Psychological contract as an element of internal public relations

Abstract

This paper presents an exploratory study, which aims to determine the characteristics of the relationship between students and faculty representatives (who have regular functional communication with students) in order to determine the existence / non-existence of psychological contract between the faculty and students. The research is based on the belief that a healthy psychological contract, which motivates and satisfies both sides, is a motivating factor for business accomplishments and significant benefit to all participants in the process. Considering psychological contract in the context of internal public relations, this paper examines all the important elements that characterize the processes of communication within the inert public of organization (faculty). The research, which is the subject matter of this paper, was carried out on the sample of students in the third year of Engineering Management, Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad, in 2011/2012 academic year. It has shown that the basic problems regarding implementation/acceptance of psychological contract are a product of deficiencies in communication, understanding and trust between two sides amid which the psychological contract has been concluded. Thus, the problems related to the realization/acceptance of psychological contract should be resolved in the domain of internal public relations.