The Role of Public Relations in Image and Crisis Management in Saipem Contracting Nig. Ltd
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of study
General Objective
The general objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of public relations as a tool for image making and crisis management by Saipem Contracting NIG. LTD in Lagos State, Nigeria.
Specific Objectives
- To investigate the sources of Crises in Saipem Contracting NIG. LTD,
- To explore how crises is communicated in Crises in Saipem Contracting NIG. LTD.
- To determine the effect of using public relations to address crises by the Saipem Contracting NIG. LTD, Lagos State,
- To establish the challenges of using public relations to address crises by Saipem Contracting NIG. LTD, Lagos State,
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Review of Concepts
The Concept of Public Relations
Public relations is defined as a unique management function that uses communication to help manage relationships with key publics. Charles Okigbo sees public relations as instrument of management and therefore it should be taken into account, when formulating policies. The fact remains that public relations has witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly in the interpretation and definitions.
Nwosu (1996) defines public relations as that management function that identifies the interest, needs, want and expectations of the internal and external publics of the organization, on the other hand and then works out a planned and systematic programme of ACTION and COMMUNICATIONS, aimed at building mutual understanding, mutual respect, mutual recognition, peace and harmony between the organization and its publics to ensure mutual satisfaction, greater productivity and improve work ethics.
The International Public Relations Association (IPRA) perceives public relations as “Function of a continuing and planned character through which private organization and institutions seek to win support of those whom they may be concerned by evaluating public opinion about themselves.
History of public relations in the world
Most textbooks consider the establishment of the publicity Bureau in 1900 to be the founding of the public relations profession. However, academics have found early forms of public influence and communications management in ancient civilizations, during the setting of the new world and during the movement to abolish slavery in England. Basil Clark is considered the founder of public relations in the United Kingdom for his establishment of Editorial services in 1924, though academic Noel Turn ball believes public relations was founded in Britain first by evangelicals and Victorian reformers. Propaganda was used by the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and others to rally for domestic support and demonize enemies during the world wars, which led to more sophisticated commercial publicity efforts as public relations talent entered the private sector.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
Research design is the structure and strategy of investigation made in order to obtain data to answer research questions, which would enable the researcher to test the research questions for final conclusion on the study.
The research design for this study is descriptive research otherwise called survey research. The design helps the researcher to describe the event in question using the resulting data to explain and predict the situation. It gathering consistently the data of occurrence of testing research questions makes predictions or getting meaning and implementation of the situation.
Population of the study
Population refers to all cases or individuals that fit a certain specification (Ohaja, 2003). The customers of Saipem Contracting NIG. LTD in Lagos state is set as total population for the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULT PRESENTATION
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
The study examines the assessment of the role of public relations in image and crisis management in Saipem Contracting NIG. LTD In Which Chapter One deals with Background to the study, Statement of the Problem, Objectives of the study, Research Questions/hypotheses, Significance of the study, Scope of the study, Limitation of the study and Operational definition of terms. Chapter Two: Theoretical framework, Review of related literature and Empirical studies of various works of scholars in the subject matter.
Chapter Three: Research methodology in which concept such as: Research design, Population of the study and Sample Size, Sampling Technique, Research Instrument, Validity and Reliability of Research Instrument, Administration of Instrument and Method of data analysis. Chapter Four: Data Analysis and Discussion of findings; Two hundred and fifty (250) responses were used in the analysis; the researcher utilized an analytic data that can make use of frequency count converted into percentage computation for easy calculation and Chi-Square statistical analysis method was employed. While Chapter Five deals Summary, Conclusions, and Recommended of the study.
Conclusions
It was discovered that public relations practice is important in a corporate organization based on its positive role in achieving the set goal of organization. Public relation is an effective way to win over hearts and minds of consumers’, and so stimulate sales of products and services. Public relations techniques are seen as particularly useful in changing attitudes and behaviours of consumers. It is said that good public relations require communication skills, expertise in dealing with all media and the principles of persuasion, as a public relations practitioner, one should know when and what to communicate; this involves analysis, judgment, decision making power, counseling and planning. In the findings public relations activities by Saipem Contracting NIG. LTD builds corporate image. That’s why it is important to continuously attract more customer attention on great possibilities of public relations strategy, whose primary role is to create positive and sustainable corporate image.
The manner of engagement of public relations by Saipem Contracting NIG. LTD is arguably the same.
Conclusively, it is imperative to note that public relations techniques are seen as particularly useful in changing attitudes and behaviours of consumers. That is public relation is one of the best way to builds corporate image.
Recommendations
Based on findings and conclusion the study recommends the following point:
Every organization must understanding that public relations has impact organization service delivery (corporate image) were matched, this would lead to an even closer relationship between them.
To builds corporate image and customers’ satisfaction managers/organizations public relations practice must be to influences markets by sending persuasive messages to buyers and consumers about product, create high level customer satisfaction, and to provides many benefits to customers’ expectations.
Saipem Contracting NIG. LTD should continue to strive higher in implementing more public relation strategy to promote their organization set goal.
For Public Relations to contribute to the better quality of company’s communication and total business results, change of attitude with managers about public relations strategy would certainly lead to a greater achievement of the organization.
References
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