IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jbecon/v89y2019i5d10.1007_s11573-018-0922-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Integrated reporting: boon or bane? A review of empirical research on its determinants and implications

Author

Listed:
  • Linda Kannenberg

    (Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg)

  • Philipp Schreck

    (Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg)

Abstract

Integrated Reporting (IR) is a fairly new form of corporate reporting that is believed to hold promises for both financial and sustainability reporting. IR goes beyond a mere change in information disclosures and has the potential to influence internal communication processes, strategic considerations and, as a result, decision-making. The simultaneous portrayal of sustainability concerns alongside financial considerations might lead to socially and ecologically advantageous company decisions. A thorough understanding of those factors that potentially mediate the relationship between integrated reporting on one side, and company performance on the other, allows for conclusions on whether integrated reporting substantially affects the way in which companies deal with sustainability issues. To address this question, this article provides a structured review of empirical studies on the implications of integrated reporting within as well as outside of the organization. We reviewed evidence from 32 studies suggesting that integrated reporting has some positive implications, such as an improvement in data quantity and quality as well as an improved collaboration on sustainability issues within the firm. In contrast, our review provided inconclusive results on whether IR advances sustainability performance. We discuss these findings and offer avenues for further research in the field.

Suggested Citation

  • Linda Kannenberg & Philipp Schreck, 2019. "Integrated reporting: boon or bane? A review of empirical research on its determinants and implications," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 89(5), pages 515-567, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jbecon:v:89:y:2019:i:5:d:10.1007_s11573-018-0922-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11573-018-0922-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11573-018-0922-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11573-018-0922-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Carol A. Adams, 2017. "Conceptualising the contemporary corporate value creation process," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 30(4), pages 906-931, May.
    2. Aerts, Walter & Cormier, Denis, 2009. "Media legitimacy and corporate environmental communication," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 1-27, January.
    3. Beyer, Anne & Cohen, Daniel A. & Lys, Thomas Z. & Walther, Beverly R., 2010. "The financial reporting environment: Review of the recent literature," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(2-3), pages 296-343, December.
    4. Colin Higgins & Wendy Stubbs & Tyron Love, 2014. "Walking the talk(s): Organisational narratives of integrated reporting," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(7), pages 1090-1119, August.
    5. Shan Zhou & Roger Simnett & Wendy Green, 2017. "Does Integrated Reporting Matter to the Capital Market?," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 53(1), pages 94-132, March.
    6. Rafael La Porta & Florencio Lopez-de-Silanes & Andrei Shleifer & Robert W. Vishny, 1998. "Law and Finance," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 106(6), pages 1113-1155, December.
    7. Patrick Velte & Martin Stawinoga, 2017. "Integrated reporting: The current state of empirical research, limitations and future research implications," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 28(3), pages 275-320, October.
    8. Cho, Charles H. & Patten, Dennis M., 2007. "The role of environmental disclosures as tools of legitimacy: A research note," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 32(7-8), pages 639-647.
    9. Barth, Mary E. & Cahan, Steven F. & Chen, Li & Venter, Elmar R., 2017. "The Economic Consequences Associated with Integrated Report Quality: Capital Market and Real Effects," Research Papers 3546, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    10. John Dumay & Cristiana Bernardi & James Guthrie & Paola Demartini, 2016. "Integrated reporting: A structured literature review," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(3), pages 166-185, September.
    11. Hess, David, 2008. "The Three Pillars of Corporate Social Reporting as New Governance Regulation: Disclosure, Dialogue, and Development," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(4), pages 447-482, October.
    12. Charl de Villiers & Leonardo Rinaldi & Jeffrey Unerman, 2014. "Integrated Reporting: Insights, gaps and an agenda for future research," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(7), pages 1042-1067, August.
    13. Charles H. Cho & Martin Freedman & Dennis M. Patten, 2012. "Corporate disclosure of environmental capital expenditures," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 25(3), pages 486-507, March.
    14. Dye, Ra, 1985. "Disclosure Of Nonproprietary Information," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(1), pages 123-145.
    15. Frances E. Bowen, 2000. "Environmental visibility: a trigger of green organizational response?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 9(2), pages 92-107, March.
    16. Flower, John, 2015. "The International Integrated Reporting Council: A story of failure," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 1-17.
    17. Sinclair, Amanda, 1995. "The chameleon of accountability: Forms and discourses," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 20(2-3), pages 219-237.
    18. George Serafeim, 2015. "Integrated Reporting and Investor Clientele," Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Morgan Stanley, vol. 27(2), pages 34-51, June.
    19. Verrecchia, Robert E., 1983. "Discretionary disclosure," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 179-194, April.
    20. Healy, Paul M. & Palepu, Krishna G., 2001. "Information asymmetry, corporate disclosure, and the capital markets: A review of the empirical disclosure literature," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(1-3), pages 405-440, September.
