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The things that go without saying. On performative differences between business value communication and communication on business values

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  • Steffen Roth

    (ESC Rennes School of Business - ESC [Rennes] - ESC Rennes School of Business)

Abstract

This article argues that analyses of value semantics in organisational image brochures, websites, and further official documents do not give information about an organisation's ethical performance. Based on a systems theoretical definition of values, the case is made for a distinction of communication on values and value communication, the latter of which is defined as implicit form of communication. This distinction is illustrated by examples of personal and organisational value communication at Coca Cola France, Marriott Belgium, Accenture India, and two French retailers as well as a contrastive discussion of the CSR activities of Grünenthal GmbH and Coca Cola Hellenic Bottling. The findings suggest that research on business performance management by metaphor should be complemented with a focus on management by allusion, the latter of which could turn out to be effective to such extent that it finally calls for ethical concerns itself.

Suggested Citation

  • Steffen Roth, 2014. "The things that go without saying. On performative differences between business value communication and communication on business values," Post-Print hal-01053515, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01053515
    DOI: 10.1504/IJBPM.2014.063018
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-01053515
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Steffen Roth, 2013. "Common values? Fifty-two cases of value semantics copying on corporate websites," Post-Print hal-01053523, HAL.
    2. K. de Roeck & F. Maon & C. Lejeune, 2013. "Taking up the challenge of corporate branding : an integrative framework," Post-Print hal-00848038, HAL.
    3. Hugh Willmott, 1993. "Strength Is Ignorance; Slavery Is Freedom: Managing Culture In Modern Organizations," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 515-552, July.
    4. Barry Posner, 2010. "Another Look at the Impact of Personal and Organizational Values Congruency," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 97(4), pages 535-541, December.
    5. Michael Hopkins, 2003. "The business case for CSR: where are we?," International Journal of Business Performance Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 5(2/3), pages 125-140.
    6. M. López & Arminda Garcia & Lazaro Rodriguez, 2007. "Sustainable Development and Corporate Performance: A Study Based on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 75(3), pages 285-300, October.
    7. Henry Mintzberg, 1978. "Patterns in Strategy Formation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(9), pages 934-948, May.
    8. Victoria Groddeck, 2011. "Rethinking the Role of Value Communication in Business Corporations from a Sociological Perspective – Why Organisations Need Value-Based Semantics to Cope with Societal and Organisational Fuzziness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 100(1), pages 69-84, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Vladislav Valentinov, 2019. "The Ethics of Functional Differentiation: Reclaiming Morality in Niklas Luhmann’s Social Systems Theory," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 105-114, March.
    2. Roth, Steffen & Dana, Léo-Paul, 2015. "What is a self-made expat? Self-disclosures of self-initiated expatriates," EconStor Preprints 110355, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    3. Steffen Roth, 2017. "From Added Values to Augmented Realities. Introducing the Special Issue of Management and Functional Differentiation," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(2), pages 131-138, March.
    4. Roth, Steffen (ed.), 2015. "Non-technological and non-economic innovations: Contributions to a theory of robust innovation," EconStor Books, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, number 110468, March.
    5. Kaivo-oja, Jari & Roth, Steffen, 2015. "The Technological Future of Work and Robotics," EconStor Preprints 118693, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    6. Anne Michaels & Michael Grüning, 2016. "Glaubwürdigkeit von CSR-Konzepten – Die Einflüsse von CSR-Publizität und Corporate Identity auf CSR-Reputation," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 179-193, November.
    7. Vladislav Valentinov & Stefan Hielscher & Ingo Pies, 2016. "Emergence: A Systems Theory’s Challenge to Ethics," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 29(6), pages 597-610, December.
    8. Lena Zander & Karsten Jonsen & Audra I. Mockaitis, 2016. "Leveraging Values in Global Organizations: Premises, Paradoxes and Progress," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 149-169, April.
    9. Steffen Roth, 2015. "The cash is in the medium, not in the machine: Toward the golden moments of 3D printing," Working Papers hal-01206562, HAL.

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