Author: Viorica Aura Păuș

Introduction. The term ‘leadership’ is used referring to inter- or intra-group communication. Strictly speaking, its meaning is to influence communication. Fundamentally, leadership and influence are synonymous. In this perspective, we start from the principle that in any group – regardless of structure or number – individuals interact in pursuit of a common goal, whether it is inside or outside group, referring to publicor private interests, shaped or diffused. The leadership designated as “the ability of a leader, driving a framework to determine a group of people to work with it in achieving a goal based on their strong involvement”.

Aim of the study. This paper aims to identify and analyze the extent to which new media have penetrated the Romanian organizations’ internal communication and have influenced the leadership. We intend also to consider how social media becomes a tool for organizational communication and contributes to the creation of a new kind of leadership associated with open communication. We start from the premise that new media and social media can contribute to the leader’s mission to create around him a vision and makes others to share this vision. In terms of open communication, the external image of organization reflects, in part, leadership practices within the organization. It is about the exercise of the shared collective leadership that should strengthen the organization position.
Keywords: Leadership, new media, social media, open communication, shared information
JEL Classification: O15

Introduction. Society nowadays, with its rapid changes and unforeseen challenges, needs a(n) (inter)cultural approach. Ethnocentrism, stereotypes, and discrimination have become huge obstacles in a world shaped by technology, communication and social mobility. The world has the aspect of a ‘collage’ in which cultures are juxtaposed, being partially adapted to one another, and still unprepared for a profound dialogue. Multiculturalism presents, interprets and re-evaluates the social experience of diversity and difference.

Aim of the study. This paper will analyse the reception of the Human Body exhibition of 2013 in Romania, from a managerial point of view. The research is based on the exhibition visitors’ book, to which a content analysis was applied. The main aim of the paper is to investigate how the ‘Grigore Antipa’ Museum (Romania) constructed the cultural context in which the scientific arguments prevailed over the religious ones, turning the exhibition of plastinated human bodies into an accepted public event, with a strong emphasis on education and science (medicine). At the same time, ethical concerns and religious criticism were downplayed by maintaining the focus on the ‘education for health’ frame.
Keywords: plastination, management, museum, visitors’ book, The Human Body exhibition, Romania

Introduction. Business storytelling is a leadership tool, which, as recent studies show, has a significant influence on the employees’ performance and the competitiveness of the organizations. The American researchers in this field emphasize that a business cannot exist without a story – there’s no business without story business.

Aim of the study. The research addresses a new concept introduced into the managerial practice of the insurance industry from Romania and it aims to test the hypothesis that success, performance and competitiveness of the organizations in the insurance industry depend also on the quality of the leadership and the leaders’ ability to use storytelling, taking into account the intangibility of the insurance products. The main tool that this exploratory, qualitative research has used is the structured interview with three target groups, which we considered to be relevant: CEOs/managers of insurance companies and insurance brokerage firms, public relations specialists and economic journalists. The results of our research endeavours may be of interest for both the managers, employees and communication specialists in the insurance industry and the business world in general, for which the introduction of storytelling in the leadership practices might increase the attractiveness not only for employees, but also for stakeholders and customers.
Keywords: Storytelling, leadership, insurance, communication, efficiency

Introduction. Working within a dynamic, ever-changing, highly competitive environment, subject to the commercial logic and to academic rigours too, the University – whatever its name or reputation – must consistently use market-oriented leadership strategies and marketing mechanisms that, until recently, were only associated with commercial organizations attempting at imposing a favourable image among its target audiences: pupils as prospective students, students, parents, teachers, institutional partners, etc.

Aim of the study. The aim of this paper is to integrate the quantitative content analysis methodology into the broader perspective of the social representation theory, in the attempt to illustrate the manner in which the mediated social representation of an institution can be included in an effective communication strategy.
Keywords: social representation, media, higher education institution, effective communication stategy

Introduction. Populism and its new forms, labelled as neo-populism, have become political practice lately with major consequences that exceed the political discourse sphere and have an impact on the content of representative democracies and parliamentarism. The analysis of the leadership of those following this direction shows a tendency in changing the relations between the leaders and the citizens they target, evolving from charisma to authoritarianism. Under these circumstances, the support of the majority of the electorate legitimizes unilateral decisions that damage the desires of the same majority and the trust in the representative democracy. Influencing the vote through generous economic and social programs has become the core of the electoral discourses. An important dimension of populism is the economic populism. The ones who will hold the power, will also have power over the resources allocation. Thus, the national interest can be replaced with the personal interest of some social categories that can also influence subsidiary categories of citizens. Therefore, the political populism is justified by the cultural populism, with emphasis on the ethnicity issue and the access to economic resources (only certain categories are entitled to access these limited resources, the rest of categories are considered inappropriate). The mimicry of representative democracy will bring the denial of some fundamental values of democracy: tolerance, fight against racism, equal opportunities etc. In the name of general welfare, the charismatic leadership leads to authoritarianism within deeply divided societies, which are affected by economic and social inequalities in uncertain times which are considered to be threatening, especially regarding the resources.

Aim of the study. Our research aims at bringing forward the relation between populism and leadership, and emphasizing the evolutions of populism in the political discourses towards legitimization of economic and cultural populism.
Keywords: populist discourse, economic populism, charismatic leadership, authoritarian leadership, reprezentative democracy