Negotiating Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting

Social Responsibility ◽

Institutional Theory ◽

Financial Reporting ◽

Mandatory Reporting ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

Reporting Framework ◽

Social And Environmental Performance ◽

This chapter examines and compares two deliberations on developing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reporting: mandatory reporting within the financial reporting framework and voluntary reporting within the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) Sustainability Guidelines reporting framework. While the organizational sponsors of these initiatives differ, similar interests actively participated in each – corporate actors, accountancy organizations, and financial sector participants. In addition, members of civil society interested in advancing transparency in corporate social and environmental performance joined the GRI development. Institutional theory provides the underlying approach to understanding these developments (Barley & Tolbert, 1997) and includes the perspective of meta-conversation developed by Robichaud et al. (2004). Content analysis is used to examine rhetorical strategies in the comment letters received by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the GRI as part of these two deliberations. Evidence suggests preparers of reports undertake CSR reporting as a defense against more coercive regulatory regimes, and accountancy-related organizations attempt to negotiate CSR norms as replicates of norms in financial reporting, supporting institutional theory.

Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting – a Stakeholder’s Perspective Approach

Business Systems Research Journal ◽

10.1515/bsrj-2017-0003 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 30-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Thorsten Litfin ◽

Gunther Meeh-Bunse ◽

Katja Luer ◽

Özlem Teckert

Keyword(s):

Social Responsibility ◽

Financial Reporting ◽

Significant Development ◽

Financial Reporting Standards ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

Corporate Social ◽

Browsing Behavior ◽

Empirical Methodology

Abstract Background: International financial reporting standards have constantly been facing fast-growing significant development. This has mainly been driven by the aim of better serving the needs of the investors. Awareness that corporate financial reporting provides short-sighted information and measures has been rising among politicians, in the society and on the financial markets. Therefore, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reporting as a form of non-financial reporting has made it to limelight. Various reporting types developed, but the type of reporting is hardly codified. Objective: The goal of this paper is to identify the superior CSR reporting type from a stakeholder’s perspective. After identifying and analyzing central guidelines on CSR reporting and presenting different approaches, the authors will apply a positive-empirical methodology. Methods/Approach: In this first innovative joint attempt, eye-tracking technology is combined with a questionnaire for approaching CSR quality. Results: This study demonstrates the validity of the used methodology for the analysis of search and information browsing behavior in various types of sustainability reports. Conclusions: Overall our findings indicate that the reporting type "reference sustainability report" may not be advisable from a stakeholder’s perspective.

Corporate social responsibility reporting: What boards of directors need to know

Corporate Board role duties and composition ◽

10.22495/cbv10i3art4 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 38-59 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Barry Ackers

Keyword(s):

Social Responsibility ◽

Financial Performance ◽

Boards Of Directors ◽

Mandatory Reporting ◽

Reporting Practices ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

The Board Of Directors ◽

To avoid future generations being burdened with the residual consequences of unsustainable corporate practices, corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes are being implemented to ameliorate the adverse impacts of corporate activity on the environment, society and the economy. Companies are responding by not only reporting on their financial performance, but also on their non-financial performance, making CSR reporting practices an important emerging mechanism for corporate governance. Recognising that CSR reporting is a relatively new voluntarily adopted intervention, for which the board of directors is ultimately accountable, this article accepts that CSR remains a relatively obscure concept with the associated responsibilities not being clearly understood. This article aims to provide insights into CSR reporting practices from a de facto mandatory reporting company perspective.

Corporate Social Responsibility Rhetoric in Times of Crises. A Rhetorical Analysis of CSR Reports Prior to and After Major Corporate Crises

MedienJournal ◽

10.24989/medienjournal.v42i1.1626 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 33-50

Author(s):

Maria Gruber

Keyword(s):

Social Responsibility ◽

Rhetorical Analysis ◽

General Motors ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

One Year ◽

Corporate Social ◽

Corporate Crises ◽

Corporate Crisis

Corporate Social Responsibility reporting has grown increasingly in importance for companies in terms of portraying themselves as good corporate citizens. However, when confronted with a major corporate crisis that evoked an extensive loss in stakeholders’ trust, it remained unclear, how to further deal with the need for CSR communication without presenting oneself as exceedingly hypocritical. In the course of this study, the questions of how and to what extent crises cause change in a corporation’s CSR rhetoric were addressed. Therefore, the utilization of the rhetorical dimensions of logos, ethos, pathos, cosmos and autopoiesis as well as the amount of negative disclosure in the CSR reports of the world’s leading automobile companies (Toyota, General Motors, Volkswagen) were analyzed, one year before and one year after they had maneuvered themselves into a corporate crisis. The rhetorical analysis revealed that the distinctive context of each case (including the corporations’ responsibility for the crisis) dictated the rhetorical adjustments of the CSR reporting after the crisis. Moreover, it could be shown, that when reporting on the crisis cause itself, corporations tend to apply the dimension of ethos more frequently to counter the audience’s potential perception of their hypocrisy.

