Institutional Predictors of the Adoption of Employee Social Media Policies

Abstract

The importance of employee social media policies is recognized in today's increasingly connected organizations. Yet these policies are adopted at varying rates in different sectors and geographical regions. In the present study, an institutional approach was employed to investigate the predictors of the adoption of employee social media policies by organizations. Six predictors were examined, namely, organizational size, industry, and the national culture dimensions of power distance, individualism, masculinity, and uncertainty avoidance. Results of a logistic regression analysis of 558 online survey responses from human resource professionals worldwide showed that all six predictors were associated with the adoption of employee social media policies. These findings have implications for multinational companies, as well as for policy makers in the legal, human resources, information technologies, and public relations departments who are the primary parties involved in establishing employee social media policies. Study limitations are presented and future research avenues are suggested.

Antecedents of the Adoption of Social Media Policy and Its Consequences towards Internal Brand: A Conceptual Paper

“…Another example is on the adoption of social media policies. Adoption rate for social media policies among employee is varied by sector and organizational size (Ouirdi,Ouirdi, Segers &Pais, 2015). Besides that, Ghobakhloo et al (2011) in their study revealed that there are difference rate on the e-commerce adoption.…”

Attracting Gen Z workforce: the effects of organizational social media policy

“…2.2 Social media policies: policy frame and policy boundary Social media policies are defined as the communications documents developed by management to provide guidance and regulate employees' behaviors in social media (El Ouirdi et al, 2015). As a key vehicle for organizational governance, we argue that social media policy warrants more attention in recruitment research because this document not only provides employees behavioral guidance but also serves as a criterion for disciplinary actions or even termination decisions (El Ouirdi et al, 2015). In hiring practices, prospective employees may view social media policies as cues to infer the organization's work condition, value and culture, and commitment to its employees.…”

“…Social media policies are defined as the communications documents developed by management to provide guidance and regulate employees’ behaviors in social media (El Ouirdi et al , 2015). As a key vehicle for organizational governance, we argue that social media policy warrants more attention in recruitment research because this document not only provides employees behavioral guidance but also serves as a criterion for disciplinary actions or even termination decisions (El Ouirdi et al , 2015). In hiring practices, prospective employees may view social media policies as cues to infer the organization’s work condition, value and culture, and commitment to its employees.…”