Business Commons^™

Putting The Social In Social Media: How Human Connection Triggers Engagement, Stephanie Adomavicius

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Social media has become the preferred channel of information and has altered patterns of interaction and connection. As a result, society now revolves around a two-way form of communication with constant dialogue and instant responses. Public relations practitioners have had to adapt and change their strategy in order to keep up with the times, and because of this, engagement is now considered to be a measurement of success.

In terms of social media, engagement is how users interact with content and participate in online conversations. This study will uncover what causes people to engage on social media and identify the …

The Houston Astros' Cheating Scandal: A Case Study On Crisis Communication In Sports, Wendy Edouard

Honors Program Theses and Projects

In January 2020, the Houston Astros organization was accused of cheating during the 2017 and 2018 baseball seasons. In 2017, the Astros had also won the World Series, thereby offsetting a sports scandal which dominated media coverage for several months. Owner of the Houston Astros, Jim Crane and his players released a statement to the press, a month after the investigation was concluded by the Major League Baseball organization. The investigation concluded that the Astros, in fact, had been stealing pitching signs from opposing teams and using technology to communicate signs to their pitcher. Crane’s response (relying primarily on shift …

A Tale Of Two Companies: The Importance Of Public Relations Amidst The Shift Towards Corporate Activism, Olivia Schwab

Honors Theses

By comparing the controversies that stemmed from Papa John’s John Schnatter and CrossFit’s Greg Glassman, some obvious public relations strategies stand out, including but not limited to understanding an audience, adapting to a changing environment, establishing a crisis communications plan, and taking controversial stands on issues close to the audience’s hearts. Most importantly though, if companies preach messages of social change, they must follow up on their stances with corrective action to do their best to help facilitate it in society.

While examining the history of corporate activism, it is clear why and how some corporations become the victims of …

Fyre Festival: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly And Its Impact On Influencer Marketing, Loren Grace Gilbert, Courtney Childers, Brandon Boatwright

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Social Media For Government: Theory And Practice, Brittany L. Bowman

Journal of Applied Communications

Book review of Social Media for Government: Theory and Practice, by Staci M. Zavattaro and Thomas A. Bryer

Ecocar Mobility Challenge Communications Plan, Whitney M. Brothers

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Crisis Communication And Ethics: The Role Of Public Relations, Yan Jin, Augustine Pang, Joshua Smith

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the veracity of the contingency model of ethical crisis communication by examining the factors of influence in a time of crisis including what constitutes ethics in a time of crisis; the role of public relations (PR) practitioners as the “moral conscience” of an organization and perceptions of the PR’ role within top management. Design/methodology/approach: In-depth interviews were conducted among ten senior PR managers with crisis communication experience in North America. Findings: This research identifies and investigates six ethical variables – the nature of the crisis, the role of top management, the …

Ability Or Abyss: Does American Public Relations Education Program Accreditation Adequately Address The Abilities Necessary For Professional Success?, Kuriakos Pyros

Selected Honors Theses

This paper researches the overall effectiveness of public relations (PR) accreditations in collegiate education programs, especially by standard of modern PR skills. Multiple sources recognize a wide variety in PR processes, education programs, and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) listed in the field. In essence, this paper clarifies the similarities and incongruences between PR educational programs and the KSAs of the professional field. The focus rests in understanding if accreditation processes are more successful in achieving professional status.

Asian Multiculturalism In Communication: Impact Of Culture In The Practice Of Public Relations In Singapore, Su Lin Yeo, Augustine Pang

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School of Business

This study aims to understand the role of cultural values in influencing public relations practice in Singapore. Given that Singapore exhibits a hybrid of cultures, it purposes to comprehend how multiculturalism is operationalized and to uncover if the values that have a greater influence on organizational communication resemble those in individualistic or collectivistic societies. Using Gudykunst's (1998) seven dimensions that influence individualism-collectivism on communication as a guide, this study interviewed 20 public relations practitioners in Singapore. Our findings showed that although the patterns expressed is slightly more consistent with those found in collectivistic cultures, it does not resemble collectivism in …

