be in tune 
with what is publicly conceived of as ethically just. The focus will be 
on the communicative constitution of strategies to /overcome / crises 
the world is facing, rather than strategies to /manage /a crisis the 
organization is facing.

Over the past few years, we have witnessed a variety of global crises 
ranging from the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine to the ongoing 
specter of environmental and climate change. As organizations encounter 
these global wicked problems, leaders are increasingly expected to “do 
the right thing” in navigating, negotiating, or neglecting these crises.

This preconference invites students, scholars, and practitioners 
interested in the communicative constitution of organization (CCO) (see 
Basque, Bencherki & Kuhn, 2022) and strategic communication (Botan, 
2021) into a focused conversation about the complex ways in which 
organizations develop strategies in response to global crises. Such 
crises are often contested and embedded in conflicting discourses 
concerning their nature and solution (Bourne et al., 2022). With rising 
public demand for corporations to be good citizens of the world or even 
activists, there is increased pressure on organizations to act 
politically and adopt a moral position (Von Schwedler, 2011; Cöster et 
al., 2020).

Departing from the assumption that organizational strategies emerge in 
situations where organizations encounter global problems, there is a 
potential to redefine and refocus crisis communication as the emergent 
constitution of global strategies to global problems. Crisis 
communication can be reimagined not simply as a strategy managed by the 
organization but as a process more deeply situated in public discourse 
associated with global issues.

More specifically, this preconference addresses questions with reference 
to the constitution and consequences of companies attempting to “do the 
right thing” with attention to what is lost and forgotten in these 
practices. How do organizations make decisions with regards to 
supporting public health during Covid-19, canceling business in Russia 
in response to the war in Ukraine, or legitimizing organizing practices 
in relation to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the 2030 
agenda. These strategies adopted among corporations, NGOs, and other 
organizations have meaningful ramifications for globalization, morality, 
and politics and thus become significant activities to understand and 
critique as we continue to move into the 21st century.

We are open to contributions from a wide variety of perspectives ranging 
from CCO and strategic communication to critical and globalization 
studies. Submissions may address a wide range of themes including, but 
not limited to the following:

- Communication related to global crises (e.g. Covid 19, climate change, 
the war in Ukraine, financial crisis, etc.)

- Communicative constitution of strategy

-  Communication and organizational sustainability

-  Rethinking response strategies to crisis

-  Reconceptualizing crisis communication

-  Morals and ethics of “doing the right thing”

-  Authenticity and “doing the right thing”

-  Global crisis and critical discourse studies

-  Global crisis, meaning and organizational identity

-  Global crisis and corporate activism

-  Far-right or other political appropriation of global crises

-  Strategic paradoxes of global crises

Abstracts of 250-500 words and a bio of each author (100 words per 
author) should be submitted no later than January 16^th , 2023 to 
(Organisingglobalcrisis /at/ gmail.com) <mailto:(Organisingglobalcrisis /at/ gmail.com)> .

Authors will be informed regarding acceptance/rejection no later than 
January 31 2023. The preconference is fully remote and will take place 
via an online platform on 25 May, 2023, and will be free to all 
participants (conference registration not required). The specific agenda 
and keynote speakers will be announced as we approach the preconference 
date. We aim to create an active and engaged agenda for this completely 
online conference with the hope of encouraging conversations among the 
participants to spark the development of ideas and promote collaborative 
research. Selected papers will be considered for inclusion in an edited 
book proposal. For inquiries, please contact John McClellan, at 
(johngm /at/ ikl.aau.dk) <mailto:(johngm /at/ ikl.aau.dk)>








---------------
The COMMLIST
---------------
This mailing list is a free service offered by Nico Carpentier. Please use it responsibly and wisely.
--
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit http://commlist.org/
--
Before sending a posting request, please always read the guidelines at http://commlist.org/
--
To contact the mailing list manager:
Email: (nico.carpentier /at/ commlist.org)
URL: http://nicocarpentier.net
---------------