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Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore whether different aspects of corporate social responsibility (i.e., economic, legal,
and ethical) have independent association with job applicants’ attraction to organizations and how applicants combine the
information. Further, from a person–organization fit perspective, we examine whether applicants are attracted to organizations
whose corporate social responsibility (CSR) reflects their differences in ethical predispositions (i.e., utilitarianism and
formalism) and Machiavellianism. Using factorial design, we created scenarios manipulating CSR and pay level. Participants
read each scenario and answered questions about their attraction to the organization depicted in the scenario. We found that
each aspect of CSR had an independent relationship with organizational attraction and the probability of accepting a job offer.
Participants combined information from each type of CSR in an interactive, configural manner. Applicants with different ethical
predispositions and Machiavellianism personality were affected by CSR to different extents. Understanding how job applicants
evaluate CSR information may give managers an opportunity to influence applicant attraction. Further, our study shows that
organizations may be able to maximize the utility of their CSR investments by selectively conveying CSR information in recruitment
brochures that are attractive to their ideal applicants. This is the first study to examine how job applicants form their
perception based upon different configurations of the multiple aspects of CSR. In addition, this is the first study to examine
the moderating effect of individual differences in ethical predispositions and Machiavellianism on the relationship between
CSR and applicant attraction.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-18
- DOI 10.1007/s10869-011-9250-5
- Authors
- Lu Zhang, School of Business Administration, Penn State-Harrisburg, Middletown, PA 17057, USA
- Mary A. Gowan, Love School of Business, Elon University, Elon, NC 27244, USA
- Journal Journal of Business and Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-353X
- Print ISSN 0889-3268