Understanding Public Relations In The 'Sharing Economy', Anne Gregory, Gregor Halff

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In spite of the macro-economic impact of the so-called ‘sharing economy’ there is a nearly complete dearth of contributions from the communication academy to its discourse. More attention is overdue, particularly for the conceptual pressure the ‘sharing economy’ is exerting on the public relations function. The authors propose a reconceptualization of public relations by identifying the constitutive aspects of the sharing economy and bringing together the explanatory concepts ‘circuits of commerce’ and ‘viable matches’ from economic sociology and communicative constitution of organizations theory to develop the notions of ‘deliberate disintermediation’ and ‘circuits of communication’ in public relations. The contention is …

Nostalgic Selling: The Louisville & Nashville Railroad And Its General Public Relations, Michael J. Landry

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This paper represents a case study of how to use historic events/artifacts in public relations and sales. It recounts how the Louisville & Nashville Railroad participated in the United States Civil War centennial celebrations by restoring a locomotive, the General, that was made famous in a daring raid conducted in that war. Using primary and secondary documents mainly from corporate archives including notes, operations manuals, public relations logs, measurements, corporate publications and oral history, the paper outlines the General’s iconic history, the purposes for its 1960s restoration to operation for the Civil War centennial, and the overarching marketing strategy behind …

What Case Studies Can Teach Us In International Public Relations, Gregor Halff

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

No abstract provided.

Nationalism And International Disputes In China: Implications For Transnational Corporations As Corporate Diplomats, Lisa Tam, Soojin Kim

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

For decades, the territorial dispute between China and Japan over the sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands has caused diplomatic deteriorations in Sino-Japanese relations. When there is extensive media coverage on news about the dispute, nationalist sentiments in both two countries would be triggered and could be expressed through detrimental behaviors towards transnational corporations (hereinafter TNCs). While TNCs play a significant political function as corporate diplomats for their home countries, they are subject to the risk of crises when their home countries are involved in political and economic conflicts with the foreign countries in which they have operations. Against this backdrop, …

What Is Public Relations To Society? Toward An Economically Informed Understanding Of Public Relations, Halff, Gregor, Anne Gregory

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The notion of public relations contributing to the fabric of society is heavily contested in the public sphere and under-researched by the academy. The authors of this paper propose that the study of the relevance of public relations to society can be enlightened by turning to economics. Using information asymmetry as a framework, the argument is that public relations can be analyzed as a social institution that both helps to mitigate market imperfections and consequently increases the efficiency with which society's resources are allocated as well as the chances for more market participants to derive value out of economic transactions. …

What Is Public Relations To Society? Toward An Economically Informed Understanding Of Public Relations, Jurrien Gregor Halff, Anne Gregory

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The notion of public relations contributing to the fabric of society is heavily contested in the public sphere and under-researched by the academy. The authors of this paper propose that the study of the relevance of public relations to society can be enlightened by turning to economics. Using information asymmetry as a framework, the argument is that public relations can be analyzed as a social institution that both helps to mitigate market imperfections and consequently increases the efficiency with which society’s resources are allocated as well as the chances for more market participants to derive value out of economic transactions.

Parody Social Media Accounts: Influence And Impact On Organizations During Crisis, Sarah Wan, Regina Koh, Andrew Ong, Augustine Pang

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

With the uptake of the use of social media, the communication field has seen a rise in a new phenomenon: parody social media accounts. Through study of five such accounts, this paper shows how parody social media accounts can arise from a crisis or paracrisis, which is “a publicly visible crisis threat” that is triggered online (Coombs & Holladay, 2012, p. 409). The study also examines the behavior of these accounts and how they enforce negative perceptions and impede an organization's efforts and initiatives. Using the social-mediated crisis communication model as its theoretical lens, this study seeks to examine parody …

Toward An Historically Informed Asian Model Of Public Relations, Gregor Halff, Anne Gregory

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This paper undertakes a meta-analysis of the 51 historiographies of public relations in Asia-Pacific countries to identify common themes, threads and theoretical insights. The authors propose a set of necessary components for the study of Asia-Pacific public relations drawn from a historical perspective that differs from the paradigmatic underpinnings of the major Western models. They draw conclusions about epistemological and practice differences between public relations in the West and in the Asia-Pacific region in a globalizing world.

