CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ONLINE COMMUNICATION OF ROMANIAN SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED ENTERPRISES

Purpose: This research, because of the firms growing concerns for their prospects for sustainability, the importance of communicating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the technological revolution of the last decade, aims to investigate the online Corporate Social Responsibility communication of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). Methodology: The data are collected from the websites of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, according to the purpose and character of the research. The companies were chosen randomly from a database provided by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Cluj-Napoca. The websites in the sample were examined to explore the nature, extent and presentation style of information on Corporate Social Responsibility activities. Findings: The results of the research showed that the number of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises with Corporate Social Responsibility information on their websites is quite small. Small and Medium Sized Enterprises do not use the potential of their webs ties to their advantage, in terms of quantity and style. However, the research provides an overview of the various Corporate Social Responsibility activities and communication styles of these activities. The research used a sample from a database of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises provided by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Cluj-Napoca so that the results can be generalized, and these results are consistent with similar studies. Practical implications: The research enriches the existing literature, provides future research prospects, a good knowledge of basic principles for managers' better use of web resources and improves company's relations with their stakeholders. Online Corporate Social Responsibility activities that might be interesting for organizations and tips for improving websites for a better style and image of good corporate citizens are also discussed. Originality/Value: The research explores, in the Romanian context, the current situation of online Corporate Social Responsibility communication and shows that even the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises are increasingly concerned with communicating ethically and responsibly to the diversity of stakeholders through the web.