Based on an interdisciplinary literature review, the authors propose the Communication Business Model (CBM) as a new management approach for corporate communications. To this end, pertinent definitions, frameworks and typologies of business models are analyzed and combined with insights from corporate communications literature. The CBM outlines the generic architecture of business models for communication departments. Such models describe the basic principle of how such a unit operates, what services and products it provides, how it creates value for an organization and what revenues and resources are allocated. Relevance: The question of whether and how communication departments contribute to organizational value creation has rarely been addressed in research. Such evidence is crucial, however, as communications competes internally with other functions (e.g. marketing and human resources) for budgets and staff. This article fills the gap by applying the business model concept, an established approach from management theory and practice, to communication units. Practical implications: The CBM can be used as a management tool to analyze, explain and innovate communication management in organizations. It is a fertile approach for communication practitioners to make the work of their department visible and to position themselves internally and externally.

Social media are common channels for organisational communication the world over. This study explores the perceptions and attitudes towards social media that encourage or impede the effective use of such media in communication departments in Mbabane Eswatini. To ascertain this, the researcher undertakes a robust literature review to determine the sources of these perceptions as encapsulated in the problem statement of the study. Thereafter, the researcher thereby conducts an exploratory study on four regulatory authorities in Mbabane Eswatini and uses an open-ended questionnaire to obtain the qualitative data. Additionally, secondary data sources are analysed which include social media pages of the study population, newspapers, reports, research papers, e-books and journals. Summartively the research finds largely positive perceptions towards social media use in regulatory authorities in Mbabane Eswatini with most communication officers taking part in this study regarding social media as beneficial platforms due to their measurability, affordability and wide reach. Furthermore, the study outlines the theory of social media usage further highlighting the growing importance of social media as salient features in the private and organisational lives of present-day societies. As established from the study, social media can be beneficial as they can foster business relationships sorely through virtual interactions as outlined in the literature review. Additionally, social predispositions and organisational norms can influence perceptions and attitudes towards social media use. Over and above the use of these media for organisational communication, they can promote departmental efficiency as expressed by the respondents in this study. / Communication Science / M.A. (Communication Science)