Abstract:
Considering the recent corporate scandals faced by the South African capital
market, stakeholders are understandably more sceptical about the accuracy
and transparency of information being communicated to them. An integral
stakeholder group which forms part of the success of an organisation is its
investors. Since investors have increasing demands and specific information
needs, it is essential that organisations communicate relevant and useful
information by means of investor relations. However, despite its importance,
academic research in the field of investor relations, specifically in terms of
communication, is lacking and does not correlate with the importance of the
function in corporate practice. The aim of this study was to critically evaluate
the current IR practices of JSE listed organisations; to determine whether
these aforementioned organisations participate in dialogic engagement with
investors. This was done by investigating investor relations theory within the
broader context of dialogic theory. The research design employed in this study
was an interpretive multiple case study qualitative inquiry. The findings are
the culmination and outcome of a synthesis of an in-depth literature review, a
content analysis of communicative products- and semi-structured interviews
with the investor relations officers of the case organisations.
