Integrated reporting and board characteristics: evidence from top Australian listed companies

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Omran ◽  
Dinesh Ramdhony ◽  
Oren Mooneeapen ◽  
Vishaka Nursimloo
Keyword(s):  
Firm Size ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Growth Opportunities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Board Characteristics ◽  
International Integrated Reporting Council ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeDrawing upon agency theory, this study analyses the influence of board characteristics on integrated reporting (IR) for the top 50 companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX50). Focus is placed on IR at the aggregate level as well as its separate components, namely Future Opportunities and Risks (FOPRI), Governance and Strategy (GOVSTR), Performance (PERF), Overview and Business Model (OBM) and General Preparation and Presentation (GPP).Design/methodology/approachA checklist is devised based on the IIRC (International Integrated Reporting Council) framework to track companies' disclosures for the period from 1st July 2014 to 30th June 2017. Regression analysis is used to investigate the determinants (board size, board independence, activity of the board, gender diversity, firm size, profitability and growth opportunities) of IR and its separate components.FindingsThe findings indicate a significant and positive effect of board independence on the aggregate IR index, FOPRI and GPP. A negative and significant association is found between activity of the board and both the aggregate IR index and its separate components, including GOVSTR, PERF and GPP. Additionally, the aggregate IR index is significantly related to firm size, profitability and growth opportunities.Research limitations/implicationsThe limited sample of 50 companies over three years is the main limitation of the study. The study suffers from an inherent limitation from the use of content analysis in assessing the level of IR. No checklist to measure the level of IR can be fully exhaustive. Furthermore, we focus on whether an item in the checklist is disclosed, using a dichotomous scale, thus ignoring the quality of information disclosed.Practical implicationsThe study has several practical implications. From a managerial perspective, it shows that having more board meetings harms the level of IR. The results can guide regulators, such as the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), when drafting new regulations/guidelines/listing rules. If regulators aim for a higher level of integration in the reports, they know which “triggers to pull” to attain their target. Our results can guide regulators to choose the appropriate trigger among various alternatives. For instance, if a higher level of integrated reporting is desired, size instead of profitability should be chosen. Finally, ASX listed companies can use our checklist as a scorecard for their self-assessment.Originality/valueThis research is the first to investigate IR by devising a checklist based on IIRC (2013) along with an additional GPP component in the ASX context. Using separate models to examine each component of the aggregate IR index is also unique to this study. The study also brings to the fore the role of gender-diverse boards in promoting IR. It reiterates the debate about imposing a quota for better gender representation on boards.

Exploring forward-looking information in integrated reporting

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Menicucci
Keyword(s):  
Firm Size ◽  
Multivariate Regression Analysis ◽  
Firm Characteristics ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reporting Framework ◽  
Research Gap ◽  
International Integrated Reporting Council ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Forward Looking

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of firm characteristics on forward-looking disclosure (forward-looking information (FLI)) within the context of integrated reporting (IR). The study assesses the extent of FLI provided in integrated reports and empirically fills the research gap into the topics of FLI disclosed in the IR. Design/methodology/approach A manual content analysis is run to investigate the level and the topics of FLI in 282 integrated reports available in the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) website. A disclosure index composition consisting of 27 information items is developed from the list of content elements comprised in the Integrated Reporting Framework (IIRC, 2013). Three hypotheses are proposed and eight models are tested within a multivariate regression analysis in order to explore the effects of three main variables (firm size, profitability and leverage) on FLI. Findings The study confirms that firms are reluctant to provide FLI in integrated reports. The results show that profitability and firm size have a statistically significant relationship with the level of specific topics of FLI. Conversely, leverage is found to be insignificant in explaining the extent of FLI. Research limitations/implications To improve the reliability of findings presented in this study, several others may be conducted by inspecting more variables that may affect the extent of FLI or by increasing the number of companies included in the sample. Practical implications The results provide comprehensive insights into the current forward-looking disclosure practices of early adopters in integrated reports and can be a useful evidence for preparers of it. This paper has also practical implications especially for managers and regulators (e.g. IIRC) since it encourages further efforts to promote FLI if firms want that the disclosure offered in the IR is perceived as “informative” by their significant stakeholders. Originality/value The research adds to the prior disclosure literature concerning FLI since acquired results are ambiguous. There are a very restricted number of studies that have explained the variation of FLI in the light of firm characteristics and no study has analyzed this research topic within the context of IR.

