Hypernorms pull ahead: a conceptual framework of social media's impact on the integrative social contracts theory

Abstract

This paper reviews the potential impact of social media on Donaldson and Dunfee's integrative social contracts theory (ISCT), and the necessity of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy and code of ethics in a global business setting. The conceptual framework is formed through an academic review of each of these four concepts: ISCT, CSR, codes of ethics, and social media communication. The idea is that hypernorms, those 'universal truths' in the ISCT, are becoming the leading variable in business ethical decision making; whilst cultural relativism is becoming less relevant, because of the rise of social media communication. The paper includes implications for the development of a global ethical decision-making process, including a theory that social media may have caused a need for a change in the ISCT decision-making process. The study proposes that communication changes have led to a transparency, which could potentially render cultural relativism less impactful.