-
A Reflective Essay on What Public Relations Is: Its Role in Strategic Communication Management in Organizations and MNCs
Kwesi Atta Sakyi,
Geoffrey Mweshi,
David Musona,
Esnart Mwaba Tayali
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, September 2020
Pages:
106-111
Received:
27 April 2020
Accepted:
2 June 2020
Published:
23 June 2020
Abstract: This article has the objective of clarifying what public relations is all about in connection with how large corporate entities or MNCs manage or handle strategic communications. In the past, we have seen the demise of large Multinational Corporations due to scandals and failure to handle crisis such as oil spills, handling clients’ money during global financial crunch such as the sub-prime mortgage financial crisis of 2007-2009. That crisis saw the demise of huge corporations such as Lehman Brothers, Anderson & Anderson, Freddie Mae, and Freddie May, among others. Failure to handle various publics and interest groups strategically can spell the doom of a company or a nation. This article took an exploratory approach since the authors wrote the article for a master’s course and not as professionals in public relations. The methodology adopted was that of desk research based on secondary data sources accessed from books, the internet and journal articles. The author also did a lot of observations and reflection to come up with the insights expressed in this paper. The paper was also approached from a multidisciplinary point of view to give it breadth. The findings and conclusions are that in modern times, corporations and nations should utilize the speed, flexibility, transparency, interactivity, global reach, and easy accessibility of Social Media to engage various publics in a crisis in order to gain credibility and show their human and humane qualities of empathy, humility and readiness for fruitful discourse and dialogue. However, CEOs and political leaders such as Presidents of countries are judged by the way they conduct themselves on Social Media such as Facebook or Twitter, and their chances of re-election hinge on their tweets and mis-tweets. On Social Media, users are always called upon to observe netiquette or urbane and civilized behavior.
Abstract: This article has the objective of clarifying what public relations is all about in connection with how large corporate entities or MNCs manage or handle strategic communications. In the past, we have seen the demise of large Multinational Corporations due to scandals and failure to handle crisis such as oil spills, handling clients’ money during gl...
Show More
-
Impact of E-bills Payment on Customer Satisfaction in Uganda: Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited as the Case Study
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, September 2020
Pages:
112-118
Received:
6 January 2020
Accepted:
24 February 2020
Published:
4 July 2020
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of e-bill payment on customer satisfaction in Uganda with Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited as the case study. The study involved 5 managers, 10 Middle Level staff involved in E-banking operations, 5 Head office (Stanbic) E-banking operative staff, 8 Customer relationship officers attending walk-in-customers and 63 Customers of Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited. A cross-sectional approach, as well as a combination of quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques was employed in this study. Quantitative data analysis techniques involved the use of descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages to summarize responses on issues of E-bills payment impact on customer satisfaction while the Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to establish the relationship between dimensions of E-bills payment and customer satisfaction as study objectives. Findings indicate that there is a moderate positive relationship between e-bill payment and customer satisfaction; (r=0.266 p=0.016 n=82). The relationship is statistically significant at 95% confidence level since p-value (Sig.) is less than 0.050 (=0.000). This implies that improvements in e-bill payment factors shall be related to improvements in customer satisfaction. Findings from descriptive statistics indicated that on average the respondents agreed to the statement that e-bill payment has an effect on customer satisfaction which included capacity to handle a greatly enhanced volume and of payments, far lesser time per bill handles, increased efficiency and accuracy and reduced payment concerns.
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of e-bill payment on customer satisfaction in Uganda with Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited as the case study. The study involved 5 managers, 10 Middle Level staff involved in E-banking operations, 5 Head office (Stanbic) E-banking operative staff, 8 Customer relationship officers attending walk-in-custo...
Show More
-
Lean Six Sigma in Services: An Application of the Methodology in the Attendiment Sector of an Exam Laboratory
Bruna Vasconcellos de Araujo
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, September 2020
Pages:
119-131
Received:
10 March 2020
Accepted:
24 March 2020
Published:
6 July 2020
Abstract: The present study aimed to apply the Lean Six Sigma methodology, through the DMAIC cycle (applied in five phases that ensure that companies apply Lean Six Sigma in a methodical and disciplined way: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control), in the service units of the Minas Gerais regional of an examination laboratory, identifying critical processes and proposing continuous improvement so that the level of customer service be high. This methodology has been widely used in the business world and recognized as one of the most effective methods. This practice focuses on reducing the variation of any process, product or service, identifying and eliminating defects, errors and waste and seeking to maximize the company's profitability. It is the integration of the Lean philosophy with the Six Sigma methodology, where the first focuses on eliminating waste and the second uses statistical tools to reduce variability in processes. The data were treated using the software Minitab. The survey resulted in an increase in the service level of the Minas Gerais regional service from 68% to 81,55%, leading to a financial gain of $ 378.556,80 in the year. The research concluded that the Lean Six Sigma methodology can be successfully applied in the service sector, improving the service level by reducing time, resources, costs and process variability.
Abstract: The present study aimed to apply the Lean Six Sigma methodology, through the DMAIC cycle (applied in five phases that ensure that companies apply Lean Six Sigma in a methodical and disciplined way: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control), in the service units of the Minas Gerais regional of an examination laboratory, identifying critical pro...
