External Communications Excellence: Optimizing Group Structure & Operations

Best Practices, LLC conducted this research to find out current trends in external communications with respect to its structural models, staffing and investment levels. This research study provides external communications trends and insights around structure and resources; communications leaders can use the study to compare their current structure and resources with that of leading companies.

Industries Profiled:
Medical Device; Telecommunications; Health Care; Pharmaceutical; Diagnostic; Manufacturing; Utilities; Computer Hardware; Computer Software; Chemical; Insurance; Biotech; Transportation


Companies Profiled:
Medtronic; Maxcom; Eisai; Fluke; ConvaTec; MAPI; MSD; CraftBilt; Astellas; ABC Laboratories; Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals; National Grid; Merck; Ipca Laboratories; Amdocs; Veeda Clinical Research; GlaxoSmithKline; Intas; Grace; MetLife; Lilly; Baxter International; EMD Serono; Boehringer Ingelheim; AstraZeneca; Abbott; Medrad; Amgen; MDS Pharma Services; Alcon; Sanofi-aventis; Vertex Pharmaceuticals; Emirates Group

Study Snapshot

Participants in this benchmarking research included 32 Communications executives and managers at 28 leading companies from bio-pharmaceutical, healthcare and other industry segments.

Field interviews and study analysis produced many observations and benchmark findings. Key study insights reflect opportunities across the External Communications Function. In terms of effectiveness, many organizations have turned to providing differentiated services in conjunction with customer and/or issue-oriented specialists to support growth and profitability.

Sample Key Findings

Times of Resource Constraints: Across the bio-pharma sector, outsourcing appears as a key tactic to manage variable issues and budgets –although the prevalence of outsourcing appears to be much higher in the U.S. than other parts of the world. On average, companies reported only 9 percent of their External Communications employees worldwide are outsourced whereas 19 percent of External Communications employees in the U.S. are outsourced

• Enhance Relationship clarity among Partners within the Integrated Pharmaceutical Network:
  Benchmark findings reveal nearly 50 percent of pharma companies believe significant opportunities exist with key external partners to improve clarity of roles, responsibilities, performance metrics and annual planning. The biggest opportunities: ensure measurable goals, articulate clear roles and responsibilities, and develop annualized planning for key trade associations, agencies, consultancies, lobbyists, memberships and alliance partners.

• Executive Summary: Benchmark Insights and Research Group
• External Communications Group Structures: Key Trends & Drivers of Sub-group Evolution
• Internal and External Communications Group Models and Structures
• External Communications Group Resource Benchmarks: Key Staffing and Investment Trend
• External Communications Group Services: Trends In Service Levels & Key Priorities
• Building Bridges: Working with Colleagues
• Working Effectively in The Integrated Pharmaceutical Network: Forging Accountability and Clear Roles Among External Partners
• Communicating the Value of Communications In a Global Bio-Pharma Company
• Contact Information