PUBLIC RELATION AS AN EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENT FOR ATTAINING CO-OPERATE OBJECTIVE. (A CASE STUDY OF PZ INDUSTRY ABA)

ABSTRACT

The study was necessitated by the need to find out the Public Relation Principles and practice in the attainment of the corporate gaols of an organization, thus this topic Public Relation a s an Effective Instrument for attaining Co-operate Objectives; a Case study of PZ Industry Plc, Aba, we were made to understand that public relation principles has often been understood in effect and that most organization only involved themselves in production of goods and services failing to realize what public relations principle can do in promotion of these goods and services. Secondly, it has to do with current literature review relevant to the study of public relation activities in an organization. Methodology indicated the research design data collection instrument and the method used. Again, the presented data collected were analysed based on the response collected from both the questionnaire and oral interviews classification of sample unit were also stated here. Finally presented the summary of findings restatement of problem in the process of the presentation and analysis of data collected in the period of the study, several revealing findings emerged.  Conclusion from the data collected, presented and analysed it was concluded by the researcher that the management of PZ Industries Plc have adequate knowledge of Public Relation Principles recommendations and suggestion for further study.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

The image and goodwill of any organization have become one of the cordial objectives in modern management. This is because in the course of a company’s business operations, it deals with numerous “publics” these publics are like pressure groups whose actions and opinions can determine the growth and survival of the failure of the drawn up a delibrate and planned programme to build. Maintain and sustain cordial relationship and mutual understanding between itself and its publics because this will go a long way to determine the attainment of the company’s objectives. For these reasons image making and goodwill are here termed intangible assets, which are highly marketable any time any moment. As sales bring cash for today any marketing brings money forever, and for any company to market between itself and its publics. This can only be effective through good public relations programme in the organization.

AMONG THE PUBLIC RELATIONS PUBLICS ARE

The press relations, shareholders relation employees’ relations, customer relation, community relation and supplier’s relations

        The researcher concentrated on employee’s relation public and consumer relation public this public are most sensible among the publics maintenance above. To ensure productivity in a company the employees must be satisfied, and to ensure high sales volume, the consumers must also be satisfied.

        Therefore, business managers must recognise these publics opinions, beliefs, culture, values, needs and want in the formulation of their corporate policies and decisions, so that a proper integration of the organizations needs and the public needs with yield a better result for the organization. The integration of both can only be achieved through dialogue, mutual understanding as cordial relationship built and sustained overtime, this is the primary function of public relations.

1.1.1 PROFILE OF THE COMPANY OF CASE STUDY

Paterson Zochonis (PZ) industries limited was incorporated on 14th December 1984, under the name of P. B. Nicholas and company limited to take over the soap making activities of Mr. P. B. Nicholas who had some years prior to that data established factory for that purpose Paterson Zochonis and company limited Manchester (PZ) subscribed 75.5 percent of the company’s issued share capital and has since directly or through subsidiary companies, retained the controlling interest.

        Paterson Zochonis itself incorporated is England in 1884 because a public company quoted on the London and northern stock exchanges in 1954. Its principal activity is that of general merchants in West Africa, and it has been established in

This capacity in Nigeria that venture in Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone, and textile wholesaling in the United Kingdom, In 1951 Mr. P. B. Nicholas sold out, this interest in the company to PZ two years later, the company changed its name to Alagbon industries limited, and in 1960 adopted the name associated industries limited. During the same years the company achieved its first indigenous Nigeria equity participate and by the end of 1972, it has sold to percent of its shares capital to indigenous Nigerians.

        After incorporation in 1948, new factory building were erected and modern soap making equipment installed at Aba, thereby creating one of the earlier major industrial manufacturing units in Nigeria. The company’s facilities were further develop during the 1960s both by addition to the soap cosmetics and factory premise at Aba are no longer used for manufacturing purpose but extensive factory and administrative premises have been build of there over the years during the years 1967 to 1970, manufacturing operations at the Aba factory were disrupted, and in consequences, the company opened in rented premises in Lagos a factory which enabled it to maintain supplies of all but its soap products to its customers. This manufacturing unit eventually moved to modern, purpose built and equipped factory premises on company property in the ILUPEJU industries estate near Lagos

        The company’s range of product includes bar and tablet soap, perfumery cosmetic, confectionary medicaments and pharmaceuticals, all of which are distributed throughout Nigeria with bluffer stock held at strategic centres.

        The company (PZ) is well know through its duck, premier and joy soaps, Robb ointment mint super mints, jet hair cream, Venus de Milo range of cosmetic, Dan Fulani Pomade elephant A. P. C. etc.

