PUBLIC RELATIONS AS A TOOL FOR INDUSTRIAL HARMONY

(A CASE STUDY OF CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

It is the responsibility of every industry to have a cordial relationship with their employees and their external environment i.e the general public.  With reference  to  relationship as regards the employees, it involves a harmonious co-existence between the employees and the management  for external environment ie the general public, it is done by feeding the public with the necessary information they need about the industry as well as making their polices and programmes clearly understood.

According to British  institute dictionary; “ public relations is defined as a liberate, planned and sustained effort  to establish and maintain understanding between an  organization  and it’s public”. Again, another  definitions was put forth by Philip Leslay.  According to him, public relations is a thing that helps an organization and it’s public accommodate each other”.  Moreso, the American association of public relation practitioners defined public relations as “Doing  the right thing and letting people know about it ie applying the golden rule in our every day activities.

From the above stated definitions, it is worthy of note  that the importance of public relations department in an industry cannot be over –emphasized. Thus, it aids in the sustenance of understanding and harmony amongst the employees of an industry as well as that of the general  public.  Moreso, it makes much  for industrial  harmony especially during a period of crises and depression.  Furthermore, there is need for public relations department in both public and privately owned industries. This is because this department acts as a link between the industry and the audience in that it monitors the feedback process and applies the necessary tools and techniques needed towards the achievement of mutual understanding through constant communication.

This research  is aimed at working into the importance of public relations department in an industry, the practice, activities and objectives of public relations in an effort to maintain industrial harmony amongst the industries and the general public the problems encountered by this department and the possible solutions to those problems.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM;

In third world countries of which Nigeria is amongst, public relations have been mistaken for publicity, product promotion, advertising, marketing and even propaganda in both public and privately owned industries.  But it is quite clear that public relation is a combination of all of the above and even more.

Again many people think that public relations involves a parade of pretty, elegant and sophisticated  ladies with either diploma or university  degree in any discipline in order to earn  attention.  This is very wrong because public relations and the messages they carry are all based on truth and carrying out research.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY

This research work is aimed examining and recommending suggested  solutions to the problems encountered by the public relations depart.   In  the light of this, the objectives of  study are:

1.        To find out the problems encountered by this unit in an  industry and proffer solutions to the problems where necessary.

2.        To sensitize participants on many approaches for effective communication, capable of maintaining hormonal coordination  in an industry.

3.        To educate the chief executive officers on the importance of this department and  how to treat the employees in this department to achieve the very best for themselves.

4.        To ascertain whether public relation practitioners are on the right track towards achieving their set objectives.

1.4   SIGNIFCANCE OF STUDY;

As earlier stated, public relations has been defined by experts as a “ deliberate, planned and sustained efforts to establish and maintain mutual understanding between an organization and it’s public.  It is based on this that public relations  can be viewed from the following perspectives and terms;

- The enhancement of the idea of dispute settlement through non-violent means if it is in a welfare industry.

- The goals of the general welfare of the industry and the entire population.

- The advancement  at the grass roots of the aim to change a particular product if in a product industry.

- The advancement of the idea of clean and healthy environment, if  it is in a sanitary industry.

- The goal of rural agricultural and infrastructural development, if it is an agricultural sector.

The work of a public relation practitioner in this context is the totality of concerted efforts by the industries  to  establish appropriate and effective communication system that will enable it’s various public to develop a common definition of the meaning and goal of these programmes.  Moreso, it is expected  of each functionary to successfully execute the programmes and most importantly the acceptance of these programmes by the public which are the ultimate beneficiaries of the programmes.

1.5    RESEARCH QUESTIONS;

1.        Do you think that public relations is really an important tool for industrial harmony?

2.        Do you feel that the establishment of public relations department in an organization will help the organization in achieving their set objectives?

3.        Do you agree with this statement; efficiency of an industry depends on the public relations department?

1.6 FORMULATION OF HYPOTHESIS

HO> Represent null hypothesis

H1- H4 > Represent alternative hypothesis.

Hypothesis (1)

H1 > public relations is a tool for industrial harmony.

Ho > public relation is not a tool for industrial harmony.

H2 > public relations has positive effect on the overall performance of an industry.

Ho > public relations does not have positive effect on the overall performance an industry.

H3 > public relation is a tool for modifying the publics’ attitude and executing programmes to earn public acceptance.

Ho > Public relation is not a tool for modifying the publics’ attitude and executing programmes to earn public acceptance.

H4  > public relations practitioners are on the right track towards achieving the aims.

Ho >  Public relations practitioners are not on the right track towards achieving their aims.

1.7  CONCEPTUAL AND OPERATIONAL DEFINTIONS;

- PUBLIC RELATIONS;

This  is a  communication function that evaluates public attitude, identifies the policies and programmes of an  organization and execute those programmes and policies to earn publics, acceptance and support.

- Industry;

This is a collection of organizations that  engage in the same line of production.

- Public relation tools;

These are the strategies and techniques used by public relation practitioners in the execution of their duties.

-Industrial harmony;

This  involves mutual understanding and cordial  relationship between the industry and the general public or amongst the employees of the industry.

1.8  ASSUMPTIONS;

It is assumed that this research will serves as an sys opener for those who mistaken everyone for a public relations practitioner.   This is because  everybody is  expected  to behave  well  though not all does so.