Non-Financial Disclosure and Integrated Reporting: Practices and Critical Issues

Author(s):  
Lucrezia Songini ◽  
Anna Pistoni ◽  
Pierre Baret ◽  
Martin H. Kunc
2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Shahida Bt Shaharuddin ◽  
Maliah Bt Sulaiman

This paper aims to examine the financial reporting and budgeting practices of qaryah mosques in Kuala Terengganu, a state in the east of Peninsular Malaysia. Data was collected using a mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) approach. The questionnaire was disseminated to qaryah mosques in Kuala Terengganu and 39 responded. To address the limitations of a questionnaire survey, semi-structured interviews were then conducted with a few of the respondents. The results revealed that qaryah mosques in Kuala Terengganu do have a satisfactory system in place in terms of their financial reporting practices. However, budgetary control practices appear to be lacking. This indicates accounting, as is practiced by qaryah mosques in Kuala Terengganu appears to be limited to financial accounting. Hence, the financial management in qaryah mosques needs to be improved so that the risk of embezzlement can be reduced.


2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warwick Stent ◽  
Tuyana Dowler

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide early assessments of the changes for corporate reporting processes, which an emerging initiative like integrated reporting (IR) will require. The authors also consider the potential for these changes to contribute towards resolving major problems such as financial and environmental crises. IR is gaining momentum globally, and the implementation of some form of future mandatory requirement in this regard appears likely. Design/methodology/approach – The authors begin by developing a reporting checklist based on the requirements for IR, which they use to assess the gap between current “best practice” reporting processes and IR. They then propose systems thinking, a widely accepted approach to problem-solving, as a theoretical basis for assessing the IR Framework and for deeper consideration of the gap analysis. They demonstrate, at a paradigm level, how systems thinking can be used to assess IR and find that IR has the potential to offer specific and implementable strategies for operationalising systems thinking principles. Findings – The authors assess 2011 annual reports and related online reporting practices for four New Zealand “best practice reporting entities”, using their reporting checklist. Although none of their sample entities published a full integrated report for 2011, reporting scores range from 70 to 87 per cent. The findings suggest that current reporting processes lack the integration, oversight and due attention to future uncertainties required by IR. While this appears to be a relatively small gap, systems thinking principles indicate that these deficiencies may be critical to sustainability and financial stability, the stated aims of IR. Research limitations/implications – The normal limitations which apply to small sample studies. Practical implications – The IR reporting checklist and systems thinking proposal could be used by policymakers, standard setters and firms to assist in assessing IR’s potential and the additional requirements it will impose for corporate reporting. Originality/value – This study answers calls in the literature for a reactivation of the normative research agenda by assessing IR against systems thinking, a widely accepted approach to problem-solving. It contributes further to an understanding of IR through the development of a unique reporting checklist and by offering empirical evidence derived from application of this checklist.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1826-1854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren Maroun

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine why companies assure some of the information found in their integrated reports, possible changes required to existing assurance practices and the motivation for either seeking to expand current technologies of assurance or to maintain the status quo. Design/methodology/approach The research is exploratory/interpretive. Data are collected from detailed interviews with preparers and assurance experts. Framing theory provides the data analysis framework. Findings Three broad views on assurance are identified. An expectation management perspective focusses on the role of assurance as a legitimisation tool and requires no changes to existing assurance standards. A value-adding perspective emphasises the role of assurance in improving the usefulness of information being reported to stakeholders and its function as part of a broader corporate governance system. This can evolve into a change-potential outlook in terms of which assurance is used to promote positive organisational change, something which may require the development of new standards/guidelines for assuring integrated reports. Research limitations/implications Only preparers and assurance experts are engaged to explore the rationale for seeking to have parts of an integrated report assured. The views of the broader stakeholder community are not taken into account. The study is also limited to a single jurisdiction where integrated reporting practices are relatively well established. Practical implications Assurance of non-financial information cannot be understood only in terms of broad drivers such as firm size, environmental impact or listing status. It is inextricably linked with the perceived relevance of integrated (or sustainability) reporting and the value which assurance provides to an organisation and its stakeholders. Originality/value The study complements the mainly quantitative research on determinants of assurance of environmental or social disclosures. It is one of the few to provide primary evidence on the reasons for having these types of disclosures assured and how this informs the need for changes to existing assurance practices. The paper is also one of the first to deal with the assurance of environmental or social information in an integrated reporting context.


