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A CEO with many messages: Comparing the ideological representations provided by different corporate reports

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  • Hannele Mäkelä
  • Matias Laine

Abstract

This study analyzes how corporate reporting can be used to reinforce particular worldviews in the ongoing discursive debate over sustainability. The use of language is compared in CEO letters from two types of disclosures: the annual and sustainability reports of two Finnish companies during 2000–2009. The analysis is based on Thompson’s (1990) schema regarding the modes of ideology. Significant differences are noted; the CEO letters in the annual reports prominently use the economic discourse of growth and profitability, but they rely on the ‘well-being’ discourse in the sustainability reports. Despite the difference in discourse, by using different forms of ideological strategies, both types of disclosure serve the dominant social paradigm. The findings presented in this study highlight the need to further develop corporate sustainability reporting practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Hannele Mäkelä & Matias Laine, 2011. "A CEO with many messages: Comparing the ideological representations provided by different corporate reports," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(4), pages 217-231, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:accfor:v:35:y:2011:i:4:p:217-231
    DOI: 10.1016/j.accfor.2011.06.008
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    Cited by:

    1. Hyung Jong Na & Kun Chang Lee & Seung Uk Choi & Seong Tae Kim, 2020. "Exploring CEO Messages in Sustainability Management Reports: Applying Sentiment Mining and Sustainability Balanced Scorecard Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-21, January.
    2. Mohammed Hossain & Md. Tarikul Islam & Mahmood Ahmed Momin & Shamsun Nahar & Md. Samsul Alam, 2019. "Understanding Communication of Sustainability Reporting: Application of Symbolic Convergence Theory (SCT)," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 563-586, December.
    3. Tregidga, Helen & Milne, Markus & Lehman, Glen, 2012. "Analyzing the quality, meaning and accountability of organizational reporting and communication: Directions for future research," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 223-230.
    4. Martínez-Martínez, Domingo & Rodríguez Castro, Paula Isabel & Andrades Peña, Francisco Javier & Sierra Blanco, Jesús, 2024. "The Sustainable Development Goals and Large Spanish Companies: An analysis of their commitment based on their Non-Financial Reporting," Cuadernos de Gestión, Universidad del País Vasco - Instituto de Economía Aplicada a la Empresa (IEAE).
    5. Anne‐Kathrin Weber, 2020. "Corporate Role Conceptions in Global Forest Governance," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 11(5), pages 611-627, November.
    6. Arslan-Ayaydin, Özgür & Bishara, Norman & Thewissen, James & Torsin, Wouter, 2020. "Managerial career concerns and the content of corporate disclosures: An analysis of the tone of earnings press releases," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    7. Saverio Bozzolan & Giovanna Michelon & Marco Mattei & Andrea Giornetti, 2019. "Signing the letter to shareholders: Does the Signatory?s role relate to impression management?," FINANCIAL REPORTING, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2019(1), pages 37-82.
    8. Laura Bini & Marco Bellucci & Francesco Giunta, 2016. "Put Your Money where Your Mouth is: The Difference between Real Commitment to Sustainability and Mere Rhetoric," FINANCIAL REPORTING, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2016(2), pages 5-31.
    9. Beattie, Vivien, 2014. "Accounting narratives and the narrative turn in accounting research: Issues, theory, methodology, methods and a research framework," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 111-134.
    10. Mäkelä, Hannele, 2013. "On the ideological role of employee reporting," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 360-378.
    11. Barkemeyer, Ralf & Comyns, Breeda & Figge, Frank & Napolitano, Giulio, 2014. "CEO statements in sustainability reports: Substantive information or background noise?," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 241-257.
    12. Hyung Jong Na & So Ra Kim & Hyun Jin Jo, 2022. "Integrating Text-Mining and Sustainability Balanced Scorecard Methods to Examine the Relationship between CEO Messages of Homepages and Firm Value: Emphasis on Fashion Companies in South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-25, November.
    13. Russell J. Craig & Niamh M. Brennan, 2012. "An exploration of the relationship between language choice in CEO letters to shareholders and corporate reputation," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(3), pages 166-177, September.
    14. Sorola, Matthew, 2022. "Q methodology to conduct a critical study in accounting: A Q study on accountants’ perspectives of social and environmental reporting," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    15. George Ferns & Kenneth Amaeshi & Aliette Lambert, 2019. "Drilling their Own Graves: How the European Oil and Gas Supermajors Avoid Sustainability Tensions Through Mythmaking," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(1), pages 201-231, August.
    16. Yongkyu Choi & Keun Tae Cho, 2021. "Analysis of Environmental Management Characteristics Using Network Analysis of CEO Communication in the Automotive Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-23, October.
    17. Martins, Adelaide & Gomes, Delfina & Oliveira, Lídia & Caria, Ana & Parker, Lee, 2020. "Resistance strategies through the CEO communications in the media," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

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