IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jmgtgv/v23y2019i2d10.1007_s10997-018-9428-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Integrated reporting: an exploratory study of French companies

Author

Listed:
  • Elisabeth Albertini

    (IAE-Sorbonne Business School)

Abstract

The increasing complexity of the business world has led to growing demands for companies to provide information about their financial performance, their corporate governance and their contribution to developing sustainability. In addition, there are increasing needs for investors to obtain more information about the value creation process since financial reporting systems account imperfectly for most of intangible assets generated by companies. In this context, this article aims to determine if integrated reporting does effectively achieve the objective of reducing the information asymmetry. To answer this research question, a qualitative content analysis was conducted of the IR disclosed by the French companies in the period of 2013–16. The study reveals that information asymmetry is not reduced since companies mention only some capitals as inputs to their value creation process while almost entirely excluding natural capital. Moreover, companies disclose only positive information mainly about their financial capital, without mentioning any destruction of capital, especially not the natural one. Finally, from our findings, signals disclosed by these companies can be classified in three categories: intent signals composed of information about social and relational capital; camouflage signals composed of information about the reduction of the pollution without mentioning the pollution itself and need signals composed of information about dividends encouraging investors to maintain their financial support.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisabeth Albertini, 2019. "Integrated reporting: an exploratory study of French companies," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 23(2), pages 513-535, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:23:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s10997-018-9428-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10997-018-9428-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10997-018-9428-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10997-018-9428-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wendy Stubbs & Colin Higgins, 2018. "Stakeholders’ Perspectives on the Role of Regulatory Reform in Integrated Reporting," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(3), pages 489-508, February.
    2. Charl de Villiers & Leonardo Rinaldi & Jeffrey Unerman, 2014. "Integrated Reporting: Insights, gaps and an agenda for future research," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(7), pages 1042-1067, August.
    3. Markus Milne & Rob Gray, 2013. "W(h)ither Ecology? The Triple Bottom Line, the Global Reporting Initiative, and Corporate Sustainability Reporting," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(1), pages 13-29, November.
    4. Baiman, S & Verrecchia, RE, 1996. "The relation among capital markets, financial disclosure, production efficiency, and insider trading," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 1-22.
    5. Flower, John, 2015. "The International Integrated Reporting Council: A story of failure," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 1-17.
    6. Jean-Noël Chauvey & Sophie Giordano-Spring & Charles H. Cho & Dennis M. Patten, 2015. "The Normativity and Legitimacy of CSR Disclosure: Evidence from France," Post-Print hal-02009500, HAL.
    7. Fabrizio Zerbini, 2017. "CSR Initiatives as Market Signals: A Review and Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 146(1), pages 1-23, November.
    8. Jean-Noël Chauvey & Sophie Giordano-Spring & Charles Cho & Dennis Patten, 2015. "The Normativity and Legitimacy of CSR Disclosure: Evidence from France," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(4), pages 789-803, September.
    9. Graham, John R. & Harvey, Campbell R. & Rajgopal, Shiva, 2005. "The economic implications of corporate financial reporting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(1-3), pages 3-73, December.
    10. Adams, Carol A., 2015. "The International Integrated Reporting Council: A call to action," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 23-28.
    11. Stephen A. Ross, 1977. "The Determination of Financial Structure: The Incentive-Signalling Approach," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 8(1), pages 23-40, Spring.
    12. Thomson, Ian, 2015. "‘But does sustainability need capitalism or an integrated report’ a commentary on ‘The International Integrated Reporting Council: A story of failure’ by Flower, J," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 18-22.
