Organisations experience increased social, political and economic pressure that is evident in the increased pressure that stakeholders place on organisations. Organisations increasingly realise that stakeholders’ values and objectives need to be incorporated into organisational strategy as well as the day-to-day management of the organisation. Organisational success and survival consequently depends on the organisation’s network of relationships, which provide the organisation with otherwise inaccessible resources and a competitive advantage. Organisational relationships offer the best solution towards illustrating the value of public relations and communication in the organisation. These relationships enable the organisation to attain its long- and short-term goals. Communication is a key influencer of the success of these relationships and communication managers are consequently better adept to manage these relationships. The relationship perspective of communication posits that public relations and communication managers should act in a boundary spanning role by balancing the interests of companies and stakeholders through effective relationship management. A shift has consequently occurred from purely communication management towards building mutually beneficial relationships between an organisation and its key stakeholders. There has also been an increased recognition of the need for strategically managed communication programs that can effectively contribute to organisational success. Strategic communication assists an organisation to adapt to its stakeholder environment by feeding into the organisation’s strategy formulation process intelligence with regards to strategic stakeholders, which, in turn, assists in building mutually beneficial relationships with these stakeholders. Communication managers’ efforts towards the effective management of organisational relationships has been hampered by the lack of current literature on organisational relationships, a lack of knowledge regarding the factors that influence these relationships, as well as the lack of a reliable and quantifiable definition of organisational relationships. Knowledge on these key areas could enable communication managers to manage these relationships effectively through strategic communication that is characterised by open and two-way communication. This study aimed to determine the connection between organisational relationships and organisational success by investigating the relationship between organisational alliances (as a specific form of organisational relationship) and goal attainment. The three-stage model of organisational relationships proposed by Grunig and Huang (2000:34) was applied to organisational alliances in order to determine this relationship, as well as to determine the influence of key constructs like type of industry, type of alliance, duration of the alliance and the size of the organisation. The reliability of using this framework, specifically the relationship outcomes proposed by the three-stage model, was investigated. The relationship outcomes (trust, commitment, relational satisfaction and control mutuality) were positively related to perceptions of goal attainment. This implies that if trust, commitment, relational satisfaction and control mutuality increases in an organisational alliance, the perceptions of goal attainment also increase within that organisational relationship. These findings suggest that effective communication contributes to perceptions of goal attainment within organisational relationships. It offers public relations and communication practitioners a means to demonstrate the contribution of this function to organisational success. High correlations between the relationship outcomes reflected current findings on these outcomes and a factor analysis indicated that only one factor was being measured – the organisational relationship itself. The study proposed an improved measurement instrument for reliably measuring organisational relationships (Cronbach Alpha = 0.93). The type of industry, type of alliance, duration of the alliance as well as the size of the organisation did not have a significant influence on the relationship outcomes or the proposed measure of organisational relationships. This implies that the current proposed measurement instrument can be applied to numerous contexts. A general linear model was applied to goal attainment (as the dependent variable) and the relationship outcomes (as the independent variables) in order to determine the specific contribution of each relationship outcome on perceptions of goal attainment. The regression analysis indicated that control mutuality was the greatest influencer of perceptions of goal attainment within alliances. A noticeably low influence of trust was also measured. These findings were obtained through the use of an e-mail survey that obtained cross-sectional data, where 154 alliances were observed (n=154). The study contributed to present literature on organisational relationships by using Grunig and Huang’s (2000:43) three-stage model to explain the relationship between perceptions of goal attainment and the relationship outcomes in alliances within the South African context. Strategic communication management provides a solution to a key organisational issue – the organisation’s interdependence with the stakeholders in its environment and how these stakeholders can better be managed in order to more effectively contribute towards organisational success. Communication managers can demonstrate their value by effectively managing key organisational relationships like alliances by integrating these relationships into organisational strategy. These successful organisational relationships also contribute towards organisational sustainability by enabling the organisation to attain its long- and short-term goals. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Communication Management / MCom / Unrestricted