Board characteristics and integrated reporting quality: evidence from ESG European companies

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salim Chouaibi ◽  
Yamina Chouaibi ◽  
Ghazi Zouari
Keyword(s):  
Risk Estimation ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Stock Volatility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Board Characteristics ◽  
Thomson Reuters ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe aim of this study is to analyze the possible relationship between board characteristics and integrated reporting quality in an international setting.Design/methodology/approachTo test the study's hypotheses, the authors applied linear regressions with a panel data, and the authors collected data from the Thomson Reuters database (ASSET4) and from the annual reports from European companies to analyze data of 253 listed companies selected from the environmental, social and governance (ESG) index between 2010 and 2019.FindingsThe reached empirical results prove to indicate well that both of the board size, independence and diversity appear to have a significantly positive effect on the integrated reporting quality. Noteworthy, also, is the fact that the appointment of an independent nonexecutive chairman is positively associated with the integrated reporting related quality, and holds for firms with a nonindependent chairman.Practical implicationsBeyond the theoretical implications, our study also has several practical implications. These findings are particularly relevant for managers, shareholders, and policymakers. Thus, stakeholders should consider the accuracy of disclosure in determining the optimal reporting strategy (reducing risk estimation, returns' stock volatility, increasing long-term shareholder value and reputation of the firm).Originality/valueThis article is motivated by the low number of works in the context about the corporate social responsibility and sustainability issues. It makes an important contribution to the academic literature by adding to the limited body of research on integrated reporting and corporate governance in an ESG company setting. The study is also important for practitioners seeking to improve the quality of their integrated reports.

Board characteristics and the choice between sustainability and integrated reporting: a European analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Girella ◽  
Stefano Zambon ◽  
Paola Rossi
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Voluntary Disclosure ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Moderating Variables ◽  
Board Characteristics ◽  
Sustainability Report

Purpose The role that the board can have in influencing the adoption of non-financial reporting (NFR) by companies is a topic that has raised interest in the recent literature. However, very few have so far been said on the logic that underpins the selection by corporate boards of a particular model (sustainability and/or integrated). This study aims to examine if and to what extent board characteristics may influence the choice of companies to voluntarily publish a sustainability report, an integrated report or both of them, and if moderating variables, relating to incentives towards corporate transparency, may have an influence. Both of these types of reporting tools are in fact aimed at improving company disclosure towards sustainable development. Design/methodology/approach Through a multi-nomial regression analysis, this study tests the assumptions in a sample of companies listed on the Eurostoxx600 that adopt integrated or sustainability reporting or both of them for the period 2015–2018 for a total of 2,103 firm-years observations. Findings The results reveal that sustainability reporting is associated with board independence only, whilst the adoption of integrated reporting is influenced by board size and board independence. The same two variables influence also those companies that jointly adopt both sustainability and an integrated report. This confirms that integrated reporting requires more competencies and monitoring to be adopted. Furthermore, the results provide evidence that information asymmetry and financial constraints influence the decision of companies to publish the integrated report, sustainability report or both, whilst growth opportunities do not. Hence, moderating variables can have a role in explaining this association, and especially those that are related to the firm’s incentives related to the provision of financial capital by investors. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to the literature in three ways. First, it proposes an incremental analysis of the relationship between board characteristics and voluntary disclosure of integrated reporting, considering the effects of moderating variables on this association. Second, the above relationship is examined in a comparative way vis-à-vis the adoption of sustainability reporting. Third, it demonstrates that the analysis of these reporting tools can benefit from an understanding that relies on both agency and stakeholder theories, that have to be conceived somehow complementary. In terms of limitations, this study is exclusively focussed on larger European listed firms, and therefore, the findings may not be valid for small and medium firms and for companies operating outside Europe. Practical implications This study provides useful insights for managers and policymakers to better understand which are the characteristics of the board composition that can best encourage a company to pursue a reporting strategy based on sustainable development. This results to be particularly relevant and timely in the European context if the authors take into consideration the developments of the European Parliament and Commission towards the launch of a new legislative proposal on sustainable corporate governance in 2021. Originality/value The study contributes to the existing literature in two ways. First, it offers a unique perspective on the direct and indirect effects of board characteristics on the adoption of integrated and/or sustainability reports by examining it in a comparative perspective. Second, it further demonstrates that the analysis of NFR and especially integrated reporting might benefit from the adoption of multiple conceptual lenses, in this case, agency and stakeholder theories.

