The Quality of Business Model Disclosure in Integrated Reporting: Evidence from Poland

Abstract

Purpose:The purpose of the paper is to identify and evaluate business model disclosures in integrated reports published by Polish companies. The article attempts to determine how practitioners understand and explain the concept of a business model and whether the implementation of integrated reporting has influenced the scope and form of presenting information on the business model. The article uses the results of literature studies on the subject, the results of previous research, and observations of business practice in the area of integrated reporting. Design/methodology/approach: The quantitative and qualitative content analysis of business model disclosures in integrated reporting was performed in order to assess the current status of business model disclosures presented by Polish companies. The analysis covered 74 integrated reports prepared in the years 2016-2019. Findings: The findings proved that most elements of business model have the nature of qualitative narrations regarding strategy, various forms of capital, business activities and outputs, while less attention was paid to business model adaptability, position of the organization within the value chain, waist/by-products, and outcomes' effect on various forms of capital. Practical Implications:The results of the study complement the research gap of current literature on business model disclosures quality in Polish practice. Originality/Value: The research presented in the article contributes to the current literature on integrated reporting by using the novel dataset, identifying the level of business model disclosures in the examined integrated reports, and is aimed at presenting a critical interpretative perspective.

Forecasting the Quality Assessment of Integrated Reporting of Corporate Enterprises: Empirical Experience of South Africa

“…Typically, each author [9; 11; 17; 25; 27] evaluates the overall quality of integrated reporting, while another group of scientists J. Gerwanski, O. Kordsachia, P. Velte [14] та Y. Pillai та K. Seetah [27] identifies the causes of the quality of integrated reporting. Additionally, we concur with the findings of a team of Poles researchers B. Bek-Gaik and A. Surowiec [5], who demonstrate the value of a business model's disclosure in integrated reporting. The above is important because it explains the way in which a corporation's value is created and maintained.…”

“…A group of Polish researchers B. Bek-Gaik, and A. Surowiec [5] substantiated the quality of business model disclosure in integrated reporting. Meanwhile, a team of Italian authors F. Vitolla, N. Raimo, M. Rubino, and A. Garzoni [6] studied the influence of national culture on the quality of integrated reporting.…”

Sustainable Business Models in Non-Financial Reporting in Polish Practice

“…Two business model concepts have gained popularity recently; the first being the Business Model Canvas (Osterwalder and Pigneur, 2009), and the second being the concept proposed by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC 2013;Bek-Gaik and Surowiec, 2022). It should be noted, however, that on a theoretical level, a uniform, generally accepted definition of a business model, for example, in a standard or norm, has not been adopted.…”

Assessing the Maturity of Sustainable Business Model and Strategy Reporting under the CSRD Shadow

“…BMs can be seen as structured management tools that have the potential to be a key factor in the competitive stance and success of a business (Di Tullio et al 2019). Additionally, the concept of the BM promotes a proactive and independent mindset and stimulates the preparers, auditors and users of the reports to reflect on how the business operates and creates value (Bek-Gaik and Surowiec 2022;EFRAG 2013).…”