IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i6p2296-d1354547.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unlocking the Power of Corporate Social Responsibility Communication in the Online Sphere: A Systematic Exploration

Author

Listed:
  • Alexandra Kocurikova

    (Department of Economy and Management of Chemical and Food Industry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, 53210 Pardubice, Czech Republic)

  • Jan Kopriva

    (Department of Economy and Management of Chemical and Food Industry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, 53210 Pardubice, Czech Republic)

  • Libena Tetrevova

    (Department of Economy and Management of Chemical and Food Industry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, 53210 Pardubice, Czech Republic)

Abstract

Socially responsible behavior is evolving due to changing economic, social, and environmental landscapes. This has led to a growing interest in sharing corporate social responsibility activities online, known as CSR (corporate social responsibility) web communication. However, there has not been a comprehensive study that has provided a complete synthesis of knowledge in this field or has outlined research trends, existing gaps, and future directions. Through a systematic review of 141 articles published from 2006 to 2023, four core research themes were identified: (1) motives behind CSR web communication, (2) evaluation of the level of CSR web communication, (3) the role of stakeholders in the process of CSR web communication, and (4) CSR web communication strategy. The scattered research highlights the need for more focused investigation. In particular, future research should focus on understanding what stakeholders require in CSR web communication, evaluating how they perceive its value and benefits, and investigating the relationship between CSR web communication and a company’s economic performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexandra Kocurikova & Jan Kopriva & Libena Tetrevova, 2024. "Unlocking the Power of Corporate Social Responsibility Communication in the Online Sphere: A Systematic Exploration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-22, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:6:p:2296-:d:1354547
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/6/2296/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/6/2296/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rayne, Daniel & Leckie, Civilai & McDonald, Heath, 2020. "Productive partnerships? Driving consumer awareness to action in CSR partnerships," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 49-57.
    2. Ambika Zutshi & Andrew Creed & Rajat Panwar & Lyndall Willis, 2021. "Corporate social responsibility (CSR): Curators’ specific responses from Australian museums and art galleries," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(5), pages 651-667, March.
    3. M. Karim Sorour & Philip J. Shrives & Ahmed Ayman El-Sakhawy & Teerooven Soobaroyen, 2020. "Exploring the evolving motives underlying corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures in developing countries: the case of “political CSR” reporting," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 34(5), pages 1051-1079, December.
    4. Vilem Kunz & Martina Ferencova & Stepanka Hronova & Martin Singer, 2015. "Researching Of Socially Responsible Behaviour In Selected Companies And Organizations Through Their Corporate Websites," Polish Journal of Management Studies, Czestochowa Technical University, Department of Management, vol. 12(2), pages 91-102, DEcember.
    5. Rafael Bravo & Jorge Matute & José Pina, 2012. "Corporate Social Responsibility as a Vehicle to Reveal the Corporate Identity: A Study Focused on the Websites of Spanish Financial Entities," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 107(2), pages 129-146, May.
    6. Irene Pollach, 2015. "Strategic corporate social responsibility: the struggle for legitimacy and reputation," International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 10(1), pages 57-75.
    7. Susan J Winter & Carol Saunders & Paul Hart, 2003. "Electronic window dressing: impression management with Websites," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(4), pages 309-322, December.
    8. Flavio Boccia & Pasquale Sarnacchiaro, 2018. "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Consumer Preference: A Structural Equation Analysis," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(2), pages 151-163, March.
    9. Sushil Kumar & Anab Kidwai, 2018. "CSR disclosures and transparency among top Indian companies," International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 16(1), pages 57-70.
    10. Shuili Du & Edward Vieira, 2012. "Striving for Legitimacy Through Corporate Social Responsibility: Insights from Oil Companies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 110(4), pages 413-427, November.
    11. Nikola LEVKOV & Nikolina PALAMIDOVSKA-STERJADOVSKA, 2019. "Corporate Social Responsibility Communication In Western Balkans Banking Industry: A Comparative Study," Management Research and Practice, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 11(3), pages 17-30, September.
