When to speak up and when to shut up: The intended (and unintended) reputational consequences of social and environmental signaling
Open Access
Author:
Stites, Jenna Pauline
Graduate Program:
Business Administration
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
June 02, 2014
Committee Members:
Barbara Louise Gray, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor Timothy Grant Pollock, Committee Member Vilmos Fosnocht Misangyi, Committee Member Denise Sevick Bortree, Committee Member
Keywords:
reputation corporate social responsibility sustainability orgnanizational theory signaling stakeholder
Abstract:
Drawing on stakeholder, reputation, signaling, path dependence and communication theories, this dissertation examines the relationship between social and environmental signaling and firm reputation. In particular, it examines how signals sent by firms, firm partnerships, third parties and the media regarding corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSER) interact with a firm’s history of social and environmental actions to impact the firm’s CSER-specific reputation as well as its general reputation. The results suggest that firm self-disclosure lowers the general reputation of firms with strong CSER histories, whereas it enhances the general reputation of firms with weak CSER histories. Additionally, forming CSER-oriented partnerships increases general reputation for firms regardless of CSER history. On the other hand, receipt of third-party awards only increases general reputation for firms with a history of CSER strengths. In terms of CSER-specific reputation, however, CSER history appears to be the only important predictor. These results present several theoretical contributions and managerial implications.
