ABSTRACT
A good corporate image usually regards to be essential for the existence of an organization. The success or failure of a co-operation (PHCN) for example depends on its relationship with its special public customers, consumers, employees, shareholders, government, community distributors, retailer, supplier and wholesales. A corporate image creates confidence in the mind of organization and its publics. It is as a result of what tool management should employ in order to develop and or maintain a good corporate image, which led to researcher to the choice of the research topic. The role of public relations as a management tool for corporate image development” case study of PHCN Plc Ozoro lack of good corporate image by many corporate bodies and the problem created by organizations poor relationships with its public necessitated the statement of research problem.
What is the corporate image of this organization?
What is the state of attitude beliefs or their special publics towards them?
The objectives of the study are to know whether or not public relations is being used to achieve corporate identity/image to find out whether or otherwise PHCN is aware of public relations impact and responsibilities and find out whether the public image of PHCN is negative or not.
The study will bring to light the need for an organization to maintain or developed good public image, it will serve as a stepping stone for both students and future researchers on corporate image development also the study will expose to government and other business owners the need to increase statutory allocation of public corporation for public relation. For the purpose of reliability and convenience the study covered only the Ozoro territorial headquarter of PHCN, Plc and other public corporation.
However, the same limiting factor during the study, thee include time constraint, financial constraints death of enough already published literature on the research topic lack of defined population of public corporations and companies in Ozoro urban and inevitable conformists among the sample population. During the study some research questions were put, what cause the negative image of PHCN and these other organizations. How could the poor image problem of these organizations be redeemed? Can public relations help in improving the negative corporate image of this organization base on the identified research hypothesis viz; constant power failure and rationing cause PHCN’ negative image and the society contribute to PHCN’s problem.
Chi-square was used in testing the null hypothesis against the alternated hypothesis. In order to have an in-dept study of the work related literature directly and indirectly were reviewed systematically and accordingly. To achieve this their public relations departments and internal public of the organization should adequately remunerated.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page ii
Approval page iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement vi
Abstract vi
Table of contents x
CHAPTER ONE:
Introduction 1
Background of the study 1
Statement of the study 8
Purpose of the study 9
Scope of the study 9
Research question 10
Research hypothesis 10
Significance of the study 12
Limitation of the study 12
Definition of terms 14
References 15
CHAPTER TWO:
Literature review 16
Overview of public relation 16
Social responsibilities of an organization 26
Compare public relation with other promotional strategies advertisement/publicity
Communication as aid for effective public relations 32
Public relations as a management tool for corporate image development
References 41
CHAPTER THREE:
Research Methodology and Design 43
Sources of data 43
Population of the study 43
Sampling and sampling techniques 45
Instruments for data collection 48
Description of instruments used 48
Method of data analysis 51
References 53
CHAPTER FOUR
Presentation analysis and interpretation of data 54
Presentation of data 56
Test of hypothesis 90
CHAPTER FIVE
Recommendation and conclusion of findings 103
Summary of findings 103
Recommendations 106
Bibliography 108
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Public relation is relatively new corporate function although like corporate function it has its roots in ancient activities Edward L. Berays, one of the fathers of modern public relation posited that the three main elements of public relation are as old as society.
Informing people, persuading people and integrating people with people. Bernays E. I. (1960) and he traced public relation from primitive society (in which leaders controlled by force, intimidation and persuasion), to Babylonian where kinds commissioned historians to paint favourable images of them.
The renaissance and reformation freed men’s mind from established dogmas, heading institutions to develop more subtle means to influence people. In America, historical milestone for “public relation” include:-
Samuel Adam’s use of the press to unite the colonists against the British. The abolitionist movement use of public relations as a political tool to rally supports for block in the north, including the publication of Uncle’s Tom Cabin.
P.T. Barnum’s use of public relation to generate news worthiness about an event, the arrival of his circus, by placing articles in newspapers. Corporate public relation involved more recently and passed through the following five stages. First stages, corporation established a contact function to influence legislation’s and newspapers to support position favourable to business. The legislative contact function becomes known as lobbying and newspaper known as press relations. George Westing house is credited with the formal establishment of public relations when he hired two men in 1989 to fight the advocated direct current electricity and to promote instead alternating current. Chlip S. M. (1960:16).
The next stage occurred when companies began to recognize the positive value of planned publicity to create customer interest in the company and its products publicity entailed finding or creating events preparing company or product slanted news stories, and trying to interest the press in using them. Companies recognized that special skills are needed to develop publicity and began to add publicist to their ranks. Somewhat later, public relations practitioners began to recognize the value of conducting research into public opinion to develop and launching public relations campaigns. The emerging sciences of public opinion measurement and mass communication theory permitted more sophistication in the conduct of public relation. Forward-looking firms added specialists who could research public opinion.
Public relation has become a potent force in modern business management in recent times. Its influence is being felt in large companies and many small ones recognition of the need to explain the activities of an enterprise in order to gain public favour and support is rapidly spreading to different parts of the world.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
A good corporate image is usually to be essential for the existence of an organization. The success or failure of a corporation depends on its relationship with its special public consumers, employees, community.
A favourable corporate image creates confidence in an organization.
What has been a public relations practice of this organization?
What is the corporate image of this organization?
What is the state of attitudes and beliefs of their special public towards them?
What the public relations objectives of the organization?
The researcher is before posed to highlight problems areas and how to improve its public image so as to create a favourable corporate image among their special public i.e. consumer.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The objective of these research works is to know the role of public relations as a management tool for corporate image development in Power Holding Company of Nigeria Ltc. It is the intention of this research work to
Investigate or study the image of PHCN whether favourable or unfavoruable.
Discover whether the organizations are aware of public relation impact and responsibilities.
To know the level of public relation and practices in the organization and other public corporate.
Know whether the organization has a public relation department policy and programme molding public opinion to favour its position existence and policies.
Know if public relation is being used to achieve corporate identify/image.
1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
For the purpose of reliability and convenience the study covers PHCN, Ozoro in particular and other public corporation and companies as well as organized private companies.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
As a result to the research problems already outline, in the study, the researcher feels that positive responses too these questions will enable her draw positive conclusions. The following is the summary of research question asked
What causes the negative percentage of PHCN by the publics?
How can the image problems of PHCN be redeemed?
Can public relations improve a negative corporate image?
How do the public contribute to PHCN problems?
THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC RELATION AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL FOR CORPORATE IMAGE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA A CASE STUDY OF POWER HOLDING COMPANY, OZORO