Does corporate governance influence earnings management in listed companies in Bahrain Bourse?

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahaaeddin Alareeni
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Asian Country ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Discretionary Accruals ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis paper aims to consider data for listed companies in Bahrain Bourse to determine whether companies practice earnings management (EM). Further, the effect of a set of corporate governance characteristics on EM practices is examined.Design/methodology/approachThe EM level was measured using discretionary accruals (DA) [calculated using the Modified Jones (1995) Model]. The study sample consisted of 20 companies listed during the period 2011-2015. Panel regression model was used to test the study hypotheses and achieve the study aims.FindingsEM is negatively correlated with board size, confirming that a larger board is associated with a lower level of EM practices. Further, board independence is positively correlated with EM, suggesting that the larger the number of independent directors, the higher the level of EM practices. In addition, internal ownership is positively related to EM, confirming that the higher level of internal ownership increases EM practices. CEO duality does not appear to have any effect on EM in Bahrain Bourse. More interestingly, the findings reveal that companies practice EM through income-increasing DA.Research limitations/implicationsFinancial data and data related to other corporate governance characteristics are lacking.Practical implicationsThe results of this study provide empirical support for the development of new regulations and amendments and necessary corrective decisions regarding the effectiveness of applying corporate governance code in Bahrain Bourse. More specifically, this study reveals an urgent need for new amendments to restrict EM practices in Bahrain Bourse.Originality/valueThis study enriches the EM literature by covering Bahrain as an Asian country, which has not been sufficiently examined in relation to this topic. Further, this study provides a clear picture of the level of EM practices in Bahrain Bourse to multiple parties.

scholarly journals Chairmen's perceptions of female board representation: a study on Nordic listed companies

2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 523-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tor Brunzell ◽  
Eva Liljeblom
Keyword(s):  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Nordic Countries ◽  
Board Members ◽  
Firm Characteristics ◽  
Female Representation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gender Diverse ◽  
Board Representation ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to survey chairmen's perceptions of female board representation in five Nordic countries, focussing on whether the chairman's perception of board work is related to gender diversity, and on differences between high- and low-risk firms. Design/methodology/approach – The authors combine data from a questionnaire directed to the chairmen of the boards in Nordic listed companies with data on firm characteristics and board composition. Findings – The authors find that the chairmen (97.5 percent male) are significantly less satisfied with female board members as compared to male ones. The authors also find that firms with nomination committees have more gender diverse boards, as well as indications of a more positively perceived contribution of female representation in high-risk firms. Research limitations/implications – The study is restricted to perceptions of chairmen for listed Nordic firms. The low response rate of 20.1 percent is a severe limitation. Practical implications – The increasing practice of using nomination committees in the Nordic countries seems advantageous from gender balance perspective. Originality/value – The authors contribute to the literature on gender diversity in boards by providing results from a board intern perspective.

