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The institutionalization of social and environmental reporting: An Italian narrative

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  • Contrafatto, Massimo

Abstract

This paper focuses on social and environmental reporting (SER) and investigates, through prolonged fieldwork with an Italian multinational company, the dynamics through which SER, from its first introduction, has modified and developed to become institutionalized. The empirical data has been interpreted through the lens of institutional theories to provide a narrative of a three-step process which has brought about the institutionalization of SER, namely: (i) the construction of a common meaning system around the concept of social and environmental responsibility; (ii) practicalisation involving the emergence of rules and routines; and (iii) reinforcement through the implementation of intra-organizational managerial procedures and structures. The paper highlights that SER, as a result of a recursive and progressive process, has become an established and taken for granted actuality within the case study organization.

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  • Contrafatto, Massimo, 2014. "The institutionalization of social and environmental reporting: An Italian narrative," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 414-432.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:aosoci:v:39:y:2014:i:6:p:414-432
    DOI: 10.1016/j.aos.2014.01.002
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    14. Huang, Xiaobei “Beryl†& Watson, Luke, 2015. "Corporate social responsibility research in accounting," Journal of Accounting Literature, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 1-16.
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    19. Mitali Panchal Arora & Sumit Lodhia & Gerard William Stone, 2022. "Preparers’ perceptions of integrated reporting: a global study of integrated reporting adopters," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(S1), pages 1381-1420, April.
    20. Li, Teng & Belal, Ataur, 2018. "Authoritarian state, global expansion and corporate social responsibility reporting: The narrative of a Chinese state-owned enterprise," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 199-217.
    21. Ng, Anthony C. & Rezaee, Zabihollah, 2020. "Business sustainability factors and stock price informativeness," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    22. Thoradeniya, Prabanga & Lee, Janet & Tan, Rebecca & Ferreira, Aldónio, 2022. "From intention to action on sustainability reporting: The role of individual, organisational and institutional factors during war and post-war periods," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(1).
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    24. Klarissa Lueg & Rainer Lueg, 2021. "Deconstructing corporate sustainability narratives: A taxonomy for critical assessment of integrated reporting types," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(6), pages 1785-1800, November.

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