Journal of Public Relations Research

Plowman, Kenneth D.; ReVelle, Cynthia; Meirovich, Shira; Pien, Martha; Stemple, Richard; Sheng, Virginia; Fay, Karen

1995 Journal of Public Relations Research

doi: 10.1207/s1532754xjprr0704_01

The major problems for Walgreens in the health care reform debate and its primary stakeholders are identified, as well as the possible strategies to resolve the conflicts between Walgreens and its stakeholders. The overt positions, underlying interests, and best alternatives for resolution between Walgreens and its stakeholders are evaluated. Additionally, a conflict resolution model for public relations is developed as a guideline in suggesting strategies for solution. The three major issues for Walgreens were (a) cost of drugs, (b) freedom to choose the drug provider, and (c) mail-order drugs. Walgreens should collaborate with its stakeholders on the cost of drugs issue, accommodate on the freedom of choice issue, and seek compromise on the mail-order drug issue.

Tam, Shuk Yin; Dozier, David M.; Lauzen, Martha M.; Real, Michael R.

1995 Journal of Public Relations Research

doi: 10.1207/s1532754xjprr0704_02

Mentoring relationships may affect career advancement opportunities for public relations practitioners, which in turn may impact role enactment and professional growth of practitioners. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to measure differential treatment of men and women in public relations with regard to mentoring and to assess the impact of mentoring on the career advancement of both groups. Findings indicate that subordinates and superiors of the same sex tend to have a more active and intense mentoring relationship than mixed-sex pairings. Female supervisors in public relations offer more active and intense mentoring to their subordinates than do male supervisors. Paradoxically, superior mentoring by female superiors yields fewer career advancement opportunities for their subordinates. Male supervisors seem more effective than female supervisors in providing subordinates career advancement. Practitioners with male mentors, regardless of gender, tend to have greater access to management advancement and have more opportunities to enact the manager role.

Heath, Robert L.; Douglas, William; Russell, Michael

1995 Journal of Public Relations Research

doi: 10.1207/s1532754xjprr0704_03

Employing a sample drawn from employees of Fortune 500 companies, this study helps define which employees are likely to participate in corporate constituency building efforts and the relation between the variables leading to participation. Supporting and expanding findings by J. E. Grunig (1989) and Baysinger, Keim, and Zeithaml (1985), the present study revealed that employee political activity can be predicted by a model that features employee organizational commitment (based on each employee's position in the corporate organizational hierarchy, amount of company stock owned, and tenure with the company), prior record of noncompany political activism, amount of information seeking to become informed on public policy matters, degree of cognitive involvement, and willingness to support corporate public policy efforts. These findings can assist public relations practitioners who seek to create employee constituency efforts in the most feasible and efficient manner.