Organization sustainability communication (OSC): Similarities and differences of OSC messages in the United States and South Korea

As stakeholders most frequently access Web sites to learn about environmental issues, it would be effective to display messages addressing sustainability on organizational Web sites. This study aimed to compare and contrast the content of organization sustainability communication (OSC) displayed on the Web sites of the top 100 companies in South Korea and the United States. U.S. organizations are significantly more active in communicating their values or practices regarding organizational sustainability to their stakeholders through their Web sites. Data indicated that the Web sites of South Korean companies emphasized collectivism ('harmony,' 'environmental heritage,' 'enterprise management,' 'performance for community,' and 'family theme' values) and power distance values ('hierarchy information,' 'vision statement,' and 'proper titles of executives') more so than their U.S. counterparts. However, U.S. companies displayed more values related to uncertainty avoidance ('customer service,' 'guided navigation,' and 'link to more specific information').