In the past two years, six National Football League players have died by suicide. Investigations into most of the deaths revealed that the players suffered from brain damage likely caused by repeated concussions. As is the case with many health issues, tragedy often precedes action; the suicides of these high profile football stars have catalyzed action on concussion policy and practice, as well as opened up the conversation about the overall mental health of athletes. This thesis joins the conversation around mental health and athletes, specifically Canadian varsity football players. Mental health problems and illnesses are presented as especially common, affecting about 1 in 5 Canadians. That is not to underestimate the severity of mental illnesses, which can deteriorate an individual’s quality of life, significantly impact friends and family and, in the most severe cases, also lead to death by suicide. That said, this thesis adopts a theoretical perspective that focuses on the promotion and protection of good mental health. This thesis is primarily concerned with investigating the social, political, and external factors that negatively impact how football players conceptualize mental health and mental illness, and also the recommended behaviour to seek professional help if needed. The growing body of research concerning the negative impact of mental illness stigma is compelling and leaves no doubt that stigma is a significant barrier to recovery. This thesis explores the stigma process as well as its social function in groups. Next, it investigates how the already powerful stigma around mental illness is further exacerbated by gender and more specifically, how traditional masculine ideology (i.e. men should be strong and powerful) conflicts with stereotypical beliefs about mentally ill people (i.e. weak and/or incompetent). Gender and health are further linked in terms of behaviour. In other words, rejecting health behaviours becomes a strategy some men utilize to project their masculinity, paradoxically contributing to the creation or worsening of many health problems. A health behaviour that is explored in detail is psychological help-seeking, and the psychosocial processes of help-seeking, which are also mainly regulated by masculinity. An overview of the most common mental health problems and illnesses found in male varsity athletes is provided. All of the above components are then applied to the unique context of varsity football players. The thesis draws on the literature as well as qualitative interview data that explores the experiences of 8 varsity football players at the University of Ottawa. Regarding mental health promotion, the findings show that football players may require adapted communication approaches. To that end, the thesis transitions into an early-stage health communication plan supported by the literature and the primary data. The plan proposes overall outcomes, short term/intermediate objectives, a communication strategy, and a tactical approach. Next, a web-based health resource is suggested as a primary communication vehicle and is outlined in detail. The plan then suggests potential partnerships for extending the strategic communication plan’s reach and credibility. This is followed by suggestions for evaluating both the short term/intermediate objectives as well as the strategic communication plan’s overall impact. This thesis concludes with a chapter exploring the contributions lifted from the eight qualitative interviews, as well as suggested directions for research, policy and practice.

abstract: Few studies bridge workplace engagement and employee voice with internal communication. This analysis builds upon both the crucial concept of employee engagement and its implications for communication professionals and leaders. Further, it calls for more strategic integration of upward employee voice in internal communications. By examining factors that support communication (in two directions) and especially upward employee voice, researchers examine a case study of an intranet site at a major academic research institute. Factors that support employee expression are compared with data streams from both user survey and website analytics. The results point to voice-inducing techniques include projecting critical mass, fostering trust, and emphasizing intranet usefulness and rewards. By enriching workplace communications, voice can strengthen the employee’s ability to contribute, connect leaders with a source for direct feedback, and help employers be more responsive and nimbler. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Technical Communication 2020

La información es un conjunto de datos que sirve para construir un mensaje, pieza clave de la comunicación. La enorme cantidad de información ahora es una realidad. Esto implica en nosotros una ventaja en procesarla; porque se tiene acceso al conocimiento, pero es también un desafío, pues puede generar problemas de orden y falta de habilidades para asimilar los datos. En ese sentido, nos hemos encontrado con la masificación de la información debido a la tecnología, dando pie a encontrar una forma eficaz de gestionar la avalancha del conocimiento. Asimismo, en el aspecto laboral, dicho fenómeno no es menos importante, debido a que la comunicación en las organizaciones genera bienestar en los empleados; sin embargo, en la última década, la búsqueda e implementación de herramientas de comunicación está desvirtuando su objetivo y generan un exceso de información innecesaria. Sobre esto, los trabajadores necesitan autogestionar la información que reciben para hacerla más práctica de llevar, aplicando estrategias oportunas que permitan contrarrestar esta tendencia; mientras tanto, muchos continúan conectados a sus responsabilidades laborales en horarios fuera del tiempo de trabajo, ocasionando problemas debido a que los pocos usuarios no cuentan con capacidad para atender varias labores en simultáneo. De hecho, resulta insuficiente contrarrestar sus deficiencias en la organización del conocimiento. En ese sentido, se proponen estrategias de gestión de la información, pasando de ser usuarios cautivos de la avalancha de información a realizar una adecuada administración del conocimiento para la mejora del clima laboral y satisfacción laboral de los colaboradores, contrarrestando el fenómeno antes descrito como infoxicación. / Information is a set of data used to build a message, an important piece of communication. The huge amount of information is now a reality, this implies an advantage in processing it in our lives; because not only that you have access to knowledge, but it causes problems of order of the lack of skills to manage the data. In that sense, we have found that the mass of information due to technology, push us to find an effective way to manage that. Furthermore, in organizations, this phenomenon is relevant, because the communication in the organizations generates despite other things, well-being in the employees; however, in the last decade, the search and implementation of communication tools is distorting its objective and generating an unnecessary excess of information. On this, workers need to self-manage the information they receive, to make it more practical to process, applying timely strategies to counteract this trend; meanwhile, the amount of employees to continuing be connected to their work responsibilities during non-working hours is growing, causing problems because fewer ones do have the capacity to attend several tasks simultaneously. In fact, it is insufficient to counteract their deficiencies in the organization of knowledge. In that sense, the information management strategies are proposed, moving from being captive users of the information avalanche to manage knowledge for the improvement of the working environment and job satisfaction of the collaborators, counteracting the phenomenon described above as infoxification. / Trabajo de Suficiencia Profesional

