commsLAB AG is a research-based consulting boutique that offers profile-compliant and value-adding solutions for organizations. Founded in 2004, commsLAB specializes in high-end issue, reputation, and profile analyses, and ensures a practical, implementation-oriented perspective in the projects it carries out.
Our data is based on an independent approach that is recognized in international communications consulting and research. As a pioneer in the field of reputation and issue management in Switzerland, this approach was developed more than 25 years ago together with our strategic research partner, the fög – Research Center for the Public Sphere and Society at the University of Zurich.
The central indicator is the Sedimented Reputation Index® (SRI®), developed by commsLAB and fög.
Targeted source selection
commsLAB’s analyses are based on reliable, robust media samples, without unnecessarily including too many sources that would ultimately only complicate the interpretation of the data. The focus is not on the broadest possible data basis, but on its qualitative significance. The goal is to take into account as many different perspectives and as broad a range of publishers as possible.
Scientific standards
Thanks to its collaboration with fög / UZH, commsLAB has access to a network that ensures the methods applied correspond to the current state of social science research practices.
High data quality
Reputation measurement is based on the reading and coding of all media contributions relevant to the analysis by trained communications researchers. Regular intersubjectivity tests additionally ensure a consistent coding process.
Unique measurement method
The Sedimented Reputation Index® (SRI®), developed by commsLAB and fög, serves to model the historically evolved reputation anchored in the public memory and allows the depiction of long-term reputation developments.
Meaningful key performance indicators (KPIs)
commsLAB has meaningful, easily interpretable key figures. With the reputation impact and the reputation contribution, there are metrics that break down overall reputation into its underlying components and identify drivers.
Meaningful reporting
Anomalies in the data can always be explained and substantiated in terms of content by commsLAB. For this reason, great importance is attached to capturing and presenting the individual reputation drivers in the form of issues.
Reputation Check
By breaking reputation down into individual components, the analysis allows for clear statements regarding public positioning. This so-called Reputation Check serves the purpose of pointing out emerging positioning opportunities and risks at an early stage.
Competitive dashboards
If required, the results can also be accessed directly via commsLAB’s dashboard. The data displayed there is continuously updated (update frequency by arrangement). Here too, the main focus is on the clarity and interpretability of the data.
Fair benchmarking
The peer comparison is always based on a fair, comparable media sample. The competition comparison is carried out both at the level of overall reputation and with regard to positioning in the context of individual reputation parameters.
Holistic perspective
commsLAB also has the expertise to process additional data sets provided by the organization (e.g., social media, surveys) and combine them in such a way that an integrated, cross-data perspective and analysis becomes possible.
Implementation relevance
In its analyses and discussions, commsLAB provides assessments of the concrete need for action and makes proposals for possible courses of action. commsLAB thereby takes on an advisory function regarding the question of which concrete measures can be derived from the analysis.
Team
Daniel Künstle
Owner, Senior Consultant
Daniel Künstle founded commsLAB in 2004.
Prior to that, from 1994 to 2001, he served as Group Spokesperson and Communications Advisor for UBS and its predecessor, Bankverein. He subsequently established and headed the UBS Corporate Reputation Analysis unit until the end of 2004.
From late 2004 to late 2008, Daniel Künstle served as Chief of Staff at the Swiss Insurance Supervisory Authority and was a member of the steering committee responsible for establishing the integrated financial market supervisor FINMA.
Since 2015, Daniel Künstle has been a member of the fög/UZH Foundation Board and a lecturer in the fields of strategy consulting, reputation management and issue management.
Mario Schranz
Senior Consultant
Mario Schranz has been a Senior Consultant at commsLAB since 2018.
Prior to that, he held various senior positions at the Research Center for the Public Sphere and Society at the University of Zurich (fög), most recently serving as Director of the Institute from 2015 to 2018. He obtained his PhD in 2006 with a thesis entitled ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’.
Mario Schranz is a lecturer in the field of communications consultancy, reputation and issue management.
Angelo Gisler
Senior Consultant
Angelo Gisler has been a Senior Consultant at commsLAB since 2018.
Prior to that, he had already worked for the company as a consultant for six years.
From 2004 to 2018, Angelo Gisler also held various senior positions at the Research Center for the Public Sphere and Society at the University of Zurich (fög), most recently as Head of Research Partnerships.
In addition, Angelo Gisler also works as a lecturer in the fields of strategy consulting, reputation management and issue management.
Oscar Villiger
Consultant, Head of Data Analysis
Oscar Villiger has been responsible for data analysis at commsLAB since 2016 and works as a consultant.
He graduated as Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of Zurich with focus on Banking and Finance.
Anna Künstle
Finance & Administration
Anna Künstle has been responsible for back-office management at commsLAB as well as HR and finance since 2009.
She graduated as Master of Arts in Economics at the University of Basel.
Daniel Vogler
Senior Consultant
Daniel Vogler has been a part-time Senior Consultant at commsLAB since 2018. He manages mandates for clients from the higher education sector and is the main liaison between commsLAB and the fög.
Daniel Vogler’s main occupation is Head of Research & Co-Director at the Research Center for the Public Sphere and Society (fög) at the University of Zurich. He received his doctorate in 2020 with the dissertation «Media Reputation of Universities – Conceptualization, Constitution and Effects in Digital Media Ecosystems».
Suzanne Tschudi
Data analysis, AI applications
Suzanne Tschudi has been working in data analysis at commsLAB since 2023.
She studied for a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Ethnology at the University of Basel.
Sascha Morello
Data analysis
Sascha Morello has been working in data analysis at commsLAB since 2020. Before that, he worked for five years in various functions at the Research Center for the Public Sphere and Society (fög) at the University of Zurich.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Film Studies from the University of Zurich.
John Kaufmann
Data analysis
John Kaufmann has been working in data analysis at commsLAB since 2023. Prior to that, he was a journalist at the online publication Prime News.
John studied for a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Media Studies at the University of Basel.
Lucas Forberger
Data analysis
Lucas Forberger has been working in data analysis at commsLAB since 2020. Before that, he worked for four years in various functions at the Research Center for the Public Sphere and Society (fög) at the University of Zurich.
He holds a Master of Arts in Social Sciences (Major: Sociology, Minor: Philosophy) from the University of Zurich.
Network
fög – Research Center for the Public Sphere and Society at the University of Zurich
fög – Research Center for the Public Sphere and Society is a leading research institution in the field of public relations and communication research at the University of Zurich.
Contact:
- Prof. Dr. Mark Eisenegger, Chairman of the foundation board and Co-Director, full professor at the IKMZ of the University of Zurich
- Dr. Daniel Vogler, Head of Research & Co-Director
Brevalia AG
Brevalia is an independent financial boutique and our partner in launching reputation-based investment products.
Contact:
- Pascal Bersier, Owner
js_studien+analysen
js_studien+analysen offers services for projects in market and social research.
Contact:
- Jörg Schneider M.A., Self-employed social and market researcher
BBF
BBF is an interdisciplinary communications and design agency.
Contact:
- Gero Bruckmann, Managing Director BBF