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XBRL: An (Open) Source of Enlightenment or Disillusion?

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  • Joanne Locke
  • Alan Lowe

Abstract

Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) is being adopted by European regulators as a data standard for the exchange of business information. This paper examines the approach of XBRL International (XII) to the meta-data standard's development and diffusion. We theorise the development of XBRL using concepts drawn from a model of successful open source projects. Comparison of the open source model to XBRL enables us to identify a number of interesting similarities and differences. In common with open source projects, the benefits and progress of XBRL have been overstated and 'hyped' by enthusiastic participants. While XBRL is an open data standard in terms of access to the equivalent of its 'source code' we find that the governance structure of the XBRL consortium is significantly different to a model open source approach. The barrier to participation that is created by requiring paid membership and a focus on transacting business at physical conferences and meetings is identified as particularly critical. Decisions about the technical structure of XBRL, the regulator-led pattern of adoption and the organisation of XII are discussed. Finally areas for future research are identified.

Suggested Citation

  • Joanne Locke & Alan Lowe, 2007. "XBRL: An (Open) Source of Enlightenment or Disillusion?," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(3), pages 585-623.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:euract:v:16:y:2007:i:3:p:585-623
    DOI: 10.1080/09638180701507163
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    Cited by:

    1. Indrit Troshani & Nick Rowbottom, 2021. "Digital Corporate Reporting: Research Developments and Implications," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 31(3), pages 213-232, September.
    2. Gostimir Dejan, 2015. "XBRL Standard for Financial Reporting in Croatia: Current State and Perspectives," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 6(2), pages 31-40, September.
    3. Enrique BONSON, 2008. "Solvency II and XBRL: New Rules and Technologies in Insurance Supervision," Review of Economic and Business Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, issue 2, pages 35-49, November.
    4. Florin Radu, 2016. "XBRL – The business Language in the Digital Age," Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, Ovidius University of Constantza, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 0(2), pages 589-594, February.
    5. Enrique Bonsón & Virginia Cortijo & Tomas Escobar & Francisco Flores & Sergio Monreal, 2010. "Solvency II and XBRL: new rules and technologies in insurance supervision," Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 18(2), pages 144-157, May.
    6. Cristina Stefanescu, 2014. "XBRL-Based Projects for Financial and Prudential Reporting – an Empirical Analysis in European Banking System," Acta Universitatis Danubius. OEconomica, Danubius University of Galati, issue 10(2), pages 76-86, April.
    7. Saiful Azam, 2014. "Perceived Environmental Factors And The Intention To Adopt A Standard Business Reporting Facility: A Survey Of Australian Corporate Cfos," Asian Academy of Management Journal of Accounting and Finance (AAMJAF), Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, vol. 10(2), pages 147-173.
    8. Diego Valentinetti & Michele A. Rea, 2013. "XBRL for Financial Reporting: Evidence on Italian GAAP versus IFRS," Accounting Perspectives, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(3), pages 237-259, September.
    9. Ferhat D. Zengul & James D. Byrd & Nurettin Oner & Mark Edmonds & Arline Savage, 2019. "Exploring corporate governance research in accounting journals through latent semantic and topic analyses," Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(4), pages 175-192, October.
    10. André Gräning & Carsten Felden & Maciej Piechocki, 2011. "Status Quo and Potential of XBRL for Business and Information Systems Engineering," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 3(4), pages 231-239, August.
    11. Miścikowska Daria, 2022. "An Exploratory Study on Preparers’ Perception of ESEF Reporting: Evidence from the Warsaw Stock Exchange," Folia Oeconomica Stetinensia, Sciendo, vol. 22(1), pages 191-218, June.
    12. Valentin Florentin Dumitru, 2011. "The Impact of Information Technologies on the Organization and Functioning of the Company," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 13(Special N), pages 754-770, November.
    13. Arnold, Vicky & Bedard, Jean C. & Phillips, Jillian R. & Sutton, Steve G., 2012. "The impact of tagging qualitative financial information on investor decision making: Implications for XBRL," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 2-20.
    14. Troshani, Indrit & Janssen, Marijn & Lymer, Andy & Parker, Lee D., 2018. "Digital transformation of business-to-government reporting: An institutional work perspective," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 17-36.

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