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Cited by 170Corporate Social Responsibility ReportingCorporate Social Responsibility and SustainabilityPublic Relations and Crisis Communication

Transcending transmission: Towards a constitutive perspective on CSR communication

Schoeneborn, Dennis, Trittin, Hannah·2013·Corporate Communications: An International Journal
DOI 10.1108/13563281311319481
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Abstract

Purpose Extant research on corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication primarily relies on a transmission model of communication that treats organizations and communication as distinct phenomena. This approach has been criticized for neglecting the formative role of communication in the emergence of organizations. This paper seeks to propose to reconceptualize CSR communication by drawing on the “communication constitutes organizations” (CCO) perspective. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual paper that explores the implications of switching from an instrumental to a constitutive notion of communication. Findings The study brings forth four main findings: from the CCO view, organizations are constituted by several, partly dissonant, and potentially contradictory communicative practices. From that viewpoint, the potential impact of CSR communication becomes a matter of connectivity of CSR to other practices of organizational communication. Communication practices that concern CSR should not be generally dismissed as mere “greenwashing” – given that some forms of talk can be action. Consequently, there is a need to investigate which specific speech acts create accountability and commitment in the context of CSR. The CCO view shows that CSR communication potentially extends the boundary of the organization through the involvement of third parties. Thus, it is fruitful to study CSR communication as a set of practices that aims at boundary maintenance and extens…

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  • Most writings in the context of CSR assume a transmission view on communication.

    “Most writings in the context of CSR circumvent this question by assuming a “transmission view” on communication (Schoeneborn & Trittin, 2013)”

    From Timely hypocrisy? Hypocrisy temporalities in CSR communication (2020) · cites this paper as Schoeneborn & Trittin, 2013

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Authors
Schoeneborn, D., & Trittin, H.
Affiliations
University of Zurich (CH)
ORCID
Schoeneborn, Dennis
Venue
Corporate Communications: An International Journal
Publisher
Emerald
Published
2013-04-24
Volume
18
Issue
2
Pages
193-211
ISSN
1356-3289 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1108/13563281311319481
OpenAlex
W3124670115
Cited by
170
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 5
FWCI
32.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.emerald.com/insight/site-policies (tdm)
Locations
  • Corporate Communications An International Journal (publishedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Public Relations and Crisis Communication
Keywords
CSR communication, organizational communication, greenwashing, speech acts, accountability, organizational boundaries, boundary maintenance, non-human agency, negotiation of meaning, organizational emergence

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