Show More
-
Effect of Capital Management on the Performance of Private Commercial Banks in Rwanda: A Case Study of Bank of Kigali
Sazir Nsubuga Mayanja,
Kato Mahazi,
Twesige Daniel
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, September 2020
Pages:
132-140
Received:
7 September 2019
Accepted:
15 October 2019
Published:
22 July 2020
Abstract: The study was about capital management and performance of the banking sector with Bank of Kigali as the case study. The study was motivated by the various episodes of private bank failures in many parts of the world. This study therefore, examined the role of capital management on the performance of banking sector. To achieve, this objective, the following specific objectives guided this study: To explore the capital management techniques used by bank of Kigali; To examine the level of performance of Bank of Kigali To analyse a relationship between capital management and performance of the bank of Kigali and to examine challenges in the capital management and solution to the mentioned challenges. A multi-method approach composed of both qualitative and quantitative research design was used. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources using questionnaire and documentation were used. A population comprised of 50 bank employees was selected, from which a sample of 32 respondents was determined using the Kreijcie and Morgan formula. Data was captured using the statistical package for sciences (SPSS) and presented into frequency tables. A regression analysis was carried out using SPSS. A significance test t≤5% was assumed. The findings indicated that a variation of 70.8%, 42%, 63%, 71.6% and 64% in the capital adequacy, asset quality, management efficiency, earnings and liquidity of the bank is caused by capital management and other variables. More still, the findings from the survey indicated that the bank encounters a number of challenges which include, but not limited to capital modelling, quantification of risks and interpretation Basing on the results the study concluded that capital management is a key component in the performance management of the banking sector. The study suggested the following policies for the effective performance management of the bank; establishing the internal capital assessment process committee, capital buffers to cover the unexpected losses, use of stress and back-testing and active involvement of the board of directors in the capital management.
Abstract: The study was about capital management and performance of the banking sector with Bank of Kigali as the case study. The study was motivated by the various episodes of private bank failures in many parts of the world. This study therefore, examined the role of capital management on the performance of banking sector. To achieve, this objective, the f...
Show More
-
Management Accounting Information and Decision Making of Not-for-Profit Organisations in Rwanda
Twesige Daniel,
Kato Mahazi,
Sazir Nsubuga Mayanja
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, September 2020
Pages:
141-148
Received:
7 September 2019
Accepted:
15 October 2019
Published:
22 July 2020
Abstract: The main objective of the study was to examine the contribution of management accounting information to the decision-making process of not -for -profit making organizations, with International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) as the case study. Both qualitative and quantitative research design was used, and respondents were purposively selected. The sample survey involved 140 employees of International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) located in four countries (Rwanda, Burundi, DRC and Kenya). 46 respondents were determined using the Raosoft sample size calculator. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and desk research. Analysis was made using SPSS. The findings indicated that management accounting information is frequently used in decision making as represented by 69.5% of the respondents. 98.3% of the respondents agreed that they use it in strategic decisions, 93.5% agreed that they used it in operations decision. The most used management accounting techniques include budgeting (97.8%), financial report analysis (97.8%), management report (95.2%), variance analysis (93.5%), CVP analysis (91.3%) and cost accounting (91.3%). It was recommended that, because of its importance, as evidenced by these findings, managers at all level of the organisation should employ the various management accounting information in their decision-making process.
Abstract: The main objective of the study was to examine the contribution of management accounting information to the decision-making process of not -for -profit making organizations, with International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) as the case study. Both qualitative and quantitative research design was used, and respondents were purposively selected...
Show More
-
A Stepwise Approach of Factors Affecting Agricultural Production in Nigeria
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 3, September 2020
Pages:
149-153
Received:
22 July 2015
Accepted:
26 September 2015
Published:
17 September 2020
Abstract: This paper is to study area harvested, number of people employed and quantity of fertilizer used as factors that affect agricultural crop production in Nigeria. The best variable selection/stepwise method is used to determine the factor(s) that contributed more to crop production in Nigeria. The factors were the explanatory variables and crop production was the response variable. Steps were taken to be able to identify the individual factors contribution to the crop production and possibly the combination of factors contribution to crop production. This is in order to determine the factor(s) to give more attention to increase crop production for lucrative investment in agriculture and food security. The analysis revealed that area of land harvested contributed most significantly to crop output (production) in Nigeria in overall comparison to fertilizer and number of people employed. The area of land harvested and number of people employed as one set of factors that influence crop production gives higher effect on crop production than using another set of factors as area of land harvested and quantity of fertilizer. The models with the two sets of factors were not significant leading to the fact that the major contributor to crop production in Nigeria is area of land harvested. This is pointing to the fact that the labour force is enough to transform the agricultural crop production sector in Nigeria if more land is acquired for agriculture with an improved technology. The stakeholders in agricultural sector in Nigeria are to expand the harvested land especially when the country has not developed to the extent of full agricultural mechanization.
Abstract: This paper is to study area harvested, number of people employed and quantity of fertilizer used as factors that affect agricultural crop production in Nigeria. The best variable selection/stepwise method is used to determine the factor(s) that contributed more to crop production in Nigeria. The factors were the explanatory variables and crop produ...
Show More