2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (01) ◽  
pp. 1650003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marthinus Jacobus Botha ◽  
Sanlie. L. Middelberg

South Africa is facing a water crisis in terms of the scarcity and the quality of its water. Considering this water-constrained future, it is evident that companies in South Africa should pay attention to the pristine management and reporting of this scarce resource. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the reporting and disclosure requirements of water of Socially Responsible Investment-indexed (SRI-indexed) JSE-listed companies. The disclosure requirements of integrated reporting, King III, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) provided the theoretical background. Content analysis was used as the research method to analyse the integrated reports of high-impact users. The findings of the study include that most of the companies illustrate commitment towards water stewardship by reporting on water-related aspects. A more comprehensive standardised set of guidelines to report on water per sector could add value to the reporting practices of companies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Dipock

Around the world, increasing numbers of businesses are evolving their strategic thinking, planning and reporting practices. Business practices are undergoing rapid change and as a result businesses are concluding that reporting must also change.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reon Matemane ◽  
Rozane Wentzel

The recent development of integrated reporting intends to address the limitations associated with corporate reporting practices. This paper aims to examine whether a statistically significant relationship exists between integrated reporting quality and financial performance. Secondary data was used, namely the integrated reports and annual financial statements of South African banks listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) for 2010–2014. For the period 2005–2009, only the financial statements were used, since integrated reporting was not yet mandatory. The research design was longitudinal and it combined qualitative and quantitative methods. Descriptive statistics and Feasible Generalized Least Square (FGLS) were used to explore the relationships between financial performance and integrated reporting quality. The results indicate that there is a positive relationship between integrated reporting quality (IRQ) and earnings per share (EPS). However, there is no significant relationship between IRQ and Tobin’s q (Q-Ratio), IRQ and return on equity (ROE), IRQ and return on assets (ROA) as well as IRQ and economic value added (EVA). Moreover, there are no significant differences on the financial performance of the listed banks before and after the introduction of integrated reporting.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Uyar ◽  
Merve Kilic ◽  
Cemil Kuzey

PurposeDrawing on neo-institutional, stakeholder, social contract and contingency theories, the objective of this study is to examine whether cultural values across countries may influence decisions to assure integrated reports.Design/methodology/approachFor this purpose, the authors have collected integrated reporting assurance, national culture and firm-specific data from several sources for the years ranging between 2011 and 2016 and have performed pooled and panel logistic regression analyses.FindingsThe authors found that corporations established in countries where the following characteristics prevail have higher tendencies to assure integrated reports: high collectivism among people, low power distance, strong feminine values rather than masculine values, high uncertainty avoidance, pursuance of short-term goals rather than long-term and a low level of indulgence.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is not free from limitations. First, the authors were only able to obtain assurance data for the years between 2011 and 2016 since 2011 was the initial year in which integrated reporting was adopted. Second, culture variables used throughout the study remained the same for each year due to the unavailability of differing data. This was noted in prior studies as well; thus, this is not an exception. Third, the assumption that all companies in a country have the same culture score is inherent in the scoring system of countries (Orij, 2010).Practical implicationsBased on the results, the authors drew implications for organizations, policymakers and assurance service providers. Multinational corporations can benefit from the outcome of this study by considering national cultures in formulating their corporate strategies. Finally, assurance service providers can position themselves in the marketplace by the findings of this study.Originality/valueThis paper aims to enhance the comprehension of corporate reporting practices by companies that operate in different countries, with necessarily varying cultural values. To the best knowledge of the authors, no prior study has yet examined the impact of national culture on the assurance of integrated reports.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 728-739
Author(s):  
Natal'ya V. MALINOVSKAYA

Subject. This article discusses the innovations of the revised International Integrated Reporting Framework. Objectives. The article aims to highlight the major changes made to the International Integrated Reporting Framework in relation to their revision and assess their impact on integrated reporting practices. Methods. The study relies upon analysis and synthesis, comparison, generalization, and abstraction. Results. The article gives the reasons for the need to revise the International Integrated Reporting Framework and explains the essence of the major changes. Conclusions. The major changes relate to the responsibility for the integrated reporting of corporate governance, the explanation of the term Outcomes when describing the business model, and approaches to disclosure in an integrated report of results information in terms of the impact (positive and negative) on different types of capital. The revised International Integrated Reporting Framework (January 2021) does not contain fundamental changes, while at the same time addressing the urgent terminology and practical problems identified in their application. Their application can improve corporate disclosure practices.


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