Realising the vision of Integrated Reporting: A critical viewpoint

Conradie, Pieter; Jongh, Derick De

doi:10.4102/jef.v10i2.18

Cited by 3 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…By adding to the limited body of literature on this topic, this study also answers the call for in-depth analyses of IR assurance practices and the role of auditors (Cheng et al, 2014;Simnett and Huggins, 2015;Conradie and De Jongh, 2018). This paper also provides insights for regulators and standard setters for implementing IR assurance, and offers a practical response to requests from the IIRC and IAASB for informed views on IR assurance (IIRC, 2014a(IIRC, , 2014b(IIRC, , 2015IAASB, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…A number of studies have investigated IR from different viewpoints. In the light of this, a number of aspects of the effective implementation of IR remain controversial, including its central purpose (Stacchezzini et al, 2016;McNally et al, 2017;Conradie and De Jongh, 2018;Kılıç and Kuzey, 2018;Pistoni et al, 2018).…”

Section: Literature Review 21 Integrated Reportingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Auditors’ perceptions of integrated reporting assurance: insights from Italy

Borgato

Marchini

2021

MEDAR

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the practice of integrated reporting (IR) assurance from the auditors’ point of view, including the main challenges to be addressed and insights on evolution and potential new assurance approaches. Design/methodology/approach Based on an exploratory research design, the paper conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 expert auditors, accounting assurance providers and non-accounting assurance providers, in the Italian context, combining an open coding approach with an axial coding approach, and using a three-stage process to organize data. Findings Respondents confirmed that current IR practices do not represent a real paradigm shift and that the need for in-depth changes in the assurance approach will depend on how these practices evolve. The main challenges highlighted are the absence of suitable criteria, the difficulty of assuring narratives and future-oriented information, and the low level of maturity of internal systems and processes of companies and stakeholders. Proposals for overcoming these challenges are framed mainly within current assurance models, although some respondents pointed out the need for a shift towards new assurance approaches. Research limitations/implications The paper relies on a small sample of well-informed subjects active in Italy; thus, the results may not represent the views of all auditors. Practical implications The findings identify areas that practitioners and assurance provider firms should focus on, looking to IR assurance and its growing importance and application as a future business area. They may be useful to standard setters and regulators to better understand limits and opportunities of requiring IR assurance on specific information not strictly related to financial information, and for the development of guidance or standards for IR assurance. Originality/value This research contributes to the currently underexplored area of IR assurance. Relatively few studies have investigated this topic from an empirical point of view, and no study involving auditors has been carried out in the Italian context.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Literature Review 21 Integrated Reportingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Auditors’ perceptions of integrated reporting assurance: insights from Italy

Borgato

Marchini

2021

MEDAR

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“…This study has sought to respond to the call by de Villiers et al (2014) and Rinaldi et al (2018) for in-depth investigations of integrated reporting in organisations, shedding some light on the controversy about integrated reporting (Adams, 2015;Conradie and de Jongh, 2017;Flower, 2015;Humphrey et al, 2017;Thomson, 2015); particularly, in relation to the transformative potential of integrated reporting (Contrafatto and Burns, 2013;Narayanan and Adams, 2017;Stubbs and Higgins, 2014). In order to gain insights into this issue and drawing on the concept of design archetype Hinings, 1988, 1993), an exploratory interpretative analysis of the Spanish integrated reporting field was conducted.…”

Section: Conclusion and Final Remarksmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this regard, Humphrey et al (2017) note that the IIRC's prospects for success in reconfiguring the corporate reporting field depend on its ability to reconfigure the mainstream investment field. Moreover, Conradie and de Jongh (2017) question its transformative potential, underlining that the most important constraint on the success of integrated reporting relies on the IIRC's focus on the integrated report instead of the wider integrated reporting process.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is integrated reporting transformative?

Gutiérrez¹,

Ruiz²,

Larrínaga

2019

SAMPJ

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Purpose This paper aims to generate insights about the transformative potential of integrated reporting by exploring organisational adoption of non-financial reporting design archetypes available in the field. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on the concept of design archetype, this study conducts an exploratory interpretative based on qualitative semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis. The study is based on the Spanish integrated reporting field. Findings This study reveals that IIRC framework lacks the transformative potential to become an environmental disturbance for corporate reporting practice. It explains how organisations, in their attempt to seek coherence with underlying interpretative schemes, change their structural arrangements (structure, processes and systems) to adopt sustainability and integrated reporting design archetypes available in the field. Though organisational differences are portrayed, the transition from a sustainability-reporting archetype to an integrated-reporting archetype does not seem to be easily achieved. Research limitations/implications Due to its exploratory nature, further investigation of the transformative potential of integrated reporting is needed to address intra-organisational factors such as internal stakeholder interests, organisational values, individual or collective agency to embed interpretative schemes into structural arrangements, and technical and managerial capabilities enabling action. Practical implications Findings inform practitioners and policymakers about the hindrances to integrated reporting implementation to be considered for prospective regulation and standardisation. Social implications The study reflects on the difficulties for both mainstreaming sustainability to influence decision-making and developing reporting archetypes coherent with integrated thinking. Originality/value By focusing on archetype design, the paper provides insights to assess the transformative potential of integrated reporting.

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“…No less relevant, moreover, is that this research identifies some signs of integrated thinking from the journey through the implementation of sustainability reporting following the GRI guidelines. A broad perspective of the concept of integrated thinking and reporting and its adoption is offered, based on the controversy over the IIRC championing promise with potential to improve the quality of reporting practice (Adams, 2015; Conradie and de Jongh, 2017; Flower, 2015; Humphrey et al , 2017; Thomson, 2015). The relevance of these findings for this special issue stems from the fact that the incorporation of sustainability reporting in organizational procedures might offer new insight into the integrated thinking black box.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The implementation of sustainability reporting in a small and medium enterprise and the emergence of integrated thinking

Rossi

Luque‐Vílchez

2020

MEDAR

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Purpose This study aims to examine the process through which sustainability is integrated into the organizational practices of accounting. Design/methodology/approach Action research, drawing on the lens of neo-institutional theory, is used to explore the integration process of sustainability in an Italian company. Findings The results show how different factors and organizational dynamics contribute to the initiation of both sustainability reporting and the progressive diffusion of sustainability practices in this organization, within the small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) category. In addition, signs of integrated thinking were identified while charting the process of sustainability reporting and its institutionalization within the company. Research limitations/implications The study shows that the idea of integrated thinking was rooted in organizational culture prior to the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) framework and the momentum it gave to integrated reporting. In this sense, this research provides evidence to confirm the existence of an alternate narrative in relation to the one offered by the IIRC framework. Practical implications The present study contributes to understanding how SMEs can integrate sustainability into their accounting systems. Managers working in these organizations may learn from this experience. Originality/value On the one hand, this study further the knowledge of sustainability integration processes within an organizational practice, especially in the case of SMEs. On the other hand, the study is, perhaps, the first to identify signs of integrated thinking on the journey through the sustainability institutionalization process.

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Realising the vision of Integrated Reporting: A critical viewpoint

Cited by 3 publications

References 10 publications

Auditors’ perceptions of integrated reporting assurance: insights from Italy

Auditors’ perceptions of integrated reporting assurance: insights from Italy

Is integrated reporting transformative?

The implementation of sustainability reporting in a small and medium enterprise and the emergence of integrated thinking

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