    12. Xiaojun Du & Fei Feng & Wei Lv, 2022. "Bibliometric Overview of Organizational Legitimacy Research," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    13. David Eberle & Guido Berens & Ting Li, 2013. "The Impact of Interactive Corporate Social Responsibility Communication on Corporate Reputation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(4), pages 731-746, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sara Amabile & Francesca Conte & Agostino Vollero & Alfonso Siano, 2022. "Measuring and evaluating CSR information and involvement strategies on corporate Facebook pages," Italian Journal of Marketing, Springer, vol. 2022(3), pages 341-369, September.
    2. Giorgia Nigri & Laura Michelini & Cecilia Grieco, 2017. "Social Impact And Online Communication In B-Corps," Global Journal of Business Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 11(3), pages 87-104.
    3. Menno D. T. Jong & Mark Meer, 2017. "How Does It Fit? Exploring the Congruence Between Organizations and Their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Activities," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 143(1), pages 71-83, June.
    4. João Guerreiro & Paulo Rita & Duarte Trigueiros, 2016. "A Text Mining-Based Review of Cause-Related Marketing Literature," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 139(1), pages 111-128, November.
    5. Domenico Sardanelli & Francesca Conte & Agostino Vollero & Alfonso Siano, 2021. "CSR signals: exploring their use in controversial industries," Italian Journal of Marketing, Springer, vol. 2021(3), pages 249-266, September.
    6. Peter Seele & Irina Lock, 2015. "Instrumental and/or Deliberative? A Typology of CSR Communication Tools," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 131(2), pages 401-414, October.
    7. Chu, Shu-Chuan & Chen, Hsuan-Ting & Gan, Chen, 2020. "Consumers’ engagement with corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication in social media: Evidence from China and the United States," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 260-271.
    8. Tahniyath Fatima & Said Elbanna, 2023. "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Implementation: A Review and a Research Agenda Towards an Integrative Framework," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(1), pages 105-121, February.
    9. María Jesús Muñoz‐Torres & María Ángeles Fernández‐Izquierdo & Juana M. Rivera‐Lirio & Elena Escrig‐Olmedo, 2019. "Can environmental, social, and governance rating agencies favor business models that promote a more sustainable development?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(2), pages 439-452, March.
    10. Baobao Song & Jing (Taylor) Wen, 2020. "Online corporate social responsibility communication strategies and stakeholder engagements: A comparison of controversial versus noncontroversial industries," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 881-896, March.
    11. Yi Grace Ji & Weiting Tao & Hyejoon Rim, 2022. "Theoretical Insights of CSR Research in Communication from 1980 to 2018: A Bibliometric Network Analysis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 177(2), pages 327-349, May.
    12. Andrea Pérez & María del Mar García de los Salmones & Elisa Baraibar-Diez, 2020. "Effects of the Type of CSR Discourse for Utilitarian and Hedonic Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-22, June.
    13. Agostino Vollero & Francesca Conte & Alfonso Siano & Claudia Covucci, 2019. "Corporate social responsibility information and involvement strategies in controversial industries," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(1), pages 141-151, January.
    14. Gregory D. Saxton & Lina Gomez & Zed Ngoh & Yi-Pin Lin & Sarah Dietrich, 2019. "Do CSR Messages Resonate? Examining Public Reactions to Firms’ CSR Efforts on Social Media," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(2), pages 359-377, March.
    15. Girardone, Claudia & Kokas, Sotirios & Wood, Geoffrey, 2021. "Diversity and women in finance: Challenges and future perspectives," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    16. Foroudi, Pantea & Yu, Qionglei & Gupta, Suraksha & Foroudi, Mohammad M., 2019. "Enhancing university brand image and reputation through customer value co-creation behaviour," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 218-227.
    17. Robert P. Ormrod & Annika C. Müller, 2022. "The Impact of Corporate Political Activity on Corporate Reputation Amongst Industry Stakeholders," Corporate Reputation Review, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 25(3), pages 226-238, August.
    18. Cortez, Maria Céu & Andrade, Nuno & Silva, Florinda, 2022. "The environmental and financial performance of green energy investments: European evidence," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    19. Wei Peng & Baogui Xin & Yekyung Kwon, 2019. "Optimal Strategies of Product Price, Quality, and Corporate Environmental Responsibility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-24, November.
    20. Kim, Yeonshin & Hur, Won-Moo & Lee, Luri, 2023. "Understanding customer participation in CSR activities: The impact of perceptions of CSR, affective commitment, brand equity, and corporate reputation," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:6:p:2296-:d:1354547. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.