1.1 Background of the Study
Businesses are open systems, and most of what they do generate direct benefits and costs for their societies. Today society demands that businesses join in the urgent task of solving society’s problems. Corporations are more than economic institutions and have a responsibility to devote some of their resources in solving problems of which corporations helped to create. However small or large the enterprise may be, we cannot isolate our business from the society around us. Nor can we function without its goodwill. The researcher therefore tried to x-ray the public relations practice in Nigeria breweries to assess its effectiveness in building desired goodwill imperative to healthy business survive. According to British institute dictionary; public relations is defined as a deliberate planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain understanding between an organization and its public”. Again, another definition by Philip Lesley, ‘public relation is a thing that helps an organization and their publics accommodate each other”. American Association of Public Relations Practitioners defined public relations as “Doing the right thing and letting people know about it i.e. 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. More so, 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 looking into the effect of public relations and organized campaigns on the achievement of marketing objective with particular reference to Nigerian breweries; 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. The study is set out to find out whether Nigeria Breweries 9th
Mile Corner Enugu, has in any way established rapport and goodwill in the course of its dealings with the various publics. It will also identify whether the customers are satisfied with the products and services of the organization. This study will also x-ray how far the public relations roles have helped or will help to co-ordinate the organization and its various publics (customers). If the publics perception of the Nigerian Breweries image when determined is bad, then the researcher would be in a position to advise and make necessary recommendations that will enhance its image. The image of the Nigerian breweries Enugu depends on her behavior and financial performance, her marketing polices and the quality of her products or services, the management style, approach and resultant satisfaction. The protection and maintenance of the image of Nigerian breweries Enugu is the fundamental responsibility of public relation. As the conscience of the organization and its publics, it monitors the diffusion of the programmes of the organization to know when it impinges on public opinion and welfare. No organization can satisfy its numerous public without being perceived first by the publics as trusted and dependable. The dependability of the organization depends on the degree of the comfort given to the publics and her goodwill. In relation to this, Walter Lipman (2012, p.102) asserts, “No administrative scheme is workable without goodwill and goodwill about strange practices is impossible without education”. In other words, any new development in Nigerian breweries Enugu that is not communicated to the public in clear terms and with clear evidences so as to elicit favourable actions and to attain mutual understanding will be an effort in futility. Against this background, Nigerian breweries instituted the public relations department to help foster the activities of the organization in order to achieve its aims and objectives. This is so because no business oriented organization can make any meaningful achievement without the help and use of a public relations practitioner. It is easily identifiable that the basic philosophy underlying public relations practice is of prime importance in all spheres of activities. The public relations man engages himself in doing well and trying to get credit for the good he has done. This involves wining friends, keeping them and influencing them as well as others. It also involves looking good by building and sustaining good image or goodwill through good deeds that will win favourable considerations for Nigerian breweries Enugu among members of the public.1.2 Statement of the Research Problem
Coming to the ever-increasing number of competition Nigeria breweries does not fold its arms watching, rather she continues to diversify and expand on its activities. The reason being that should the company fail to satisfy her numerous publics by constant supply of product as at when needed, and of course quality product, the publics negative reaction would affect its profit making ability and in that respect, affect the nation’s economy.
This research work shall do justice to address certain problems like
There is even more opportunity now that the counties political and economic environment is witnessing drastic changes. The civilian government is attempting to effect radical changes in the nation’s general attitudes and value system, work ethics, patriotism, self discipline, self reliance, public accountability and all.
These changes no doubt have aroused a lot of problems for corporate organizations. They have equally created a lot of public relations Problems of complex and diverse nature. The instability in our political and economic environment creates problems of insecurity and uncertainty. With such degree of uncertainty coupled with its attendant problems, public relations managers are handicapped a great deal as it affects public relations planning and corporate management of their organization image. 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 are all based on truth and carrying out research.
Negative attitude of employees to work, management problems, inefficient services and general rising of costs of goods and services seems to point to the fact that public relations has to some extent failed in its role of establishing a good corporate image of Nigerian breweries Enugu as expected.
The aim and objective of this study is primarily to do the following:
1.5 Formulation of Hypotheses
The following hypothesis shall be tested in this study.
Hypothesis (1)
Ho: Public relations have no role to play in management of an organization corporate image.
Hi: Public relation’s has a role to play in the management of an
organization’s corporate image.
Hypothesis (2)
Ho: Nigeria breweries cannot rely on the use of public relations to maintain and ensure mutual harmony and understanding with its various
public.
Hi: Nigeria breweries can rely on the use of public relations to maintain and ensure manual harmony and understanding with its various public.
Hypothesis (3)
Ho: Business organizations in Nigeria have not to a very large extent succeeded using public relations practice and strategy in achieving their marketing objectives.
Hi: Business organizations’ in Nigeria have to a very large extent succeeded using public relations practice and strategy in achieving
their marketing objectives.
Hypothesis (4)
Ho: Public relation is not a tool for modifying the publics’ attitude and executing programmes to earn public acceptance.
Hi: public relation is a tool for modifying the publics’ attitude and executing programmes to earn public acceptance
Hypothesis (5)
Ho: public relations do not have positive effect on the overall performance an industry.
Hi: public relations have positive effect on the overall performance of an industry.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This research study is of important because it is done at a time when most organization, including Nigeria breweries especially Enugu zone are saddled with image problems. The significant includes;
The scope of this study is limited to the effect of public relations and organized campaigns on the achievement of marketing objectives in Nigeria breweries and their internal and external publics in Enugu metropolis.
1.8 Limitation of the Study
In the course of this research, the researcher encountered so many difficulties among which are:
[a] Cost: Inadequate fund have limit this work ,lack of fund may also affect not only the period of the research but also its quality.
[b] Time: Time is as costly as money, it is even easier facing financial problems than time, and time lost is hardly regained. With the school academic the period for the research work is too short, putting other courses into consideration.
[c] Reluctant to Cooperate: The Management of some corporate organization are too reluctant to disclose the required information about their organization.
1.9 Definition of Terms