Communication and community stakeholder relationships in a company: a case study of geothermal development company
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Date
2015-09Author
Memagenda, Sheghu P
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The main objective of the study was to investigate communication and community
stakeholder relationships in Geothermal Development Company. While a
communication and community stakeholder relationship is essential for realization of
company goals and projects, little is known on how community stakeholder
engagement is detrimental to the organization. The study was guided by the following
specific objectives; to assess the need for communication and community stakeholder
engagement in Geothermal Development Company; to determine the impact of
communication and community stakeholder relationships in Geothermal Development
Company; to examine the challenges in communication and community stakeholder
relationships in Geothermal Development Company and to determine the
communication strategies used to build the community stakeholder relationships in
Geothermal Development Company. The study adopted a descriptive research design.
This study targeted population of Geothermal Development Company with approx.
1081 employees. Purposive sampling was used to select only participants that are
conversant with practices in corporate communication and stakeholder relationships
in Geothermal Development Company. A total of (27) employee of community
relations and corporate communication and marketing department was therefore
incorporated as the sample size. Data was gathered using structured questionnaires.
The findings of the study indicated that communication and community stakeholder
engagement was an imperative for the smooth operations experienced at GDC as this
fostered a peaceful coexistence between the company and the local communities.
Secondly, the findings indicated that the impact of communication and community
stakeholder engagement had a positive effect on the company‟s operations. Thirdly,
the company had encountered challenges in their communication and community
stakeholder engagement including the lack of consultation with the community
stakeholders which often led to differences between the company and the community
members. The study recommends the need to ensure full engagement with the local
inhabitants as they are the ones who will be affected with their operations. To ensure
fully engagement with the local residents recommends the need to engage the
communities by ensuring that their interests and expectations including immediate
employment of its members are met. It also recommended that the company should
undertake to carry out socially responsible projects such as community water projects,
and community health projects.
Publisher
University of Nairobi