A survey of public relations practices in selected corporations from the employees' perspective in Namibia

Abstract

Abstract provided by author:

The other aim was to find out how the communication structures involve employees in the day-to-day formulation of policy and procedures affecting the organizational environment. The research utilized quantitative methods i. e. questionnaire administration. The data was collected manually and was then entered electronically and analyzed

To achieve equal representation, every fourth person was randomly chosen in each department of which five were females and the other five were males. Each corporation had a total sample group of 34 respondents of which there were female and males

The research findings indicated that the practice has a long way to go because the employees that were interviewed showed ignorance to what the practitioners do in terms of the job function and the job description. The respondents also showed that they have mistrust for the practitioner because according to them the practitioner sides with top management thus presenting a biased interpretation of issues affecting the organizations. This they showed in their responses of the objectivity and truthfulness PR practitioners show in their writing in terms of the publications available to the employees. However, the respondents also showed an interest in the practice because they realized that top management can not communicate directly to them and need a middle man in form of a PR practitioner

These findings support the hypothesis stated that public relations function to create mutual understanding between publics, that is, management, and employees fails because of divided loyalties. Employees view PR as a management function, thus serving management's interest only