    13. Judy Brown & Jesse Dillard, 2014. "Integrated reporting: On the need for broadening out and opening up," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(7), pages 1120-1156, August.
    14. Charl de Villiers & Elmar R. Venter & Pei†Chi Kelly Hsiao, 2017. "Integrated reporting: background, measurement issues, approaches and an agenda for future research," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57(4), pages 937-959, December.
    15. Beattie, Vivien & Smith, Sarah Jane, 2013. "Value creation and business models: Refocusing the intellectual capital debate," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(4), pages 243-254.
    16. Mary E. Barth, 2015. "Financial Accounting Research, Practice, and Financial Accountability," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 51(4), pages 499-510, December.
    17. Joseph E. Stiglitz, 2000. "The Contributions of the Economics of Information to Twentieth Century Economics," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 115(4), pages 1441-1478.
    18. van den Bergh, Jeroen C.J.M., 2010. "Externality or sustainability economics?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 2047-2052, September.
    19. Stephen Powell, 2003. "Accounting for intangible assets: current requirements, key players and future directions," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(4), pages 797-811.
    20. Villalonga, Belen, 2004. "Intangible resources, Tobin's q, and sustainability of performance differences," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 54(2), pages 205-230, June.
    21. Ekins, Paul & Simon, Sandrine & Deutsch, Lisa & Folke, Carl & De Groot, Rudolf, 2003. "A framework for the practical application of the concepts of critical natural capital and strong sustainability," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(2-3), pages 165-185, March.
    22. Tommaso Pucci & Christian Simoni & Lorenzo Zanni, 2015. "Measuring the relationship between marketing assets, intellectual capital and firm performance," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 19(3), pages 589-616, August.
    23. Guthrie, James & Ricceri, Federica & Dumay, John, 2012. "Reflections and projections: A decade of Intellectual Capital Accounting Research," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(2), pages 68-82.
    24. John Dumay & Cristiana Bernardi & James Guthrie & Paola Demartini, 2016. "Integrated reporting: A structured literature review," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(3), pages 166-185, September.
    25. Michael Spence, 1973. "Job Market Signaling," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 87(3), pages 355-374.
    26. De Groot, Rudolf & Van der Perk, Johan & Chiesura, Anna & van Vliet, Arnold, 2003. "Importance and threat as determining factors for criticality of natural capital," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(2-3), pages 187-204, March.
    27. Julia Catharina Jensen & Nicola Berg, 2012. "Determinants of Traditional Sustainability Reporting Versus Integrated Reporting. An Institutionalist Approach," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(5), pages 299-316, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bonsón, Enrique & Bednárová, Michaela & Perea, David, 2023. "Disclosures about algorithmic decision making in the corporate reports of Western European companies," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    2. Pappu Kumar Dey, 2020. "Value relevance of integrated reporting: a study of the Bangladesh banking sector," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 17(4), pages 195-207, December.
    3. Arcangelo Marrone & Lara Oliva, 2021. "Measuring the Level of Integrated Reporting Alignment with the Framework," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(12), pages 110-110, July.
    4. Boguslawa Bek-Gaik & Anna Surowiec, 2022. "The Quality of Business Model Disclosure in Integrated Reporting: Evidence from Poland," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 3-26.
    5. Boguslawa Bek-Gaik & Anna Surowiec, 2023. "The Value Creation Model in Integrated Reporting: Evidence from Poland," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3), pages 23-60.
    6. Boguslawa Bek-Gaik & Anna Surowiec, 2021. "Forward-looking Disclosures in Integrated Reporting: Evidence from Poland," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4B), pages 952-981.
    7. Bonsón, Enrique & Lavorato, Domenica & Lamboglia, Rita & Mancini, Daniela, 2021. "Artificial intelligence activities and ethical approaches in leading listed companies in the European Union," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    8. Nuradhi Kalpani Jayasiri & Sriyalatha Kumarasinghe & Rakesh Pandey, 2023. "12 years of integrated reporting: A review of research," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 2187-2243, June.