Making The Magic: How Public Relations Is Handled At The Disney Parks, Elizabeth Demeo

Senior Honors Theses

The Walt Disney Company has always been an organization that has prided itself on its corporate image. One of their biggest successes has been their 11 theme parks across the globe. Ever since its creation in 1955, Disneyland has been known as "the happiest place on earth." However, many wonder how this reputation came to be and how it is being maintained today. To find this answer, one must look to the creative minds behind Disney's public relations. By examining the Disney parks and their public relations history, tactics, crisis management and current and future campaigns, companies can find out …

Muckrakers Vs. Public Relations: Analytical Case Studies, Maria Necastro

Honors College

The purpose of the three independent case studies in this thesis is to examine the complex relationship between investigative journalism and corporate public relations. By examining the journalistic works written by three of America’s best-selling authors and the following corporate communications responses, it becomes possible to understand the importance of strategic communication. Ultimately the dynamic relationship between investigative reporting and public relations is one that produces visible change, within both society and corporations.

Web Development For The Home Builders Associoation Serving Portage And Summit Counties, Gail Lewis White

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Gail Lewis White

Major: Business and Organizational Communication

Project Sponsor: Dr. Sylvia White

Number of Project Credits: 3

Abstract

This Honors project redesigned the website of the Home Builders Association serving greater Portage and Summit counties (HBA). The goal of the new website was to enhance the social media image and internet presence of the HBA. The project included a competitive analysis of competing websites throughout the construction industry and a thorough analysis of the HBA’s internal and external communications. Under the supervision of Vice President of Operations Carmine Torio, this project has met and surpassed the goals set by …

Media Relations In An Evolving Media Landscape, Augustine Pang, Vivien H. E. Chiong, Nasrath Begam Binte Abul Hassan

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test the viability of the media relations framework, Mediating the Media model (Pang, 2010), and ascertains its relevance to practitioners in a changing media landscape in Singapore where social media is emerging as an alternative source of information tool. Design/methodology/approach – In-depth interviews with 20 media relations practitioners who were former journalists. Practitioners with journalism experience were chosen as they perform better at media relations (Sallot and Johnson, 2006a; Sinaga and Callison, 2008). Findings – The model posits two sets of influences, i.e. internal (journalist mindset, journalist routines and newsroom routines) …

The Process Of Social Media Migration Among Young Professionals: A Grounded Theory, Maria Hermosa, Frauke Hachtmann

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to develop a theory that explains the process of social media migration among young professionals. The theoretical propositions that emerged from this qualitative study explain how different causal, intervening, and contextual conditions interact with and affect the phenomenon of social media migration. Internal and external pressures have an effect on young professionals’ decision to join new social media sites while abandoning others. Intervening and contextual conditions provide specific circumstances in which social media migration might occur. Integrating useful and organizational features to ease the use of social networks were important strategies in the process …

Once More With Feeling …The Art Of Wooing The Public, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Public relations is an art, declares Rose Tan, the doyenne of Singapore’s own sports public relations industry. And although it’s changing rapidly as communications cross multiple platforms, it’s still something that needs to come from the heart.

