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pentagontest

What is ‘Pentagon Test’?

The diagnosis of publicity capabilit

There is an evaluation method called ‘Pentagon Test’, developed to diagnose total publicity capability of corporations, non-profit-making organizations, etc.

It has the following five indexes to check, (1) PR organization capability, (2) information arrangement capability, (3) information gathering capability, (4) information providing capability and (5) PR planning capability, and the result is shown on a radar chart with five axes (pentagon).

We evaluate each element of publicity capability on five indexes and reinforce the weakness/expand the strength systematically.

Five main elements on index

1, PR organization capability

  1. A person in charge of public relations should be an executive of the company
  2. Investigation and report of publicity work should be performed in an executive meeting
  3. PR section should be separated from advertising section
  4. Administrators and staff of PR section should have experience in management section of the company
  5. Information should be exchanged with related sections such as management section continuously and closely
  6. PR section should be well-recognised and considered in the company
  7. Information system should be up to date with modern digital communication

    etc

2, Information arrangement capability (following items should be arranged)

  1. Facts for publicity work
  2. Company profile and introduction
  3. Photos and resume of executives
  4. Outline, historical records and photos of offices, branches, factories, laboratories and other establishments
  5. Manuals and photos of products and technique
  6. Annual reports
  7. List and resume of persons concerned in main mass media
  8. List and resume of persons concerned in main press clubs
  9. List and resume of groups and persons concerned in main business world
  10. List and resume of main consumers and citizen groups
  11. List and resume of main government officials
  12. List and resume of main politicians
  13. List and resume of persons concerned in main academic circles and research institutes
  14. Manuals of related legislation and regulation
  15. Spokespersons of management section in the company
  16. All sorts of media data
  17. List of events and functions
  18. Emergency contact list both in and outside of company
  19. Related press cuttings and videos about reported news and programmes
  20. Data base by all sorts of information contents

    etc

3,Information gathering capability

  1. Periodic trend of the mass media
  2. Periodic trend of related products and technique
  3. Periodic trend of competitive companies
  4. Periodic trend of both domestic and foreign market
  5. Periodic trend of consumer’s consciousness and the sense of value
  6. Continuous trend of related regulation and deregulation of government offices
  7. Continuous trend of social issues
  8. Periodic research of corporate image and estimation
  9. Arrangement of jobholders and the brains outside of the company as an information network

etc

4,Information providing capability

  1. Regular/unofficial president press interviews
  2. Press conferences with main press clubs and related media
  3. Inspection meetings of factories, laboratories, important facilities and technique
  4. Publication of press release and newsletters
  5. Publication of periodic bulletin to decision makers
  6. Open house (open facilities)
  7. Events, functions/social service activities to improve corporate image

    etc

5,PR planning capability

  1. Annual/medium-range PR strategy and plan
  2. PR plan of each priory target
  3. Plan to evaluate publicity work
  4. Notes about division of PR stuff duties
  5. Publicity work manual
  6. Emergency publicity manual

etc