Over the last three years, Heimstaden, a real-estate company based in Sweden, has gone through a complex process of redefinition of its identity, defining values and principles. This process is especially delicate in one of the neighborhoods managed by the company, Flogsta, where Heimstaden owns and administrates 2014 student apartments. In the context of this identity definition process, this study analyzes the communication strategies and the organizational identity transmission practices within the company, focusing on the local-level employees’ understanding and experience of Heimstaden’s identity and strategies. From a theoretical standpoint, the research parts from Hallahan, Holtzhausen, van Ruler, Verčič and Sriramesh´s (2007) initial ideas on strategic communication, and implements van Ruler´s (2018) approach to the role that communication plays within strategic communication, as well as to the dichotomy between one-way vs two-way strategies of communication. The analysis also incorporates Schinoff, Corley and Roger’s (2016) views of organizational identity. The research consists of 6 semi-structured interviews with Heimstaden employees. In addition to that, participant observations were also carried out daily over a period of 5 months, due to my position as a Heimstaden employee stationed in Uppsala. The findings of the study reveal that many of the one-way communication strategies currently in use within Heimstaden, are failing at making the local-level employees aware and participant of the company’s identity and changes. Consequently, this study identifies great differences in the way that local-level employees relate to the company’s new identity and principles with respect to the way in which top-level employees do. These differences, in turn, generate that the company’s identity and new way of doing things is not projected properly towards the clients, generating, arguably, reputational problems for Heimstaden in the studied area.

Thesis (MTech (Public Relations Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017 / In popular opinion political public relations practitioners have long been regarded as spin doctors. Their lane of actions is mostly viewed as propaganda and they are perceived as spin doctors who manipulate power-relations. The pervasive role of public relations in political campaigns cannot be denied as political actors rely on communication to reach their key stakeholders. While it can be used as an important tool that can mediate in these power relations, the facts remain in the case of this study that the political party campaign communication was rather reactive than strategic. The answer lays in the accurate application of the strategic nature and role of public relations. I believe that there is a strategic public relations role that is evident and has to be played in political party campaign communication. As a matter of fact, public relations strives to ensure an effective and efficient communication on behalf of its organisation. The purpose of this study was to explore the application of public relations principles in political parties’ campaign communication of the Democratic Alliance, in the context of three other political parties in a regional newspaper during the build-up to the 2014 South African general elections. Four distinct political parties were at the centre of this research, namely African National Congress, Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters and Agang. Particular attention was given to the elite parties, African National Congress, and Democratic Alliance; the main environment of the study. It is true that political parties ‘communication with stakeholders reflects in essence public relations. Managing communication to promote the organisational agenda is to talk about issues important to both the public and the political party. This suggests that an effective political organisation will act on a two-way operation to build a common political position that influences public attitudes. Hence, a comparative case study was used as the strategy of inquiry. I conducted a content analysis of the political party campaign communication of the Democratic Alliance, covered in the Cape Times newspaper; as well as their election manifesto, to identify the public relations principles and strategies that were used. The daily newspapers were surveyed from January 8 to May 7, 2014. An overall of one hundred and forty-four related newspapers articles were analysed and formed the data for analysis. A close reading and counting of frequencies of varieties of themes in the newspaper revealed that the Democratic Alliance, as well as the African National congress, took a tactical and responsive approach, rather than a strategic and proactive approach, to their political party campaign communication. News coverage indicated that there was extensive counterpunching to other political parties ‘statuses, but very little promotion or management of the issues included in their election manifesto. Nkandla was the most controversial issue covered in the pre-election media coverage; while the proposed merger with AGANG; and the subsequent fall out was damaging to both political parties ‘reputation and relationship with voters. Therefore, more research on this topic needs to be undertaken, as public relations is crucial in translating public opinions to the organisation. In the political scope, this can serve as an attempt to adjust the socio-political environment to suit the political principles, as well as to help the political principles adjust to the environment by creating the right balance to mutual benefit an organisation and its publics that further ensures a real participatory democracy. Further studies should be done to investigate whether, the advocacy of the two-way symmetrical, as a way to central route to persuasion, along with the dialogical approach can impact on more effective decisions making, and ultimately create a more dynamic public sphere that seeks the resolution of socio-political conflicts. This new knowledge will lead to guidelines for public relations practitioners and can provide useful insights for political communication specialists.

