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Exploring the implications of integrated reporting on organisational reporting practice

Author

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  • Abdifatah Ahmed Haji
  • Dewan Mahboob Hossain

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine “how” the adoption of integrated reporting (IR), and the embedded multiple capitals framework, has influenced organisational reporting practice. In particular, the paper examines how companies report and integrate multiple capitals in various organisational reporting channels following the introduction of an “apply or explain” IR requirement in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach - Using a qualitative case study approach based on discourse analysis, this paper examines various organisational reports including integrated reports, standalone sustainability reports, websites and other online materials of highly regarded, award-winning, integrated reporters in South Africa over a four-year period (2011-2014), following the introduction of IR requirement. The authors draw five impression management techniques, namely, rhetorical manipulation, thematic manipulation, selectivity, emphasis in visual presentation and performance comparisons to explain disclosure and integration of multiple capitals. Findings - The authors find that companies are increasingly conforming to reporting language espoused in existing IR guidelines and multiple capital frameworks over time. For instance, it is found that the research cases have increasingly used specific grammars in existing IR guidelines such as “capitals” and “material” issues, with companies acknowledging the “interdependencies” and “trade-offs” between multiple capitals. Companies have also started to recognise that the capitals are subject to “increases, decreases, and transformations” over time. However, the disclosures are generic, rather than company-specific, and lack substance, often framed in synthetic charming aimed to showcase adoption of IR practice. In addition, the current discourse on multiple capital disclosures is one of the defending, even promoting, organisational reputation, rather than recognising how organisational actions, or inactions, impact multiple capitals. The paper concludes that the emerging IR practice, and the embedded multiple capital framework, has not really improved the substance of organisational reports. Practical implications - The results of this study have a number of implications for regulatory authorities, public and private sector organisations as well as academic researchers. For regulatory authorities, the results inform relevant regulatory authorities how IR practice is taking shape over time, particularly within the context of a regulatory setting. Second, the empirical analyses, which focused on highly regarded, award-wining, integrated reporters, draw the attention of regulatory bodies as well as users of corporate reports to concerns related to a growing number of rating agencies of organisational reports. Finally, for academic researchers, the theoretical implications of this study is that, given the pervasive use of multiple impression management techniques in various organisational reports, the authors support the notion that corporate disclosure practices should be examined through the lens of multiple theoretical perspectives to enhance our understanding of the nature of organisational reporting practice. Originality/value - This study provides a more focused preliminary empirical account of the implications of IR practice, and the embedded multiple capital frameworks, on the quality of organisational reporting practice following the adoption of mandatory IR requirement in South Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdifatah Ahmed Haji & Dewan Mahboob Hossain, 2016. "Exploring the implications of integrated reporting on organisational reporting practice," Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(4), pages 415-444, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:eme:qrampp:v:13:y:2016:i:4:p:415-444
    DOI: 10.1108/QRAM-07-2015-0065
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Hasan Mahmoud Al-Shatnawi & Ahmad Adnan Abo Al-Haija, 2018. "The Effect of Information Content of Integrated Business Reports on the Credit Decision Making at Jordanian Commercial Banks," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(6), pages 226-242, June.
    2. Jukka Mähönen, 2020. "Comprehensive Approach to Relevant and Reliable Reporting in Europe: A Dream Impossible?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-38, June.
    3. Salwa M. A. Hameed & Noora A. R. Rahman Ahmed, 2020. "Adoption of Integrated Reporting in Emerging Economies: Evidence from Bahrain," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 10(10), pages 1115-1130, October.
    4. Salaheldin Hamad & Muhammad Umar Draz & Fong-Woon Lai, 2020. "The Impact of Corporate Governance and Sustainability Reporting on Integrated Reporting: A Conceptual Framework," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, June.
    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. Josua Oll & Sabrina Rommerskirchen, 2018. "What’s wrong with integrated reporting? A systematic review," NachhaltigkeitsManagementForum | Sustainability Management Forum, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 19-34, December.
    7. 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.
    8. Muhammad Tahir Nadeem & Muhammad Zia-ud-Din & Muhammad Zubair Shafique, 2018. "The Impact of Employees Capabilities on Organizational Legitimate Interest," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 8(6), pages 305-320, June.
    9. Ioana Sofian & Mădălina Dumitru, 2017. "The Compliance of the Integrated Reports Issued by European Financial Companies with the International Integrated Reporting Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-16, July.

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