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About the Foundation

The IABC Research Foundation translates communication theory into practice, providing real-world knowledge and applications for the communication professional. Established in 1982, the Foundation funds and publishes research to advance the profession and demonstrate the value of communication in organizational effectiveness.

 

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More About the Foundation

Founded in 1982, IABC Research Foundation serves as the research and development arm of the International Association of Business Communicators. The Foundation supports and advances the practice of organizational communication by providing IABC members with research that bridges the divide between communication theory and practice by offering in-depth knowledge and tools that improve organizational communication performance and strengthen the communication profession as a whole.

Our vision is to be the world’s premier source of thought-provoking and credible research that advances the practice of business communication around the world.

Our mission is to support IABC members and other publics (communication practitioners, academics and business leaders) through the development of intellectual capital, primarily through research, that advances the practice of organizational communication

Who We Are
Foundation trustees include organizational communication professionals, senior business professionals and research and academic experts. Distinguished communication professionals from around the world serve the Foundation as trustees or as members of the Foundation’s committees and Think Tank.

Past Foundation Chairs have included recognized leaders in the field who have been instrumental to the growth and direction of the Foundation.

The Lifetime Foundation Friend Award is given each year to recognize individuals who have been ardent supporters of the Foundation, and have donated their time, talent, and other resources to support the Foundation's goal of promoting communication through research and education.

Awards
The Jake Wittmer Award
Established by the IABC Research Foundation, the Jake Wittmer Award recognizes the effective use of research in organizational communication as demonstrated in a winning Gold Quill entry.

The Sharon Berzok Student Award
Sharon Berzok was a communication consultant who served IABC on several committees and as a chapter president and board member. Berzok’s family, colleagues and friends established this award in her name to recognize talent in young professionals.

Delivers insights from an annual Think Tank Panel
Made up of senior practitioners and academics, who identify organizational communication issues and trends.

Supports IABC chapter programming
Free research presentations accessible on all recent studies.
Template for conducting local Think Tank panels available.

Research and Professional Development
Staying current with the latest research in the field is an important component of any professional development program, and this is especially true in the fast-changing communication profession. One of the IABC Research Foundation’s major goals is to provide members with professional development assistance through research that links communication theory and practice.

The research reports and articles produced by the Foundation explore in detail the emerging issues and latest trends in workforce organization, corporate structural change and communication best practices. Reports include:

* The Human Element -Employee Communication in Small to Medium-sized Business
* Profile 2006 (salary survey)
* Best Practices in Employee Communication
* Thinking Big; Staying Small
* The Business of Truth-A Guide to Ethical Communication
* The Excellence Study

Foundation reports are not only designed to bring communication professionals up-to-date on the most recent research work in the field, they also include tools that help practitioners achieve competence in performing new and critical tasks. These reports can also help members prepare for accreditation by making them more aware of the latest professional methodologies and techniques.

Help Support the Future of the Communication Profession
How can you help? Consider the important work and results of the IABC Research Foundation. Every year, hundreds of professional communicators and their organizations from around the world contribe to the IABC Research Foundation.

Your investment has the power to improve the future of the communication profession; and with your help the Foundation can continue to provide leading-edge research to organizations and professionals.

To continue building a better future for communicators and the profession the IABC Research Foundation needs your support today.

Sponsorship Opportunities

The IABC Research Foundation relies on sponsorships and donations to support its work. To find out about sponsorship opportunities, making a donation, research proposals or other questions, contact Foundation Director, Mari Pavia (415) 544-4713 (mpavia@iabc.com)

Note: The IABC Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, with Federal registration # 94-2804924

Foundation Highlights

The Human Element - Employee Communication in Small to Medium-sized Businesses by Tamara Gillis, ABC, Ed.D.
Delve into the details of the first, in-depth study of employee communication in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Discover how these firms apply communication theories and practices and measure the success of their internal communications. Small and medium-sized business owners, communication professionals and researchers will find this study insightful and motivating.

The Business of Truth - A Guide to Ethical Communication  edited by Shannon A. Bowen, Ph.D.
This latest study from the IABC Research Foundation takes a look at one of the most talked-about issues in communication today: ethics. The researchers examine the frequency and type of ethics training communication practitioners receive, what they feel their role should be in terms of ethics, how their organizations measure up in terms of ethics, and how often they act as the conscience of the organization.

Best Practices in Employee Communication, by Right Management Consultants
Find out what's working in employee communication today in this latest report from the IABC Research Foundation. Right Management Consultants share findings from their global study to explore best practices in meeting the top employee communication challenges of the 21st century. Learn about the four critical challenges faced by communicators worldwide and the variety of ways in which organizations tackle them.

Thinking Big, Staying Small, by Dixie Shipp Evatt, Ph.D., Crispin Ruiz and Jan F. Triplett, Ph.D
This groundbreaking IABC Research Foundation report addresses the communication and public relations functions of the majority of the world's businesses.

 

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