State-Mediated Globalization Processes and the Adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting in China

Management and Organization Review ◽

10.1017/mor.2016.55 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 167-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Christopher Marquis ◽

Juelin Yin ◽

Dongning Yang

Keyword(s):

Social Responsibility ◽

Political Legitimacy ◽

Chinese Government ◽

Political Processes ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

Global Norms ◽

The Government ◽

ABSTRACTDespite the prevalence of global diffusion, little is known about the processes by which international practices are adopted and adapted within organizations around the world. Through our qualitative research on the introduction of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting at two leading Chinese companies, we identify a unique set of political mechanisms that we labelstate-mediated globalization, whereby powerful nation-state actors influence the ways in which corporations adopt and adapt global norms and practices. We find that businesses’ needs for political legitimacy from a key stakeholder, in this case the government, leads them to deviate systematically from the global practice in bothformandcontent. These intentional practice adaptations are then legitimized by the government to createinternationalization toolsandlocalized standardsto aid adoption by other organizations. Our findings illustrate previously unidentified mechanisms by which powerful stakeholders such as the Chinese government may mediate, and thereby direct, the ways in which corporations adopt and adapt global CSR practices. Contributions to understanding the political processes of institutional translation in the context of globalization are discussed.

Mandatory corporate social responsibility in India: reporting reality, issues and way forward

Meditari Accountancy Research ◽

10.1108/medar-11-2020-1063 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Pawan Taneja ◽

Ameeta Jain ◽

Mahesh Joshi ◽

Monika Kansal

Keyword(s):

Social Responsibility ◽

Mandatory Reporting ◽

Content Type ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

Reporting Requirements ◽

Expectation Gap ◽

The Government ◽

Corporate Social ◽

The Impact

Purpose Since 2013, the Indian Companies Act Section 135 has mandated corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting by Indian central public sector enterprises (CPSEs). CSR reporting is regulated by multiple Government of India ministerial agencies, each requiring different formats and often different data. This study aims to understand the impact of these multiple regulatory bodies on CSR reporting by Indian CPSEs; evaluate the expectation gap between regulators and the regulated; and investigate the compliance burden on CPSEs. Design/methodology/approach An interview-based approach was adopted to evaluate the perspectives of both regulators and regulated CPSEs on the impact of the new regulations on CSR reporting quality. The authors use the lens of institutional theory to analyse the findings. Findings Driven by coercive institutional pressures, CPSEs are overburdened with myriad reporting requirements, which significantly negatively impact CPSEs’ financial and human resources and the quality of CSR activity and reports. It is difficult for CPSEs to assess the actual impact of their CSR activities due to overlapping with activities of the government/other institutions. The perceptions of regulators and the regulated are divergent: the regulators expect CPSEs to select more impactful CSR projects to comply with mandatory reporting requirements. Originality/value The findings of this study emphasise the need for meaningful dialogue between regulators and the regulated to reduce the expectation gap and establish a single regulatory authority that will ensure that the letter and spirit of the law are followed in practice and not just according to a tick-box approach.

Board meeting frequency and corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting: Evidence from Malaysia

Corporate Board role duties and composition ◽

10.22495/cbv13i1c1art3 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 87-99 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Nurulyasmin Binti Ju Ahmad ◽

Afzalur Rashid ◽

Jeff Gow

Keyword(s):

Social Responsibility ◽

Least Square ◽

Board Meeting ◽

Developed Country ◽

Ordinary Least Square ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

The Board Of Directors ◽

This study aims at determining the effectiveness of board meeting frequency on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reporting by public listed companies on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia. A CSR reporting index consisting of 51 items was developed based on six themes: General, Community, Environment, Human Resource, Marketplace and Other. A content analysis was used to determine the extent of CSR reporting. An Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression was employed in determining the association between board meeting frequency and CSR reporting. The finding of the study is that advising tendency (frequency of board meetings) is not associated with CSR reporting. Overall this study strengthens the idea that advising tendency of the board is essential to companies in order to safeguard all stakeholders’ interests. Accordingly, regulators and policymakers should be more stringent in monitoring company’s conformance towards regulations. This study provides a new avenue of knowledge and contributes to the literature on the practices of the board of directors and corporate social responsibility reporting in the context of a semi-developed country.

Mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Reporting and Financial Reporting Quality: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment

Journal of Business Ethics ◽

10.1007/s10551-016-3296-2 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 152 (1) ◽

pp. 253-274 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Xue Wang ◽

Feng Cao ◽

Kangtao Ye

Keyword(s):

Social Responsibility ◽

Financial Reporting ◽

Natural Experiment ◽

Reporting Quality ◽

Financial Reporting Quality ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

Corporate Social ◽

Quality Evidence

Does corporate social responsibility reporting enhance shareholders’ value?

Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting ◽

10.1108/jfra-10-2016-0084 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 158-178 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Afzalur Rashid

Keyword(s):

Social Responsibility ◽

Performance Measures ◽

Economic Performance ◽

Simultaneous Equation ◽

Content Type ◽

Listed Firms ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

Purpose This study aims to examine whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) and relevant reporting enhances firms’ economic performance among the listed firms in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a content analysis to examine specific CSR-related attributes from 115 non-financial publicly listed firms in Bangladesh. Firm CSR reporting is evaluated against accounting and market performance measures, with a simultaneous equation approach used to control the potential endogeneity problem. Findings This study finds that CSR reporting significantly influences firm performance under both performance measures, although a firm’s economic performance does not influence CSR reporting. Research limitations/implications This study is subject to some limitations, such as the subjectivity or judgement associated in the coding process. Practical implications The findings imply that although CSR reporting by firms in Bangladesh is discretionary in nature, the ones that report add value to their firm. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on the practices of CSR reporting in the context of the developing countries.

Audited Financial Reporting and Voluntary Disclosure of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Reports

Journal of Management Accounting Research ◽

10.2308/jmar-51411 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 53-76 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Long Chen ◽

Bin Srinidhi ◽

Albert Tsang ◽

Wei Yu

Keyword(s):

Social Responsibility ◽

Financial Reporting ◽

Voluntary Disclosure ◽

Stock Price ◽

Reporting Quality ◽

Positive Association ◽

Audit Fees ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

ABSTRACT Prior studies show that corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting is informative to investors but lacks credibility. This study examines whether a commitment to audits of financial outcomes, proxied by audit fees, is associated with greater CSR reporting credibility. We find that audit fees are positively associated with the likelihood of standalone CSR report issuance, and this positive association becomes stronger when managers perceive a greater need for credibility, i.e., when CSR reports are longer or issued with external assurance, when firms have strong CSR concerns, and when reports are issued sporadically. Corroborating our results, we find that CSR reports issued by firms committing to high audit fees accelerate the incorporation of future earnings information into current stock price. Taken together, our findings suggest that a commitment to higher financial reporting quality has the potential to bring positive externality to firms' nonfinancial disclosures and ultimately affects the issuance of CSR reports.

Institutional shareholding and corporate social responsibility reporting: evidence from Bangladesh

Journal of Asia Business Studies ◽

10.1108/jabs-09-2019-0285 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Afzalur Rashid

Keyword(s):

Social Responsibility ◽

Environmental Reporting ◽

Content Type ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

Societal Issues ◽

Sustainability Issue ◽

Social And Environmental Reporting ◽

Purpose This study aims to examine the influence of institutional shareholding on a firm’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a content analysis to capture a firm’s CSR practices, based on various attributes of social and environmental reporting made by the firm. Based on these attributes, a corporate social responsibility reporting index (CSRI) is constructed. To examine the causal relationship between institutional shareholding and firm CSR practices, this study uses a simultaneous equations approach to control the endogeneity problem. Findings The finding of this study is that both CSR reporting and institutional shareholding negatively influence each other. Research limitations/implications This study is subject to some limitations such as the subjectivity or judgement associated in the coding process. Practical implications If the institutional investors are not concerned with its environmental and societal issues, there will be a sustainability issue for the business because companies will continue ignoring the employee health and hygiene, education, training and welfare. Their ignorance of these societal issues will lead to compromising the quality of living for important stakeholders within the society. Originality/value This study contributes the literature on CSR reporting.