THE ROLE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT (A CASE STUDY OF THE ETITI IHITTE-UBOMA, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF IMO STATE)

CHAPTER ONE 

INTRODUCTION 

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY    

       Crisis emerged in the universe right from the beginning of man and has remain a reoccurring variable or decimal but not without effects. Man’s interaction with the environment coupled with the sophistication of the present age, survival of the fittest has become a since-quo-non. Thus, people get involved in many activities with the prime objective to satisfy their basic or primary needs (psychological and safety) and secondary needs (social, esteem and self fulfillment). In the process to achieve these need, crisis always emerge either between employee and employees and the management of an organization. On the other hand organization and groups strive to win a bigger shame of the market as to make profit than rivals which will result in intensive. Competition and finally to crisis. Communities due to interest will engage in crisis. Crisis is a necessary evil with us.           Presently, hardly is there any day without news of crisis from our media whether religion, political or industrial crisis. Of a truth, crisis has been with us for centuries but the spate of current violent crisis in organization government and communities portent great anger and threaten the growth and stability of the mention areas and the society in general. This situation requires appropriate measures and structures to manage properly these evil called crisis.   

1.2     STATEMENT OF PROBLEM            

From the above background, its obvious that crisis is a negative element that is highly unwelcomed. Crisis deaccelerate growth and brings instability in the polity, it bring about unhealthy competition, destruction of life and property as well as lost of life. This development is critical as foreign and domestic investors will be skeptical that theirs huge investment would be safe, fear and insecure as well as lack of trust and confidence will prevail. Thus, for the continuity of development, the country to be guaranteed, the need for public relations roles in management of crisis can not be over stated emphasized.  

1.3     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY            

The nucleus objective of this research is to investigate how to manage and possibly reduce the frequency and channel crisis to a more productive activity, to promote development in the society.  Specifically the research objectives include: i)        To trace the causes of crisis ii)       To examine the previous methods that will be employed of crisis on the society. iii)      To explain why there have been unsuccessful management of crisis. iv)      To offer suggested solutions on how to handle crisis.