Readability of integrated reports: an exploratory global study

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1532-1557
Author(s):  
Gerard William Stone ◽  
Sumit Lodhia
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Scale Analysis ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Reporting ◽  
Large Scale Analysis ◽  
Accessible Information ◽  
International Integrated Reporting Council ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose A goal of integrated reporting (IR) under the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC)’s leadership is to provide clearly written, comprehensible and accessible information. In light of this objective, the purpose of this paper is to explore the readability and accessibility of integrated reports, an issue magnified by the IIRC’s continual commitment to clear and readable report language, and its intention for IR to become the corporate reporting norm. Design/methodology/approach In a whole text software facilitated analysis, the study utilises readability measures and supplementary measures of reader accessibility in a multi-year analysis of a large sample of global integrated reports sourced from the IIRC examples database. Findings The findings highlight the low readability of analysed integrated reports and indicate that readability is not improving. The supplementary measures suggest sub-optimal use of visual communication forms and overuse of structural presentation techniques which may contribute to reader accessibility of the analysed reports. Research limitations/implications The study extends readability analysis to an emerging corporate reporting phenomenon and its findings contribute to the growing IR literature. The study applies supplementary measures of reader accessibility which advance the methods available to assess the communication efficacy of integrated and other corporate reports. Practical implications The analysis of the readability and accessibility of integrated reports in the study indicates that the IIRC’s goal of clear, comprehensible and accessible reporting is not reflected by reporters’ practices. This has implications for the IIRC, reporting organisations, report readers and regulators. Originality/value The study represents the first large-scale analysis of the readability and accessibility of global integrated reports.

Sustainability KPIs for integrated reporting

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 625-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoki Oshika ◽  
Chika Saka
Keyword(s):  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
A Value ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
The Stability ◽  
International Integrated Reporting Council ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The framework of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) is principles-based and does not provide specific key performance indicators (KPIs) for integrated thinking and reporting. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to propose KPIs for integrated reporting which decipher a firm’s sustainability through empirical analysis. Design/methodology/approach As a proxy of firms’ sustainability, the authors focus on firms that have survived for more than 100 years and that have already achieved sustainability, and analyze these firms to reveal the financial features that distinguish sustainable firms from the other firms. Findings The study found two distinguishing facts: the value added that is distributed to stakeholders other than shareholders is significantly larger, and the stability of profitability and the profitability itself are significantly higher in sustainable firms. Practical implications The study proposes a value-added distribution and the stability of profitability as sustainability KPIs for integrated reporting. Originality/value First, this study provides the first evidence that value added distribution and the stability of profitability distinguish a firm’s sustainability. Second, it provides a new perspective in the search for sustainability KPIs. Third, as the empirical data consist of all listed firms in 136 countries, the results should be robust and general.

scholarly journals Integrated reporting in higher education: insights from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahalaximi Adhikariparajuli ◽  
Abeer Hassan ◽  
Mary Fletcher ◽  
Ahmed A. Elamer
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Effective Mechanism ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Educational Thought ◽  
Internal Process ◽  
International Integrated Reporting Council ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to examine the level of disclosure on content elements of integrated reporting (IR) in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales higher education institutions (HEIs). The authors suggest that integrated thinking is an internal process that organizations can follow to increase the level of disclosure on IR that can be used as an effective mechanism to enhance accountability with stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) guidelines and content analysis are used to analyze IR content elements in HEI reports from 2014-2016. Findings The results indicate a significant increase in the trend and extent of IR content elements. The HEI-specific characteristics examined, such as establishment of HEI; adoption of IR framework and governing board size are all statistically and positively associated with IR content elements disclosure. This paper introduces signalling theory to explore the idea that appropriate communication via integrated thinking can close the gap between the organization and its stakeholders via increased level of disclosure on IR content elements. Practical implications The results will assist policymakers and regulators to assess the benefits of voluntary implementation of IR at HEIs and evaluate possible mandatory implementation of IIRC guidelines. Second, the findings can assist managers of institutions interested in implementing IR. Social implications This study recommends universities to explicitly address IR issues in reporting, as this will increase their impact as leaders of educational thought in addition to their roles as partners, advisors, counselors and assessors. Originality/value This study explores whether HEIs in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales provide disclosure on IIRC content elements as a reflection of integrated thinking and whether the connectivity and interdependence between different departments will help to signal to stakeholders how HEIs create value for society.