<p><a>This study sought to identify obstacles and challenges that impact political participation and involvement among Latino voters. At the same time, it explored how the Latino Democrats of Allen County (LDAC), a constituency caucus in a primarily conservative area, could address such barriers to engage Latinos from the area politically (specifically in support of the Democratic party). Social Identity Theory provided a backdrop from which to examine the challenges and obstacles that Latinos face to participating in local government. By exploring these questions from the perspective of Social Identity Theory, I examined how a demographic in a primarily conservative area grapples with their political participation. Findings suggest that Latinos struggle with their participation due to lack of awareness about opportunity, low political efficacy, lack of trust in the political process and those that facilitate it, and lack of education about how the political process works. Literature on communication strategies and techniques used by organizations and groups with similar structures and goals provided a roadmap for constructing a functional and meaningful strategic communication plan for LDAC based on the findings from this study.</a></p>

The purpose of this study is to test the general belief that CSR leads to positive attitudes toward a brand and results in an increase in consumers' purchase intentions on the basis of the Affect Transfer Hypothesis (ATH). This study replicates and extends previous research by examining the effect of consumers' persuasion knowledge, based on the Persuasion Knowledge Model (PKM), as one variable that can affect consumers' attitudes toward CSR initiatives and brands. A post-test only experiment was conducted using stimulus materials derived from Starbuck Coffee Company. Four of the stimulus materials containing CSR messages corresponded with four CSR initiative types identified by Kotler and Lee (2005), and one contains no message related CSR. This study indicates supports for the belief of positive relationships among attitude toward CSR, attitude toward brand, and purchase intention, regardless of the type of CSR initiative. In regard to types of CSR initiatives, only attitude toward CSR was influenced by CSR initiatives. Also, the results indicate that corporate philanthropy produced the most positive attitude among the types of CSR. However, when it comes to consumer's persuasion knowledge, the results are slightly different. Although there is not enough evidence to conclude that people use different levels of persuasion knowledge with different types of CSR, persuasion knowledge influences attitude toward CSR and attitude toward brand, and these relationships are negative. In addition, the study found that corporate volunteering appeared to be the most favorable type of CSR initiative when considering with persuasion knowledge. Finally, the study did not find an interaction effect between CSR initiative type and persuasion knowledge.

In the context of increasing technologicalization and the growing interconnectedness of our world through social media, this thesis aims to answer the question, why is disinformation not being sufficiently handled in the United States in the wake of the foreign meddling in the 2016 Presidential Elections, and what can and should be done about the threat? This master thesis therefore aims to delve into the inherent vulnerabilities in the U.S. societal fabric, and thus conduct an in-depth explanatory case study model analysis of what should be done to further combat and counteract disinformation and election meddling within the country. The author argues that disinformation and election meddling are not only a serious security threat, but are also not being properly handled as they are only being addressed technologically, and not through the realm of information, and societal resilience. This thesis therefore argues that strategic communication, which should be redefined and expanded in definition, should be used to combat disinformation campaigns to prevent further election meddling. The author posits that a two-level approach is best, one which aims to negate the negative disinformation campaigns through a single governmental body, while also addressing the root causes through education.

Grounded in developmental theory, the Ship of Change provides a renewed look at diagnostic relationships between organizational elements, and their interactions through the lens of a metaphorical ship analogy. Elements are identified and arranged based on empirical studies from the field with causal considerations emphasized by Burke-Litwin. The model uses a two-tiered visual perspective to depict multi-dimensionality that links core organizational elements to work unit activities through the interplay of culture, communication and climate. The model is intended for both the conveyance of principles related to open systems theory, and the practical application of diagnosing organizations for planning and implementing change. The model was tested in a case study with a transportation company using multiple methods data collection including a communication satisfaction survey, workplace observations, and employee interviews. The model was used to categorize and interpret data and to inform recommendations for change.