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Materiality in integrated and sustainability reporting: A paradigm shift?

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  • Chiara Mio
  • Marco Fasan
  • Antonio Costantini

Abstract

This paper investigates the implementation of integrated reporting (IR) by Generali, one of the most important listed companies in Italy. The research questions we aim at answering are the following: Is the IR approach to materiality inherently different from the sustainability reporting (SR) approach? Does IR lead to the identification of different material topics than does SR? On the one hand, institutional theory suggests that IR and SR material topics are going to be significantly different because IR is mainly driven by a market logic, whereas SR is inspired by a stakeholder logic. On the other hand, organizational change theory predicts there will be some resistance to change by the organization, therefore leading to IR and SR topics being similar. In order to answer our research questions, we implement two empirical analyses. First, we propose and develop an innovative methodological approach on the basis of content analysis, which allows measuring the materiality of different issues under the IR approach. Second, we rely on evidence obtained through interviews, which suggests that IR and SR approaches to materiality are inherently different.

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  • Chiara Mio & Marco Fasan & Antonio Costantini, 2020. "Materiality in integrated and sustainability reporting: A paradigm shift?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(1), pages 306-320, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:29:y:2020:i:1:p:306-320
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.2390
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    2. Guix, Mireia & Font, Xavier, 2022. "Consulting on the European Union's 2050 tourism policies: An appreciative inquiry materiality assessment," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    3. Masahiro Hosoda, 2022. "Adoption of integrated reporting and changes to internal mechanisms in Japanese companies," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(2), pages 421-434, March.
    4. Eduardo Schiehll & Sam Kolahgar, 2021. "Financial materiality in the informativeness of sustainability reporting," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 840-855, February.
    5. Jeng-Bang Wang & Guan-Hua Wang & Chung-Ya Ou, 2023. "The Key Factors for Sustainability Reporting Adoption in the Semiconductor Industry Using the Hybrid FRST-PSO Technique and Fuzzy DEMATEL Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, January.
    6. Shauhrat S. Chopra & Sachini Supunsala Senadheera & Pavani Dulanja Dissanayake & Piumi Amasha Withana & Rajeev Chib & Jay Hyuk Rhee & Yong Sik Ok, 2024. "Navigating the Challenges of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Reporting: The Path to Broader Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-14, January.
    7. Riccardo Santamaria & Francesco Paolone & Nicola Cucari & Luca Dezi, 2021. "Non‐financial strategy disclosure and environmental, social and governance score: Insight from a configurational approach," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1993-2007, May.

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