Translating science in consultancy practice: a study of communication practitioners

Sammanfattning: Studies conducted within the field of Strategic Communication have often had communication practitioners working within organizations as the object of investigation. Communication consultants, however, is a professional role within Strategic Communication that needs further investigation. The profession is characterized by a certain ambiguity, as it rarely involves demand on higher education, certification, or research-based decisions, which is characteristic when speaking of professionalism. However, studies investigating this relation between academic science and practice regarding communication consultancy, are sparse. Moreover, a theoretical framework of communication consultants has described their function as being that of translators, who spans the organizational boundaries. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to increase knowledge of how communication consultants make sense of science in practice, by investigating how communication science is understood and translated by communication consultants into everyday work practice. The empirical material consists of 12 semi-structured in-depth interviews. With a social constructivist understanding of reality, the study makes use of the theoretical frameworks of sensemaking and translation theory in analysis. The results indicate a certain ambiguity regarding how science is understood by communication consultants as some deem communication as not scientific, too descriptive as well as too time-consuming to be relevant. While others understand science as something which helps them make sense of their identity, motivate their actions and legitimize their professional role. The consultants showcase their translation strategies by acknowledging the differences between science and practice, understanding their client as well as simplifying and adapting science creatively by referring to their own experiences and surroundings. Science is also translated through a collaborative process with the client, which helps enable new ideas and insights to practice.