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Institutional drivers of environmental management accounting adoption in public sector water organisations

Author

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  • Mohammad Imtiaz Ferdous
  • Carol A. Adams
  • Gordon Boyce

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the influences on the adoption of environmental management accounting (EMA) in corporatised water supply organisations, from an institutional theory perspective, drawing on the concepts of reflexive isomorphism and institutional logics. Design/methodology/approach - The primary research involves case analysis of three companies in the Australian water supply industry, drawing on interviews, internal documents and publicly available documents, including annual reports. Findings - Two key drivers for the adoption and emergence of EMA are: the emergence of a government regulator in the form of the Essential Services Commission (ESC) and community expectations with regard to environmental performance and disclosure. The water organisations were found to be reflexively isomorphic, while seeking to align their commercial logic to “sustainability” and “ensuring community expectations” logics to the legitimate adoption of EMA. Originality/value - The paper contributes to the literature by providing case study evidence of the intentions and motivations of management in adopting EMA, and the nature of that adoption process over an extended period. Further, it provides empirical evidence of the applicability of reflexive isomorphism in the context of EMA and institutional logics.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammad Imtiaz Ferdous & Carol A. Adams & Gordon Boyce, 2019. "Institutional drivers of environmental management accounting adoption in public sector water organisations," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 32(4), pages 984-1012, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:aaajpp:aaaj-09-2017-3145
    DOI: 10.1108/AAAJ-09-2017-3145
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaofang Chen & P.R. Weerathunga & Mohammad Nurunnabi & K.M.M.C.B. Kulathunga & W.H.M.S. Samarathunga, 2020. "Influences of Behavioral Intention to Engage in Environmental Accounting Practices for Corporate Sustainability: Managerial Perspectives from a Developing Country," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-30, June.
    2. Passetti, Emilio & Rinaldi, Leonardo, 2020. "Micro-processes of justification and critique in a water sustainability controversy: Examining the establishment of moral legitimacy through accounting," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(3).
    3. Huibrecht Margaretha van der Poll, 2022. "The barriers and drivers of environmental management accounting practices' adoption in developed and developing countries for sustainable development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(5), pages 1222-1234, October.
    4. Luluk Muhimatul Ifada & Romlah Jaffar, 2023. "Does Environmental Cost Expenditure Matter? Evidence from Selected Countries in the Asia-Pacific Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, February.
    5. Guohua Qu & Yue Zhang & Kaichao Tan & Jiangtao Han & Weihua Qu, 2022. "Exploring Knowledge Domain and Emerging Trends in Climate Change and Environmental Audit: A Scientometric Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-22, March.
    6. Viktorija Varaniūtė & Ineta Žičkutė & Akvilė Žandaravičiūtė, 2022. "The Changing Role of Management Accounting in Product Development: Directions to Digitalization, Sustainability, and Circularity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, April.
    7. Silas Mukwarami & Huibrecht M. Poll, 2024. "Critical environmental management accounting practices influencing service delivery of growing cities in a developing economy: a review and conceptual framework," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 710-739, September.
    8. Jayasinghe, Kelum & Adhikari, Pawan & Soobaroyen, Teerooven & Wynne, Andy & Malagila, John & Abdurafiu, Noah, 2021. "Government accounting reforms in Sub-Saharan African countries and the selective ignorance of the epistemic community: A competing logics perspective," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    9. Matteo Pozzoli & Raffaela Nastari & Sabrina Pisano & Marco Venuti, 2023. "How Circular Economy Disclosure Responds to Institutional Determinants Empirical Evidences in Non-Financial European Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-20, November.

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