This dissertation focuses on the identification and analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) topoi in the travel and tourism industry. A sample set of six companies was selected for the study due to their size and prominence in the industry -- namely Disney, Hilton, Intercontinental, Marriott, Starwood, and Wyndham. Topoi were identified through a blended method of research that employed rhetorical analysis, modified grounded theory, and NVIVO content analysis software. The research followed three guiding principles to recognize textual cues and drive analysis: common and special topoi; topoi as heuristic; topoi for association and amplification; and topoi as fluid and movable. The common CSR topoi, triple bottom line and shared value, were also used as overarching categories for coding the texts. The results of the method yielded six unique topoi that were specific to each company; these included Inspiration, Higher Purpose, Collaborative Innovation, Leadership, The Age of Great Change, and Green. Results also included a set of seven special industry topoi that were common across all of the sample companies; these included Commitment, Management, Alignment, Environment, Engagement, Achievement, and Sustainability. The rhetorical synergy and topological levels identified through this research can inform other studies of CSR about the generative potential of topoi and its fluidity when viewed from different conceptual vantage points.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ucf.edu/oai:stars.library.ucf.edu:etd-2448 |
| Date | 01 January 2015 |
| Creators | Culler, Connie |
| Publisher | University of Central Florida |
| Source Sets | University of Central Florida |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Electronic Theses and Dissertations |
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