        In addition, the company has significant export of glycerine and oil cakes, by product of the soap making process, which utilizes substantial tonnages of palm oil and other vegetable oil purchased locally. The increasing popularity of detergents indicated by market surveys and the close end use associated between the company’s existing soap products to include detergents. Factory premises for the purpose were erected at ILUPEJU, and 2973 one more major product was added to the company’s already wide range.

        Paterson Zochonis industries limited is one of the leading manufacturing companies today in Nigeria it is being faced with intended competition from other horizontal manufacturing companies like, Elegance industries, Liver brothers, the united African company (U. A. C) SmithKline beechen etc. But will organize communication to its “public” it will continue to defend itself as a leader in the markets. It major challenges remains how to sustain and improve on its capacity to deliver competitive quality product in a more cost effective way in the future.

MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE OR PZ INDUSTRIES PLC

Chairman/CEO

1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Public relation is very important hence it is of regarded as the nearest tools to achieve team work. As regards this attribute there existed problems inherent in the management of human resources since customers are becoming educated and sensible, a close relationship with then seems to be the ideal promotional tool. Hence management should see conflicting culture and values as a problem. These the researcher will find out the course of study.

        Public relation has communication as its major tools of accomplishing its goals. Therefore, there is always problem in the communication system in author is therefore poised to highlight problem areas and how to improve communication programme to avoid distortion and misconception.

        In addition, some companies tends to consider other factors such as price, quality, quantity and sale volume of their production as a yard stick to evaluate accomplishment of the corporate objective. The researcher would look into the roles the public relations principles are playing alongside those factors.

1.3    OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objective of this research is to intimate managers of resources in organization that a sound relationship with “public” through public relation is the only ideal promotional that can ensure there continually in business and that this cannot be attained in isolation of the correct channel of communication between the organization and its publics is the focus which managers should see as second to non.

1.4    RESEARCH QUESTION

The following are the research question, which this research work is set out to tackle.

A.           Does the goodwill of the organization have any effect on the company’s well being

B.           Can public relation achieve the profit goals of the company

C.           Does the image of the product or company has as any effect on consumer buying decision

D.           Does public relation and its principle have any effect on employees and consumer’s attitude

E.            Does the cost of public relation have effect on the total profit of any company

F.            Is lobbing a public relation tools the same thing as bribery and corruption

1.5       RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

The research used Hi and Ho in his hypothesis

Ho:  That  Public relation  is an effective instrument for  attaining corporate objectives.

Hi: that public relation is not an important instrument for attaining corporate objectives.

Ho: Absence of public relation department result in failure to achieve its corporate goals

Hi:  Absence of public relation department does not result in failure to achieve its corporate goals

Ho: inadequate funding of public relation activities negatively affect corporate image

Hi: inadequate funding of public relation activities does not negatively affect corporate image

Ho: lack of basis training by public relation practitioner’s lead to poor corporate output

Hi: lack of basis training by public relation practitioner’s does not lead to poor corporate output

1.6    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The importance of public relation and its effect on the company’s public cannot be overemphasized it is agreed by public relation practitioner’s that the benefits derive from the practice of public relation is more than the cost, it well and effectively applied to this end, the significance of this research is to help and encourage not only those already in business and management general, but also prospective investors and managers of tomorrow, to see public relation as the right tool for achieving corporate objectives of their organization.

1.7    SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study is limited to Abia state where the company is situated. Specifically staff and customer of the organization is Abia state would form the scope for local government and a good number of staff of PZ would be sampled for this purpose. The local government area included.

Aba South Local Government Area

Aba North Local Government Area

Obingwa Local Government Area

Ugwunagbo Local Government Area

1.9    DEFINITION OF TERMS

A      PUBLIC: Public is any group that has an actual or potential interest in the impact on a company’s ability to achieve its objective P. Kotler (1988 P144)

B.           IMAGE: this is a mental picture or ideal concept, view opinion of something or somebody as product help by the public.

C.           CORPORATE IMAGE: name hold or belonging to a corporate or idea such as corporation builds for it could be favourable and it could be unfavourable.

D.          OPINION AND ATTITUDE: Belief or judgement not founded on complete knowledge what the majority of the people or group fell; believe or think about somebody or smog, such opinion could be bad or good, high or how are changes the attitudes of the person.

E.           CORPORATE OBJECTIVES: The aim of a company point of which a firm directs its human and other material resources to achieve a particular set goal.

F.           COMMUNICATION: In this context it has to do with the imparting of ideas and making one understood by others communication is the act of inducing other to interpret an ideal on the manner intended by the speaker or writer. If we effect a communication of ideas, we have established common meeting ground for understanding.   

G.          GOODWILL: A well-established business with friendly feeling the internal and external environment. A company’s goodwill in the balance sheet is an intangible asset, and it saleable through franchise, licensing and joint ventures.