Example customer service dissertation topic 2:

Ethics in PR and cultural diversity: a mismatch of ideologies within a Middle-Eastern environment?

This dissertation seeks to address the seeming confrontation between the role and purpose of the PR consultant and the societal code of ethics that governs Middle Eastern Islamic countries. In so doing this dissertation focuses primarily on the PR industry within Saudi Arabia though references are also made to its sister organisations in Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq. This is an empirical study that combines primary and secondary research to provide a range of conclusions and recommendations as to how PR practitioners in the Middle East can successfully fulfil the wishes of clients whilst also remaining true to their cultural beliefs.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Freitag, A.R. and Stokes, A.Q. (2009) Global public relations: Spanning borders, cultures.  New York: Routledge.Grunig, J.E.,(2001) ‘Public relations and international affairs, effects, ethics and responsibility’, Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 47(1), pp. 137-162.
• Holtzhausen, D.R. and Voto, R. (2002) ‘Resistance from the margins: The postmodern public relations practitioner as organizational activist’, Journal of Public Relations Research, Vol. 14(1), pp. 57-84.
• Huang, Y.H. (2001) ‘Should a public relations code of ethics be enforced?’ Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 31(3), pp. 259-270.