The cubic S-curve relationship between board independence and intellectual capital efficiency: does firm size matter?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Long Kweh ◽  
Wen-Min Lu ◽  
Irene Wei Kiong Ting ◽  
Hanh Thi My Le
Keyword(s):  
Firm Size ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Nonlinear Effects ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Resource Based View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Capital Efficiency ◽  
S Curve ◽  
Size Matter ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeFirst, this study assesses firms’ efficiency of transforming intellectual capital (IC) components into firm performance. Second, this study examines (1) cubic S-curve relationship between board independence and IC efficiency and (2) how firm size moderates the cubic S-curve relationship.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a stochastic nonparametric envelopment of data (StoNED) framework to estimate IC efficiency, which is derived from the estimation process of transforming structural, relational and human capitals into accounting- and market-based performance indicators. This study conducts regression analyses on 1,104 firm-year observations of Taiwanese semiconductor firms over the period of 2011–2018.FindingsStoNED results suggest that sample firms' IC efficiency can be relatively improved by approximately 80%. Regression results indicate that a cubic S-curve relationship between board independence and IC efficiency exists, and firm size moderates the nonlinear effects.Practical implicationsOverall, this study highlights the importance of examining the nonlinear effect of board independence on IC efficiency from the perspective of agency theory, and the moderating effect from firm size, which may suggest availability of resources from the resource-based view of the firm.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature through the innovative application of an efficiency-based tool for evaluating IC efficiency. The cubic S-curve relationship between board independence and IC efficiency also points to the policy concerning the appropriate number of independent directors on board.

scholarly journals Enablers and barriers to the involvement of accountants in integrated reporting

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitali Panchal Arora ◽  
Sumit Lodhia ◽  
Gerard Stone
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Institutional Entrepreneurship ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Corporate Reporting ◽  
Assurance Process ◽  
International Integrated Reporting Council ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose With the increasing adoption of integrated reporting and the subsequent interest of the accounting discipline in its development, this paper aims to examine the enablers and barriers to the involvement of accountants in integrated reporting. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts a case study approach by collecting interview data from six organisations that have adopted integrated reporting internationally. In the selected organisations, face-to-face and telephone interviews were conducted with professionals who are involved in the preparation of an integrated report. The interviewees in this study included key integrated report preparers including accountants, corporate reporting managers, sustainability managers and other report preparers. Institutional entrepreneurship provided the theoretical insights for this study. Findings The study found that accountants’ expertise in corporate reporting and especially their knowledge of the assurance process was one of the major reasons why they were involved in integrated reporting. Accountants’ in-depth understanding of an organisation in addition to their general analytical and interpersonal skills were also found to be useful in preparing an integrated report. However, the voluntary nature of integrated reporting along with the lack of sufficient guidelines deterred accountants from being involved in integrated reporting. The study also found that accountants themselves did not see value in integrated reporting and found it challenging to convert numerical information to narratives, thus limiting their involvement in integrated reporting. Research limitations/implications Whilst prior studies have underlined accountants’ institutionalised practices, this study uncovers the strategies applied by accountants to maintain their institutionalised practices. The specific application of the institutional entrepreneurship concept identifies mechanisms and strategies through which accountants restrict their practices to narrow taken-for-granted roles. Practical implications This study uncovers practical implications by highlighting the factors that limit the involvement of accountants within integrated reporting. One of the major implications identified relates to the training of accountants to apply their existing skills and expertise in non-financial reporting to contribute effectively to multi-disciplinary teams that contribute towards integrated reporting in organisations. This study also provides an impetus for the International Integrated Reporting Council to provide more guidance for preparing an integrated report. Originality/value This is one of the initial studies that has explored the enablers and barriers to the involvement of accountants in integrated reporting through its focus on organisations that are already practising this form of reporting. The use of institutional entrepreneurship theory adds to the theoretical insights for exploring the involvement of the various actors in integrated reporting.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document