Recently, the use of corporate social responsibility initiatives has grown in popularity and prominence among organizations as research increasingly suggests that these initiatives positively impact the corporation's bottom line. This study contributes to theory driven research in strategic communications by using an experimental design to test the influence of six distinct corporate social responsibility initiatives, as identified by Kotler and Lee (2005), on the beliefs, attitudes, and behavioral intention of message receivers, using Fishbein and Ajzen's (1975, 2005) theory of reasoned action as a theoretical framework. According to Fishbein and Ajzen (1975), attitudes about an object are the result of the total of many varying beliefs about the object. This study extends understanding of the Dual Credibility Model by examining the influence of corporate credibility as a belief set and mediator between organizations and their target publics. This study is uniquely focused on developing a better understanding of how corporate social responsibility initiatives influence corporate credibility and corporate social responsibility beliefs. Findings do not indicate significant differences among corporate social responsibility initiatives. Only significant differences between using and not using an initiative were found. However, among the initiatives cause related marketing demonstrated the highest mean score, although not a significant difference. CSR initiatives do influence belief sets, specifically CSR beliefs. The corporate credibility/ trust belief set showed the strongest positive influence on attitude toward the advertisement and attitude toward the organization. Attitude towards the organization demonstrated a significant influence on behavioral intention toward the organization. These results support the theory of reasoned action. Exploratory research found that corporate credibility/trust and corporate credibility/expertise directly and significantly influenced behavioral intention toward the organization, suggesting an extension of the theory within the context of corporate credibility.

Corporate social marketing (CSM) refers to "a means whereby a corporation supports the development and/or implementation of a behavior change campaign intended to improve public health, safety, the environment, or community well-being" (Kotler & Lee, 2005a, p.114). The examination of CSM by professional sport organizations (PSOs) is significant since these organizations have the potential to serve as a particularly meaningful vehicle for promoting socially beneficial ideas and behavior (Chalip, 2006; Kaufman & Wolff, 2010; Loakimidis, 2007; Smith & Westerbeek, 2007). Despite this, little investigation has been undertaken in this research area (Irwin, Irwin, Miller, Somes, & Richey, 2010; Sparvero, 2010). Furthermore, no comprehensive framework exists that explains the process of how CSM influences consumer voluntary behavior in general business disciplines (Du, Sen, & Bhattacharya, 2008). The purpose of this study was to address this gap and investigate the role of corporate credibility in understanding the process of how PSOs influence consumer voluntary behavior through their CSM initiatives. The current research focused on corporate credibility based on previous research findings indicating that the credibility of a message source greatly influences the persuasiveness of its communication (e.g., Hovland, Janis, & Kelley, 1953; Pornpitakpan, 2004). This study developed a theoretical model positing that consumers would formulate their perceptions regarding the credibility of a PSO on supporting environmental protection ("environmental credibility") based on: (1) characteristics of the organization, (2) characteristics of the CSM initiative, and (3) characteristics of the cause. Environmental credibility, in turn, was expected to influence consumer pro-environmental behavior measured by daily recycling involvement and recycling intentions during the PSO's home games. The model further proposed that value congruence would have mediating and moderating effects on the relationship between environmental credibility and pro-environmental behavior. To test this theoretical model, the study collected data from fans of two PSOs that currently operate environmental initiatives. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was employed to analyze the data (n = 368) obtained through web-based questionnaires. The SEM results indicated that the following four of the eight hypothesized antecedents of environmental credibility had significant positive effects: general credibility, perceived effort, perceived impact, and cause importance. Furthermore, environmental credibility was found to positively influence the two recycling behaviors as expected. Contrary to the theoretical propositions, however, the results did not find support for the positive mediating and moderating effect of value congruence. Overall, the findings of this study contribute to the literature by highlighting the role of corporate credibility when PSOs engage in CSM initiatives. Moreover, this research, as well as future endeavors, helps PSOs become an effective vehicle for promoting socially beneficial behavior, which ideally can lead to positive social change. / Tourism and Sport

