Master's Thesis from the year 2012 in the subject Economics - Other, The Graduate Institute, language: English, abstract: There is wide-spread awareness about the fact that business has caused or aggravated many significant global crises, calling into question the sustainability of our current economy. Proponents of the emerging concept of Integrated Reporting, however, argue that corporations can reverse this trend by reporting their financial information together with information measured in CSR reports about at what costs to environment and society, also called footprint, a corporation has achieved its profits. Such opening up to disclosure, so the argument, creates incentives for corporations to reduce their footprint; and reputation and capital allocation will then reward well-performing, sustainable corporations leading to a dynamic mechanism that will contribute to sustainable development. Such an argumentation is simplistic and does not hold. Property economics establishes that within a property-based economy, corporations are faced with specific economic requirements as a result of the capitalization process, namely requirements to grow and secure profitability across time and competition. Such requirements leave corporations with no option than to subdue social and environmental considerations to their pursuit of profitability. The latter, in return, dictates that corporations use strategies like Integrated Reporting, arguing for voluntary corporate self-regulation in regards to costs imposed on society and environment, in order to shape a regulatory framework that accommodates their ability to respond to economic requirements. Corporations are moreover not likely to voluntarily report on any measure that will threaten their profitability. The concept of Integrated Reporting can not simultaneously be a corporate tool for shaping a specific legal framework that subdues environmental and social considerations; as well as a contribution to sustainable development, at least not as long as the latter is analyzed from an eco-social perspective that requires that economic interests be subdued to social and environmental considerations. Integrated Reporting can, however, play a role in informing society about the footprint of a given corporation if regulation establishes what is to be measured by corporations when disclosing their footprint.

Master's Thesis from the year 2012 in the subject Economics - Other, grade: -, The Graduate Institute, language: English, abstract: There is wide-spread awareness about the fact that business has caused or aggravated many significant global crises, calling into question the sustainability of our current economy. Proponents of the emerging concept of Integrated Reporting, however, argue that corporations can reverse this trend by reporting their financial information together with information measured in CSR reports about at what costs to environment and society, also called footprint, a corporation has achieved its profits. Such opening up to disclosure, so the argument, creates incentives for corporations to reduce their footprint; and reputation and capital allocation will then reward well-performing, sustainable corporations leading to a dynamic mechanism that will contribute to sustainable development. Such an argumentation is simplistic and does not hold. Property economics establishes that within a property-based economy, corporations are faced with specific economic requirements as a result of the capitalization process, namely requirements to grow and secure profitability across time and competition. Such requirements leave corporations with no option than to subdue social and environmental considerations to their pursuit of profitability. The latter, in return, dictates that corporations use strategies like Integrated Reporting, arguing for voluntary corporate self-regulation in regards to costs imposed on society and environment, in order to shape a regulatory framework that accommodates their ability to respond to economic requirements. Corporations are moreover not likely to voluntarily report on any measure that will threaten their profitability. The concept of Integrated Reporting can not simultaneously be a corporate tool for shaping a specific legal framework that subdues environmental and social considerations; as well as a contribution to sustai

Winner of the 2010 PROSE Award for Best Business, Finance, & Management Book! "One Report" refers to an emerging trend in business taking place throughout the world where companies are going beyond separate reports for financial and nonfinancial (e.g., corporate social responsibility or sustainability) results and integrating both into a single integrated report. At the same time, they are also leveraging the Internet to provide more detailed results to all of their stakeholders and for improving their level of dialogue and engagement with them. Providing best practice examples from companies around the world, One Report shows how integrated reporting adds tremendous value to the company and all of its stakeholders, including shareholders, and also ultimately contributes to a sustainable society. Focuses on the emerging trend of integrated reporting as a top priority for companies, investors, regulators, auditors and civil society Provides compelling case studies from some of the world's leading companies doing integrated reporting Addresses how companies can move toward One Report and how it can become a keystone of a sustainable strategy for both the company and society Explains what others-such as analysts, shareholders, other stakeholders, auditors, regulators, legislators, and civil society-need to do to enable the rapid and broad adoption of One Report Filled with case studies and the most current trends on integrated reporting, this book is an invaluable guidebook on the future of reporting and how this future can lead to a sustainable society.

