Summary |
Public relations, as a management concept and as a staff function in organizations, has grown rapidly over the past three decades. This rapid development comes as a result of the increasing complexity of modern society and the growing insights into what motivates individuals and groups. Gaining the support and cooperation of others through persuasion is part of the day-by-day business of every organization-government agencies, business firms, labor unions, universities, and welfare agencies. Public relations has become a commonplace term in the language and thought of twentieth-century America. It is a part of our daily conversation, a standard topic on convention programs, and an important factor in contemporary decision making. The essentiality of public relations is seldom debated today. Even so, the term is not always understood. This reflects the fact that public relations is still in the fluid state of defining itself. The function embraces whatever it is assigned to do, and this varies widely.
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