phase 1) Formative Research Flashcards
Name the 3 steps in Formative Research (Phase 1)
Step 1) Analyzing the Situation
Step 2) Analyzing the Organization
Step 3) Analyzing the Publics
What is a situation?
A situation is a set of circumstances facing an organization
How do we state a situation? (ie Nouns or Verbs?)
Situations are stated as NOUNS.
ie “availability”, “fear”, “loyalty”
A PR situation is a possible course of action that can be either “……” or “……”
Positive (Opportunity) OR Negative (Obstacle)
The word “problem” comes from Greek and Latin meanings of “…….” and “…….”
Greek - “ A task proposed”
Latin - “ A thing put forward”
Define “Opportunity”
The PR situation may be identified as an opening, something that can be embraced.
An opportunity offers a potential advantage to the organization or its publics.
Define “Obstacle”
A PR situation could be a roadblock, something to overcome.
Obstacles limit the organization in realizing its mission (ie fan loyalty if a team is losing)
Can a crisis situation be an opportunity? If so when?
Even in a crisis situation, obstacles can be approached as opportunities IF the problem has NOT been self-inflicted. (ie an organization under attack can use the public attention generated by the crisis to explain their values and demonstrate their quality.
What 2 kinds of ‘learning from research’ can be conducted as you analyze the situation?
1) Review academic and Professional literature
2) Identifying other organizations that have successfully navigated a similar situation that faces your org (benchmarking)
Define ‘Best Practice Approach’
This is a method of researching, documenting and analyzing behaviour of an acknowledged leader in the field, who faced a similar situation successfully (or learning from a competitor that unsuccessfully handled a situation)
The best practice approach tries to identify a Benchmark
Define ‘Benchmark’
Benchmarking is the search for better ways of doing the things you do.
Is a Continuous & Systemic process of measuring an organizations products/services against the best practice of strong competitors and recognised industry leaders, in order to improve your organzations performance
What are 3 Benefits of Benchmarking (according to Scwartz and Gibb)
1) Organizational initiatives that prevent internal inertia from taking over
2) Continual awareness of innovations coming from competitors
3) Introduction of fresh air from outside the organization
The first 4 stages of strategic planning process deals with FORMATIVE research, data on which you build your communication program. There are two types of such research. What are they?
- Strategic Research
- Tactical Research
Define ‘Strategic Research’
Strategic research is the systematic gathering about issues & publics that affect an organzation, particularly one engaged in two-way models of public relations.
(more directly impacts organizations overall mission)
Define ‘ Tactical Research’
Tactical research is information obtained to guide the production & dissemination of messages.
(helps practitioners do tasks more effectively)
Explain the 3 prong research program for most pr projects
- Casual research
- Secondary Research
- Primary Research
Explain ‘Casual Research’
Collects what is already known.
Can be informal as ou think about the situation.
Pick the brains of client/collegagues individuals.
Interview other people with experience or expertise.
Brainstorm alone or with other planners.
Explain ‘Secondary Research’
- More systematically looks for existing info.
- Investigate orgs files to learn what already exists on the issue.
- Search library for info from books, periodicals and special reports
- Search similar material on internet (but be wary of validity)
- Review & analyse how other orgs handled similar situations
Explain ‘Primary Research’
Involves gathering original info by conducting your own research.
(ie Surveys, focus groups and content analysis)
Hedrick, Bickman and Rog reccomend at least 4 research touch points with client.
Describe these 4 touch points.
1) Initial meeting to develop common understanding, research needs, resources and expected uses
2) Meeting to agree on Scope (particularly costs, resources)
3) Meeting to refine the research questions and discuss potential approaches & limitations
4) A meeting for agreement on the proposed study of approach
Describe an ‘Issue’
An issue is a situation that presents matters of concern to org.
- Bakhsheshy defines “a trend, an event, a devlopment, or a matter in dispute that may affect an org.
- Dearing & Rogers define an issue as “a social problem, often conflictual, that has received media coverage”.
Describe the ‘Issues Management process’
Monitoring & evaluating info. Anticipate emerging issues & respond to them before they get out of hand, perhaps before they break onto the scene.
Define ‘ Environmental Scanning’
The process of seeking info about events & relationships in a company’s outside environment, the knowledge of which would assist top management in its task of charting the company’s future course of action.
Define stage 1 of the 6 stage synthesis process of issues management
1) Identify future issues likely to affect an org. Develop early warning scanning system that considers where the org wants to go & looks at potential roadblocks and other outside pressures on the org. Look for forces that could help the org move along its path.
Define stage 2 of the 6 stage synthesis process of issues management
2) Research & Analyze each issue. Carefully gather as many facts as possible about these. Consult specialists who are particularly familiar with the issues.
Define stage 3 of the 6 stage synthesis process of issues management
3) Consider options in responding to each issue. Use creative problem-solving techniques to discover as many alternatives as possible to deal with the issue at hand. Establish your standards for success & the criteria your Org should use to make choices among the various alternatives.
Define stage 4 of the 6 stage synthesis process of issues management
4) Develop an action plan. Select most appropriate option, usually in terms of cost-effectiveness, practicality & organizational fit. Then develop a specific plan to address the issue.
Define stage 5 of the 6 stage synthesis process of issues management
5) Implement the plan, giving as much energy & resources as it warrants.