Corporate Historical Responsibility (Chr): Addressing A Past Of Forced Labor At Volkswagen, Claudia Janssen Danyi

Claudia I. Janssen Danyi, PhD

This article introduces corporate historical responsibility (CHR), a concept that can guide organizations when addressing dark corporate histories. CHR holds that organizations have responsibilities toward victims of past corporate practices and toward present reconciliatory discourse. Volkswagen’s discourse about its history of forced labor during WW II serves as an example of CHR. The rhetorical analysis illustrates that CHR hinges on the recognition of the past as a moral issue and on the organization’s ability to create historical accountability, take responsibility, make public acknowledgements, and remember its past. It further illustrates that CHR creates sustainable policies that can strengthen corporate citizenship …

Corporate Historical Responsibility (Chr): Addressing A Past Of Forced Labor At Volkswagen, Claudia Janssen Danyi

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This article introduces corporate historical responsibility (CHR), a concept that can guide organizations when addressing dark corporate histories. CHR holds that organizations have responsibilities toward victims of past corporate practices and toward present reconciliatory discourse. Volkswagen’s discourse about its history of forced labor during WW II serves as an example of CHR. The rhetorical analysis illustrates that CHR hinges on the recognition of the past as a moral issue and on the organization’s ability to create historical accountability, take responsibility, make public acknowledgements, and remember its past. It further illustrates that CHR creates sustainable policies that can strengthen corporate citizenship …

From The Last Frontier To The New Cosmopolitan A History Of Casino Public Relations In Las Vegas, Jessalynn Strauss

Occasional Papers

This research chronicles the history of public relations by the gaming industry in Las Vegas. Reflecting larger trends in the field, public relations efforts by the casinos and hotels in this popular tourist destination have used a variety of communication tactics over time to promote themselves to potential Las Vegas tourists. Based on archival materials from over 30 casinos and gaming corporations, this paper identifies four ways in which public relations is practiced in the gaming industry and four macro-level trends in the evolution of casino public relations in Las Vegas.

Social Recruiting: The Role Of Social Networking Websites In The Hiring Practices Of Major Advertising And Public Relations Firms, Keri Cook

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the role that professional networking websites, such as LinkedIn, play in the hiring decisions of talent recruiters at major advertising and public relations firms. A study of literature relating to social media, traditional recruitment techniques and legal implications regarding the use of networking websites in the hiring process provided a foundation for the study. Primary research, in the form of online surveys distributed to hiring managers at some of the largest international advertising and public relations firms, was conducted to set a foundation for understanding the use of networking websites in the …

Towards A Crisis Pre-Emptive Image Management Model, Augustine Pang

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Purpose ‐ A good corporate image is important to organizations. However, little is elaborated on how organizations can work on their images. This study seeks to explicate the types of image management before, during, and after a crisis through the development of the crisis pre-emptive image management model. Design/methodology/approach ‐ Integrating insights from communication and marketing literature, this paper uses cases from the USA, Europe and Asia to make the concepts come alive. Findings ‐ At each stage of Wilcox and Cameron's crisis life cycle, different types of image management can take place. At the proactive stage are image creation …

Projecting A Preferred Identity: How Five Government Contractors Frame Their Corporate Brands Online, Nicole A. Merrifield

Masters Theses

This study expands framing research as a competitive intelligence tool for discerning the message strategies of a company’s competition. A content analysis of five Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ competitor websites was conducted to determine key subject areas and how each competitor positioned their business to a variety of publics. Using Entman (1991, 1993) and Hallahan’s (1999) framing research as the theoretical framework, the study reviews extant literature on corporate use of websites to frame reputations and cultivate relationships. Key findings reveal that ORAU’s competitors are more likely to promote new business, new hires/promotions, awards/honors, and project completions when issuing press …

The Role Of Emotions In Crisis Responses: Inaugural Test Of The Integrated Crisis Mapping (Icm) Model, Yan Jin, Augustine Pang, Glen T. Cameron

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to extend current theories in crisis communication, by developing a more systemic approach to understanding the role of emotions in crises and the strategies organizations can use to respond. The authors' integrated crisis mapping (ICM) model is premised on a public-based, emotion-driven perspective where different crises are mapped on two continua, the organization's engagement in the crisis and primary public's coping strategy. Design/methodology/approach: Content analysis was used to analyze 259 stories in US mainstream newspaper covering five different crisis cases. Findings: The initial test suggests theoretical rigor. It found that publics involved in …