    9. Genevé Richard & Elza Odendaal, 2021. "Credibility-enhancing mechanisms, other than external assurance, in integrated reporting," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 25(1), pages 61-93, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nuradhi Kalpani Jayasiri & Sriyalatha Kumarasinghe & Rakesh Pandey, 2023. "12 years of integrated reporting: A review of research," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 2187-2243, June.
    2. Elisabeth Albertini, 2018. "Integrated reporting in France: a failure of reducing the information asymmetries about sustainability," Post-Print hal-02148574, HAL.
    3. Jukka Mähönen, 2020. "Comprehensive Approach to Relevant and Reliable Reporting in Europe: A Dream Impossible?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-38, June.
    4. Stefania Veltri & Antonella Silvestri, 2020. "The value relevance of corporate financial and nonfinancial information provided by the integrated report: A systematic review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3038-3054, December.
    5. Mähönen Jukka, 2020. "Integrated Reporting and Sustainable Corporate Governance from European Perspective," Accounting, Economics, and Law: A Convivium, De Gruyter, vol. 10(2), pages 1-40, July.
    6. Niccol? Comerio & Patrizia Tettamanzi, 2019. "Systematic literature network analysis in accounting: A first application on integrated reporting research," FINANCIAL REPORTING, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2019(2), pages 73-95.
    7. Busco, Cristiano & Malafronte, Irma & Pereira, John & Starita, Maria Grazia, 2019. "The determinants of companies’ levels of integration: Does one size fit all?," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(3), pages 277-298.
    8. Roslender, Robin & Nielsen, Christian, 2021. "Accounting for the value expectations of customers: Re-imagining the Integrated Reporting initiative," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    9. de Villiers, Charl & Sharma, Umesh, 2020. "A critical reflection on the future of financial, intellectual capital, sustainability and integrated reporting," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    10. Trébucq, Stéphane & Magnaghi, Elisabetta, 2017. "Using the EFQM excellence model for integrated reporting: A qualitative exploration and evaluation," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 522-531.
    11. Maria Federica Izzo & Alberto Dello Strologo & Fabrizio Granà, 2020. "Learning from the Best: New Challenges and Trends in IR Reporters’ Disclosure and the Role of SDGs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-22, July.
    12. Kelli Juliane Favato & Marguit Neumann & Simone Leticia Raimundini Sanches & Manuel Castelo Branco & Daniel Ramos Nogueira, 2021. "Integrated Thinking and Reporting Process: Sensemaking of Internal Actors in the Case of Itaú Unibanco," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-16, June.
    13. Anna Pistoni & Lucrezia Songini & Francesco Bavagnoli, 2018. "Integrated Reporting Quality: An Empirical Analysis," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(4), pages 489-507, July.
    14. Chaidali, Panagioula (Penny) & Jones, Michael John, 2017. "It’s a matter of trust: Exploring the perceptions of Integrated Reporting preparers," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 1-20.
    15. Serena Santis & Michela Bianchi & Alberto Incollingo & Marco Bisogno, 2018. "Disclosure of Intellectual Capital Components in Integrated Reporting: An Empirical Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.
    16. José Navarrete-Oyarce & Juan Alejandro Gallegos & Hugo Moraga-Flores & José Luis Gallizo, 2021. "Integrated Reporting as an Academic Research Concept in the Area of Business," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-16, July.
    17. Francesco Badia & Grazia Dicuonzo & Saverio Petruzzelli & Vittorio Dell’Atti, 2019. "Integrated reporting in action: mobilizing intellectual capital to improve management and governance practices," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 23(2), pages 299-320, June.
    18. La Torre, Matteo & Dumay, John & Rea, Michele Antonio & Abhayawansa, Subhash, 2020. "A journey towards a safe harbour: The rhetorical process of the International Integrated Reporting Council," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(2).
    19. 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.
    20. Filippo Vitolla & Nicola Raimo & Michele Rubino, 2019. "Appreciations, criticisms, determinants, and effects of integrated reporting: A systematic literature review," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(2), pages 518-528, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:23:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s10997-018-9428-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.