Media richness, user trust, and perceptions of corporate social responsibility

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the presentation medium of corporate social and environmental web site disclosure has an impact on user trust in such disclosure, and to examine the effect of media richness on user perception about corporate social and environmental responsibility. Design/methodology/approach -The paper's methodology is a three-by-two between-subjects design experiment, manipulating presentation medium and industry type. Participants viewed social and environmental web site disclosures and completed and communicated their perceptions of trust and the experimental companies' corporate social responsibility. Findings -The presentation medium richness of social and environmental web site disclosures is positively associated with: trusting intentions, but not trusting beliefs, of web site users; and user perception of corporate social and environmental responsibility. Research limitations/implications -As with all controlled experiments, the research design focused on internal validity to maintain control over the task design, manipulation, and measurement of variables. While this required trade-offs with external validity, the task was designed based on real-world scenarios to maintain high levels of external validity within the experimental setting. Practical implications -The paper provides evidence that corporations could use enhanced web-based technology to potentially mislead users regarding their performance in the social domain. Originality/value -The paper extends the visual disclosure literature by examining the richness of the image/visual media, and investigates whether user perceptions are impacted by the variations in its richness.

Corporate social responsibility and stakeholders: Review of the last decade (2006–2015)

“…The success and efficacy of conducting socially responsible activities also depend on adapting the strategy of corporate communication to the rapid development of information-communication technologies as well as to the development of social networks and the Internet (Dutot et al, 2016). Digital transformation in communicating social responsibility started in the middle of the 1990s (Isenmann, 2006), and enabled the stakeholders with computer skills to easily find timely and prompt information about corporate social responsibility, but also the overall business operations of the company (Cho et al, 2009). …”

Keputusan Pembelian: Jalinan Antara Media Cetak, Media Atas Talian dan Media Bersemuka (Buying Decision: The Links Between Print Media, Online Media and Face-to-Face Media)

“…Sebaliknya, komunikasi bersemuka dianggap sebagai media yang efisien dan mempunyai ciriciri kekayaan yang tinggi kerana keupayaannya dalam memberi maklum balas segera, menyokong pelbagai isyarat, menggunakan bahasa yang natural dan fokus kepada personal individu (Daft & Lengel, 1986;Simon & Peppas, 2004;Liu, Rau & Wendler, 2014). Selain itu, media pada hierarki kekayaan yang tinggi juga dikatakan berpengaruh dalam meningkatkan tahap kepercayaan dan menggalakkan perkongsian maklumat antara individu (Rockmann & Northcraft, 2008;Cho, Philips, Hageman & Patten, 2009;Liu, Rau & Wendler, 2014). Sorotan literatur menunjukkan, wujud limitasi tentang bagaimana setiap media daripada hierarki kekayaan yang berbeza ini dapat dijalinkan di antara satu sama lain dalam menghasilkan komunikasi yang berkesan kepada individu.…”

The first 25 years of the Queensland Rugby Football League: Claims to legitimacy in annual reports

“…Despite accountants' opinions that such visual images in annual reports are "lightweight elements of annual report packaging" (Davison, 2007: 137), it has been acknowledged that they contain rich and potent messages that can be useful in shaping corporate identity and reputation (Davison, 2007;Davison and Warren, 2009;Cho et al, 2009).…”