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Highlights: [•] Competence diagnostics is critical to ensure the success of family firms. [•] Visual research methods can assist competence diagnostics in family firms. [•] We classify available methods for competence visualization in family firms. [•] We report on our experience of using competence visualization in an action research mode. [•] We provide suggestions for future applications of visual research methods in family firms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A table is presented that lists the courses in managerial communication offered by universities around the world to their undergraduate and graduate students, compiled in November 2008.

The article provides information on the visual-literacy.org e-learning program funded by the Swiss Virtual Campus. The sections of the program include general learning resources, basic modules, application modules and exploration modules. A key feature of the program is its peer-based learning approach. The VizHall collaborative sharing and rating application was developed to facilitate lateral learning process.

This article describes two areas of research in the field of communication within the context of organizations: corporate communication and knowledge communication. In the first part of the article it is argued that there is a clear distinction between strategic and tactical communication and it is shown that very often these two domains are confused. Then the theoretical backgrounds of each domain are discussed. The second part of the article introduces knowledge communication as an instrumental activity for effective organizational action in today's business environment. Several examples of business constellations in which knowledge communication is crucial are offered. A definition is proposed as well as a description of the different modes of knowledge communication. In order to understand what happens in the 'black-box' of knowledge communication, the problems characterizing communication between experts and decision makers are presented. In discussing the conceptual and theoretical background of the two fields, links to other disciplines are made -- e.g. sociology, organizational sciences, cognitive and behavioral psychology and engineering sciences --, highlighting the multidisciplinary approach that characterizes corporate communication and knowledge communication. In the conclusion it is claimed that both fields contribute to the strategy development processes and that concepts in knowledge communication provide useful insights to the field of corporate communication, both on the strategic and tactical levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reviews some of the reasons that make information quality a highly relevant research topic for communication sciences and related disciplines. Distinction of information quality from data quality; Impact of the advances in information technology on information quality; Regulations and law related to information quality.

A preface for the November 2008 issue of the periodical "Studies in Communication Sciences" is presented.

The article offers reflections on the retirement of professor Beat Schmid from the University of Saint Gallen in Switzerland.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one on Italian language in Switzerland, another on doctoral students in communication at Swiss universities, and the views of European doctoral students in the fields of information, communication and the media.

The article discusses various papers published within the November 2007 issue of "Studies in Communication Sciences"

The article reflects on the first issue of the experimental journal "Studies in Communication Sciences" edited jointly by the Swiss Association of Communication and Media Research (SGKM) and the Faculty of Communication Sciences of the University of Lugano (USI) in Switzerland. It notes that the articles included in the issue reflect the diversity of topics researched within the realm of communication studies such as journalism. It cites the different communication approaches in Switzerland.