Raquel Garde Sánchez

Online disclosure of university social responsibility: a comparative study of public and private US universities

Public and private universities tasked with incorporating principles of social responsibility (SR) into their activities face the multiple challenges of addressing expectations of diverse stakeholders, establishing mechanisms for dialogue, and achieving greater information transparency. This article has two goals: first, to analyze whether SR has become an essential element in activities associated with university accountability, information transparency, and the use of the Internet; second, to analyze whether SR is used by universities as a differentiating factor in relation to their status. A comparative study of public and private US universities shows that neither is strongly committed to the online disclosure of SR information, including in relation to sustainability-related activities. Moreover, there is a uniformity in the accountability activities of both university types, suggesting that the challenges are not being faced, and SR is not being used as a differentiating factor in the pursuit of positional or competitive advantage.

Online Disclosure of Corporate Social Responsibility Information in Leading Anglo-American Universities

ABSTRACT Universities are destined to play a fundamental role in terms of the incorporation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in their teaching and research, as well as in the disclosure of CSR information in order to meet their accountability to community. The development of information and communication technology could further encourage the implantation of these requirements. Focusing on the question of information disclosure, the objective of this article is twofold: (a) to analyse if, in the framework of accountability, universities are using the Internet as a means of disclosing CSR information and (b) to assess whether or not CSR information plays a relevant role in the communication policies of universities on the Internet. The conclusions suggest that universities attach little importance to online disclosure of specific information about CSR and, therefore, it cannot be considered to be a key aspect of their communication policy, in comparison to the webometrics ranking that measures the online disclosure of information.ABSTRACTUniversities are destined to play a fundamental role in terms of the incorporation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in their teaching and research, as well as in the disclosure of CSR information in order to meet their accountability to community. The development of information and communication technology could further encourage the implantation of these requirements. Focusing on the question of information disclosure, the objective of this article is twofold: (a) to analyse if, in the framework of accountability, universities are using the Internet as a means of disclosing CSR information and (b) to assess whether or not CSR information plays a relevant role in the communication policies of universities on the Internet. The conclusions suggest that universities attach little importance to online disclosure of specific information about CSR and, therefore, it cannot be considered to be a key aspect of their communication policy, in comparison to the webometrics ranking that measures the o...

Corporate and managerial characteristics as drivers of social responsibility disclosure by state-owned enterprises

The public administration sector, including state owned enterprises (SOEs), has developed various types of information disclosure practice, in response to stakeholders’ demands, in parallel with developments in the private sector. This paper analyses the corporate social responsibility (CSR) information disclosed by SOEs and the influence exerted by the characteristics of the SOEs themselves (size, industry sector, degree of government ownership and number of years in operation) and by those of their managers (age, gender, CSR education profile and CSR responsibilities in the workplace). To do so, an index of CSR information disclosure was created, based on the responses made to a questionnaire in this respect. An empirical regression model was then applied to test and categorise the factors analysed. According to the results obtained, the size and sector of the SOE, together with the manager’s CSR responsibilities, are the factors that most significantly affect the online disclosure of CSR information.

Divulgación online de información de responsabilidad social en las universidades españolas

A las universidades se les esta exigiendo que incorporen principios de responsabilidad social (RS) en todas sus actuaciones. La aplicacion de la RS en el ambito de la educacion superior implica identificar las expectativas de los diferentes grupos de interes, establecer mecanismos de dialogo con estos y mejorar la transparencia informativa. El objetivo de este articulo es estudiar si la transparencia informativa en temas de RS esta adquiriendo un papel esencial en las politicas de comunicacion online de las universidades para satisfacer las necesidades de informacion de los grupos de interes. Tambien analizamos si existen diferencias entre las universidades segun su caracter publico o privado, segun su prestigio y su calidad academica, asi como entre aquellas universidades que ofrecen niveles altos de comunicacion de informacion en Internet. Para el cumplimiento del objetivo del articulo, se propone un modelo de evaluacion mediante la creacion de una serie de indices que analizan los principales aspectos tanto del contenido como de la forma y contexto en que se produce la divulgacion de RS. Teniendo presente el contexto de reformas del sistema universitario espanol, este modelo se aplica a las universidades espanolas publicas y privadas. Utilizamos test parametricos y no parametricos para contrastar las hipotesis planteadas respecto a las variables que caracterizan a las universidades y que podrian tener incidencia en sus niveles de divulgacion online de la informacion de RS. Los resultados indican que las universidades espanolas estan poco comprometidas con la divulgacion online de informacion de RS. No se observa homogeneidad en los comportamientos en funcion del caracter publico o privado de la universidad ni tampoco entre las universidades de mayor prestigio y calidad academica, homogeneidad que si parece concurrir entre las que tienen una mayor visibilidad en Internet.

Perceptions of stakeholder pressure for supply-chain social responsibility and information disclosure by state-owned enterprises

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the influence of perceptions of pressure from stakeholders on the managers of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) regarding the need to implement socially responsible policies in the supply chain and to disclose corporate social responsibility (CSR) information. The authors also analyse the benefits perceived by public managers from applying CSR in the supply chain and from the greater disclosure of CSR information. Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire was developed, based on a set of items related to aspects of CSR, and taking into account previous research in this field. The authors also propose a theoretical model with which to analyse relations among the variables studied. This model was verified using structural equation modelling. Findings The results obtained are consistent with the proposed model and show that stakeholder pressure has a direct influence on the CSR policies applied by public managers regarding suppliers and information disclosure. The authors also find that public managers believe that applying socially responsible policies in their dealings with suppliers will benefit their business. Originality/value Although the question of CSR has been widely debated in the context of private business, very little research has addressed this question in the public sphere, especially in that of SOEs, regarding the practice of socially responsible management with suppliers. Aspects of social responsibility towards suppliers are of considerable importance and some complexity, particularly in public enterprises, which are sometimes the main or only consumer. A better understanding of the connections between these constructs will allow corporate decision makers, particularly those in public companies, to devise appropriate strategies for social responsibility in the supply chain and for the disclosure of CSR information, and thus incorporate stakeholders’ expectations into the design of these strategies.

An Analysis of the Disclosure of Social Responsibility in Australian Universities

Recently, there seems to be some consensus that universities should play a key role in the issues of social responsibility (SR). The higher education system in Australia has undergone of government reforms, providing funding in order to integrate SR issues in their strategic planning and to implement New Technologies of Information (ICT). This paper analyzes the policies and strategies of communication about SR information and wonders if Australian universities are relying on ICT as a means both to disseminate issues of SR and to facilitate interaction with stakeholders. The results show that the disclosure of SR reporting by Australian universities is very low, only with the main aim of legitimacy purposes.