Despite the development of innovative approaches to strengthen accountability and the quality of integrated reporting disclosures, stakeholders are increasingly demanding more objective and unambiguous data. Therefore, the use of non-financial performance measures that assist in collecting comparable information and the verification thereof by independent experts can help to establish trust in a firm’s communication with its stakeholders. Certainly, non-financial information should complement mandatory financial reporting to go beyond traditional financial ratios and link them to non-financial risks and achievements. This book examines the possibility of using information provided by performance measurement systems in the process of preparing integrated reports. It presents an overview of the integrated report from the supply side, which undoubtedly affects the quality and usefulness of the information presented as well as enhances the manner in which the data and analyses are suitable for independent assessment. The book looks at the ways in which various groups of stakeholders - management; those who prepare non-financial reports; investors - influence the scope of the key performance indicators (KPIs) used for integrated reporting purposes, and what categories of KPIs are the most significant. Further, it analyzes which performance measurement systems provide information for the different components of integrated reports. The book is interdisciplinary, its thematic scope is at the intersection of accounting, business reporting, and business management, and thus it provides an important source of knowledge for students, scholars, and researchers of economics, finance, and management. It will also be a valuable guide for those preparing integrated reports or other forms of non-financial reporting.

An in-depth, enlightening look at the integrated reporting movement The Integrated Reporting Movement explores the meaning of the concept, explains the forces that provide momentum to the associated movement, and examines the motives of the actors involved. The book posits integrated reporting as a key mechanism by which companies can ensure their own long-term sustainability by contributing to a sustainable society. Although integrated reporting has seen substantial development due to the support of companies, investors, and the initiatives of a number of NGOs, widespread regulatory intervention has yet to materialize. Outside of South Africa, adoption remains voluntary, accomplished via social movement abetted, to varying degrees, by market forces. In considering integrated reporting’s current state of play, the authors provide guidance to ensure wider adoption of the practice and success of the movement, starting with how companies can improve their own reporting processes. But the support of investors, regulators, and NGOs is also important. All will benefit, as will society as a whole. Readers will learn how integrated reporting has evolved over the years, where frameworks and standards are today, and the practices that help ensure effective implementation—including, but not limited to an extensive discussion of information technology’s role in reporting and the importance of corporate reporting websites. The authors introduce the concepts of an annual board of directors' "Statement of Significant Audiences and Materiality" and a "Sustainable Value Matrix" tool that translates the statement into management decisions. The book argues that the appropriate combination of market and regulatory forces to speed adoption will vary by country, concluding with four specific recommendations about what must be done to accelerate high quality adoption of integrated reporting around the world.

This book focuses on Integrated Reporting as a contemporary social and managerial innovation where a number of initiatives, organizations and individuals began to converge in response to the need for a consistent, collaborative and internationally accepted approach to redesign corporate reporting. Integrated Reporting is a process that results in communication of the annual “integrated report” which describes value creation over time. An integrated report is a concise communication about how an organization’s strategy, governance, performance and prospects lead to the creation of value over the short, medium and long term. This book offers a fresh perspective with expert contributions focusing on both the theoretical underpinnings and the practical challenges for the future of corporate reporting.

Organizations rely on annual reports to communicate their value and create a sense of corporate community. Assessment of these communications is integral in determining the amount of relevant information disclosed. Global Perspectives on Frameworks for Integrated Reporting: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a critical scholarly resource that examines the characteristics of communications released by organizations, and evaluates the compliance with the model proposed. Featuring coverage on a wide range of topics such as corporate citizenship, country-specific indicators, and modeling relations, this book is geared toward academicians, researchers, and students seeking current research on the application of integrated reporting models in relevant organizations.

The book presents a rich collection of research studies on the theory and practice of corporate integrated reporting (IR) in South Asia. South Asia is emerging to compete in the world marketplace and one of fast economically growing regions to contribute to the global economy. As the region’s economic development accelerates, balancing economic and environmental development appears as a key sustainability challenge for governments, investors, consumers, and local communities. Companies in South Asia region are therefore increasingly challenged to reduce their environmental impacts and to contribute to sustainable development. This book includes valuable contributions of advanced research, concepts, applications, developments and case studies on corporate IR and sustainability accounting in South Asia and the roles of different professional accounting bodies to strength corporate sustainability and build capacity in the South Asian Region.

This timely handbook provides a current and comprehensive examination of integrated reporting, both practical and research-based. It offers insights and different perspectives from more than 60 authors, including representatives of the International Integrated Reporting Council, Integrated Reporting Committee of South Africa, professional bodies and audit firms, as well as leading academics in the fields of integrated reporting, sustainability reporting and corporate social responsibility. This collected work provides an in-depth review of the development of integrated reporting, with a focus on the interpretation and guidance provided by the International Integrated Reporting Council. It encourages the development of new thinking and research topics in the area of integrated reporting (such as links between integrated reporting and reports focused on financial and corporate social responsibility matters), as well as showcasing how integrated reporting issues are seen and practiced in different parts of the world. The chapters include reviews of the most recent research, practitioner viewpoints, conceptual pieces, case studies and disclosure analyses. Accessible and engaging, this handbook will be an invaluable overview for those new to the field or those who are interested in ensuring they are up to date with its developments, as well as those who are concerned with how to construct an integrated report.