Jan Lies – författare

Brands started out as communication tools to influence the image of companies or products (inside-out thinking) but have developed into channels of social forces. Powerful brands impact not just customer decisions but also markets and social institutions, such as fashion trends, city life, or even social movements. This book explores the implications of Niklas Luhmann’s theory of social systems for the theory and practice of agile brand management, in particular highlighting the central role of brand aesthetics and of brands as channels for mutual education between companies and consumers.Since the rise of social media, “perfect” brands have become the mirror of community values as the communities themselves develop brand content. Brands themselves become “living systems” and evolve like systems do. The author introduces systems theory to provide a conceptual framework that integrates the different views of branding: inside-out and outside-in thinking. This Luhmannian theory of branding is discussed against the current background of (Western) societies, which are undergoing a broad shift from hard to soft selling in marketing, influenced by social media. The book is not about whether closed systems analysis and discussion can or should replace traditional management; moreover, it emphasizes the fruitful insights and demonstrates that the power of management is limited and should be extended by looking at the means of closed systems.This book will be of primary value to scholars with an interest in systems theory and thinking, brand theory, and management. The interdisciplinary approach also makes the book a valuable resource for those researching change management, agile management, and sociology.

Brands started out as communication tools to influence the image of companies or products (inside-out thinking) but have developed into channels of social forces. Powerful brands impact not just customer decisions but also markets and social institutions, such as fashion trends, city life, or even social movements. This book explores the implications of Niklas Luhmann’s theory of social systems for the theory and practice of agile brand management, in particular highlighting the central role of brand aesthetics and of brands as channels for mutual education between companies and consumers.Since the rise of social media, “perfect” brands have become the mirror of community values as the communities themselves develop brand content. Brands themselves become “living systems” and evolve like systems do. The author introduces systems theory to provide a conceptual framework that integrates the different views of branding: inside-out and outside-in thinking. This Luhmannian theory of branding is discussed against the current background of (Western) societies, which are undergoing a broad shift from hard to soft selling in marketing, influenced by social media. The book is not about whether closed systems analysis and discussion can or should replace traditional management; moreover, it emphasizes the fruitful insights and demonstrates that the power of management is limited and should be extended by looking at the means of closed systems.This book will be of primary value to scholars with an interest in systems theory and thinking, brand theory, and management. The interdisciplinary approach also makes the book a valuable resource for those researching change management, agile management, and sociology.

Der Leser dieses Buches erhält nicht nur einen Überblick über PR-Begriffe, PR-Instrumente (Medienarbeit, Krisenkommunikation, Leitbildprozesse etc.) und PR-Strategien (Positionierungsstrategien, Markenstrategie etc.). PR wird damit nicht auf die Kommunikationsarbeit reduziert, sondern reputationsrelevantes Handeln wird einbezogen.

Jan Lies stellt grundlegend die Basiswissenschaften sowie ausgewählte PR-Theorien vor. Dabei löst er den scheinbaren Widerspruch zwischen den betriebswirtschaftlich-funktionalistischen Theorien auf der einen Seite und den kommunikationswissenschaftlich-soziologischen Theorien auf der anderen Seite auf und führt zur system-funktionalistischen Synthese. Dieses Buch richtet sich an Dozierende und Studierende (Bachelor und Master) der Kommunikationswissenschaften und des Marketings.

Es umfasst Begriffe aus PR-Theorie sowie PR-Management und enthält mehr als 2.000 Stichwörter. Somit ist das Lexikon sowohl für Studierende und Lehrende der PR als auch für Anwender und Entscheider in Unternehmen ein wertvolles Hilfsmittel.

Das essential thematisiert vier zentrale Entwicklungen, die die Praxis und Theorie von Marketing und Unternehmenskommunikation prägen: Marketing 4.0, Mittelstandskommunikation, Marketing-Mix und die Annäherung von Marketing und PR, wie sie beispielsweise bei Pokémon Go zu finden ist.

Jan Lies zeigt, dass Wandel durch eine Verschiebung von netzwerkbezogenen Machtpositionen in Netzwerken ausgelost wird. Entstehung, Entwicklung und Einflussfahigkeit solcher Machtpositionen ist eine netzwerkbezogene Machtrelation, die Jan Lies als soziales Kapital bezeichnet. Ausgezeichnet mit dem Sonderpreis des Paul Julius Reuter Innovation Award 2004.