<p>Disertacija se bavi uticajem odnosa s medijima (MR) na pojedine organizacione i poslovne performanse, u preduzećima u Srbiji. Konkretno, diesrtacija obuhvata uticaj odnosa s medijima (MR) na zadovoljstvo komunikacijom (CS), korporativni kredibilitet (CC), finansijske performanse (FP), distancu moći (PD), orjentaciju ka budućnosti (FO) i su&scaron;tinsko transformaciono liderstvo (CTL). Podaci su dobijeni anketiranjem N = 394 srednja menadžera iz 123 preduzeća u Srbiji. Od metoda statističke obrade podataka kori&scaron;ćeni su: deskriptivna statistika, korelaciona analiza, regresiona analiza, t-test i hijerarhijska regresiona analiza. Osnovni zaključci istraživanja su: 1. Korelacije između uticaja odnosa s medijima i organizacionih i poslovnih performansi su statistički značajne, snažne i pozitivne, u najvećem broju slučajeva. Najveći uticaj na organzacione i poslovne performanse imaju savremeni mediji. 2. Odnosi s medijima imaju mali uticaj na korporativni kredibilitet, a taj uticaj se ostvaruje, pre svega, preko savremenih medija. 3. Među finansijskim performansama, odnosi s medijima naročito pozitivno utiču na trži&scaron;ni udeo i rast prodaje. 4. Za povećanje organizacionih performansi, preduzeća bi posebno trebala da posvete pažnju savremenim medijima, kao i prisutnosti direktora u medijima. 5. Za povećanje finansijskih performansi, preduzeća bi posebno trebala da posvete pažnju, kako savremenim, tako i tradicionalnim medijima, pri čemu prisutnost preduzeća u medijima ima prednost nad prisustvom direktora u medijima. 6. Unapređenjem odnosa s medijima, preduzeće stvara dobru osnovu za podizanje nivoa organizacionih i poslovnih performansi.</p> / <p>The dissertation deals with the impact of media relations (MR) on certain organizational and business performances in Serbian companies. Specifically, the dissertation deals with the impact of media relations (MR) on communication satisfaction (CS), corporate credibility (CC), financial performance (FP), power distance (PD), future orientation (FO) and core transformational leader behaviour (CTL). The data were obtained using questionnaires completed by N = 394 middle managers from 123 companies in Serbia. The statistical methodologies that were used in the data analysis are: descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, regression analysis, t-test and hierarchical regression analysis. The main conclusions of the study are as follows. 1. The correlations between the media relations items and organizational and business performance are statistically significant, strong and positive, in most cases. Modern media have the greatest impact on organizational and business performance. 2. Media relations have little impact on corporate credibility, and that influence is achieved primarily through modern media. 3. In terms of financial performance, media relations have a particularly positive influence on market share and sales growth. 4. To increase organizational performances, companies should pay close attention to modern media, as well as to the presence of the CEO in the media. 5. To increase business (financial) performance, companies should pay considerable attention to both modern and traditional media, while the company&rsquo;s media presence has an advantage over that of the CEO.</p>

Background: The study explores the impact of brand equity on brand loyalty intention within the accounting services sector in Finland. The study uses four dimensions of brand equity, which include perceived brand quality, perceived brand value, perceived brand uniqueness and perceived corporate credibility. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to explore the applicability and the impact of customer-based brand equity and its dimensions in the field of accounting. Method: The current research applies known conceptual frameworks and theories on the dimensions of customer-based brand equity in business-to-business context and investigates causal relationships between the CBBE dimensions and brand loyalty intention. A self-administered survey was conducted and a total of 93 responses was collected from businesses that use external accounting services. Conclusion: All hypotheses have been supported and the findings conclude that brand quality, brand value, brand uniqueness and corporate credibility have positive correlation with brand loyalty intention. Findings of the study are relevant for marketers and researchers, as well as for managerial implications in the building of brand equity. The paper provides valuable insights into the dimensions of customer-based brand equity in the business-to-business context and offers a solid foundation for future research on brand loyalty and brand equity and offers practical help for businesses to enhance their customers’ loyalty.