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Exploring Corporations’ Dialogue About CSR in the Digital Era

Author

Listed:
  • Laura Illia

    (IE University)

  • Stefania Romenti

    (Management and Communication (IULM University))

  • Belén Rodríguez-Cánovas

    (Comillas, (ICAI-ICADE))

  • Grazia Murtarelli

    (Management and Communication (IULM University))

  • Craig E. Carroll

    (NYU)

Abstract

In this paper, we examined how companies are employing new media to engage in dialogue with their stakeholders about corporate social responsibility (CSR)-related matters. Through a qualitative theory-building study conducted in three stages over a period of 2 years, we discovered that corporations with reputations for CSR have built virtual spaces for dialogue about CSR, but that these spaces remain empty of dialogue. Our theory-building model highlights how the mix of four dialogue processes (i.e. directing, moderating, building open-scripts, and crowd-sourcing multi-dialogue) may allow companies to create open dialogue about CSR initiatives and avoid leaving these spaces empty. Contributions for CSR studies are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Illia & Stefania Romenti & Belén Rodríguez-Cánovas & Grazia Murtarelli & Craig E. Carroll, 2017. "Exploring Corporations’ Dialogue About CSR in the Digital Era," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 146(1), pages 39-58, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:146:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-015-2924-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-015-2924-6
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    2. 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.
    3. Jiwon Yang & Jay Hyuk Rhee, 2020. "CSR disclosure against boycotts: evidence from Korea," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(3), pages 311-343, July.
    4. Irina Lock & Theo Araujo, 2020. "Visualizing the triple bottom line: A large‐scale automated visual content analysis of European corporations' website and social media images," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(6), pages 2631-2641, November.
    5. Craig Carroll & Rowena Olegario, 2020. "Pathways to Corporate Accountability: Corporate Reputation and Its Alternatives," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 163(2), pages 173-181, May.
    6. Rocco Mazza & Emma Zavarrone & Mirko Olivieri & Daniela Corsaro, 2022. "A text mining approach for CSR communication: an explorative analysis of energy firms on Twitter in the post-pandemic era," Italian Journal of Marketing, Springer, vol. 2022(3), pages 317-340, September.
    7. Isabel-María García-Sánchez & Cristina Aibar-Guzmán & Carmen Serrano-Valdecillos & Beatriz Aibar-Guzmán, 2022. "Analysis of the Dialogue with Stakeholders by the IBEX 35 Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-26, February.
    8. María Ángeles Alcaide & Elena De La Poza & Natividad Guadalajara, 2019. "Assessing the Sustainability of High-Value Brands in the IT Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-20, March.
    9. Laura Maria Ferri & Matteo Pedrini & Marco Minciullo, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility and stakeholder dialogue under institutional voids: decoupling the role of corporate motives, ethics, and resources," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(1), pages 159-188, March.
    10. 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.
    11. 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.
    12. Buhmann, Alexander & Maltseva, Kateryna & Fieseler, Christian & Fleck, Matthes, 2021. "Muzzling social media: The adverse effects of moderating stakeholder conversations online," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    13. Xiaoyang Zhao & Jie Mi, 2024. "Firms’ corporate social irresponsibility behaviors during interplay with consumers in evolutionary game models," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
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    15. Francesca Conte & Agostino Vollero & Claudia Covucci & Alfonso Siano, 2020. "Corporate social responsibility penetration, explicitness, and symbolic communication practices in Asia: A national business system exploration of leading firms in sustainability," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(3), pages 1425-1435, May.

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