    21. Julia Catharina Jensen & Nicola Berg, 2012. "Determinants of Traditional Sustainability Reporting Versus Integrated Reporting. An Institutionalist Approach," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(5), pages 299-316, July.
    22. Wendy Stubbs & Colin Higgins, 2014. "Integrated Reporting and internal mechanisms of change," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(7), pages 1068-1089, August.
    23. Andrew Knauer & George Serafeim, 2014. "Attracting Long-Term Investors Through Integrated Thinking and Reporting: A Clinical Study of a Biopharmaceutical Company," Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Morgan Stanley, vol. 26(2), pages 57-64, June.
    24. Adams, Carol A. & Potter, Brad & Singh, Prakash J. & York, Jodi, 2016. "Exploring the implications of integrated reporting for social investment (disclosures)," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 283-296.
    25. Dale Tweedie & Nonna Martinov-Bennie, 2015. "Entitlements and Time: Integrated Reporting's Double-edged Agenda," Social and Environmental Accountability Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(1), pages 49-61, April.
    26. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    27. Adams, Carol A., 2015. "The International Integrated Reporting Council: A call to action," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 23-28.
    28. Noel Brown & Craig Deegan, 1998. "The public disclosure of environmental performance information—a dual test of media agenda setting theory and legitimacy theory," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(1), pages 21-41.
    29. Alessandro Lai & Gaia Melloni & Riccardo Stacchezzini, 2016. "Corporate Sustainable Development: is ‘Integrated Reporting’ a Legitimation Strategy?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(3), pages 165-177, March.
    30. Heckerman, Donald G., 1975. "Motivating managers to make investment decisions," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 2(3), pages 273-292, September.
    31. Wagenhofer, Alfred, 1990. "Voluntary disclosure with a strategic opponent," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 341-363, March.
    32. José V. Frias‐Aceituno & Lázaro Rodríguez‐Ariza & Isabel M. Garcia‐Sánchez, 2014. "Explanatory Factors of Integrated Sustainability and Financial Reporting," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(1), pages 56-72, January.
    33. Baiman, S & Verrecchia, RE, 1996. "The relation among capital markets, financial disclosure, production efficiency, and insider trading," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 1-22.
    34. Cécile Churet & Robert G. Eccles, 2014. "Integrated Reporting, Quality of Management, and Financial Performance," Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Morgan Stanley, vol. 26(1), pages 56-64, March.
    35. Jacqueline L. Birt & Chris M. Bilson & Tom Smith & Robert E. Whaley, 2006. "Ownership, Competition, and Financial Disclosure," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 31(2), pages 235-263, December.
    36. Clarkson, Peter M. & Li, Yue & Richardson, Gordon D. & Vasvari, Florin P., 2008. "Revisiting the relation between environmental performance and environmental disclosure: An empirical analysis," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(4-5), pages 303-327.
    37. Chaidali, Panagioula (Penny) & Jones, Michael John, 2017. "It’s a matter of trust: Exploring the perceptions of Integrated Reporting preparers," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 1-20.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Beata Sadowska & Magdalena Wójcik-Jurkiewicz & Grzegorz Zimon & Adam Lulek & Nina Stępnicka & Robert Walasek, 2023. "The Business Model in Energy Sector Reporting—A Case Study from Poland: A Pilot Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Stefania Veltri & Antonella Silvestri, 2020. "The value relevance of corporate financial and nonfinancial information provided by the integrated report: A systematic review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3038-3054, December.
    3. Maria Federica Izzo & Alberto Dello Strologo & Fabrizio Granà, 2020. "Learning from the Best: New Challenges and Trends in IR Reporters’ Disclosure and the Role of SDGs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-22, July.
    4. Nikolai Brosch, 2023. "Corporate purpose: from a ‘Tower of Babel’ phenomenon towards construct clarity," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 93(4), pages 567-595, May.
    5. Maria Daniela BONDOC & Marian TAICU, 2019. "Ethics In Financial Reporting And Organizational Communication," Scientific Bulletin - Economic Sciences, University of Pitesti, vol. 18(3), pages 168-174.
    6. Patrick Velte, 2022. "Archival research on integrated reporting: a systematic review of main drivers and the impact of integrated reporting on firm value," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(3), pages 997-1061, September.
    7. Maja Piesiewicz & Marlena Ciechan-Kujawa & Paweł Kufel, 2021. "Differences in Disclosure of Integrated Reports at Energy and Non-Energy Companies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-19, February.
    8. Luca Leukhardt & Michel Charifzadeh & Fabian Diefenbach, 2022. "Does integrated reporting quality matter to capital markets? Empirical evidence from voluntary adopters," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1482-1494, September.
    9. Delia IANCU, 2019. "Comparative Analysis Of Fiscal Systems And Policies," Scientific Bulletin - Economic Sciences, University of Pitesti, vol. 18(3), pages 175-181.
    10. Cecília Carmo & Inês Correia & Joaquim Leite & Amélia Carvalho, 2023. "Towards the Voluntary Adoption of Integrated Reporting: Drivers, Barriers, and Practices," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-20, June.
    11. Roslyn Roberts & Daun Jang & Grace Mubako, 2023. "Pandemic risk disclosure in integrated reports: after COVID‐19 is hindsight 2020?," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 1739-1758, June.
    12. Annika Wahl & Michel Charifzadeh & Fabian Diefenbach, 2020. "Voluntary Adopters of Integrated Reporting – Evidence on Forecast Accuracy and Firm Value," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 2542-2556, September.
    13. Andreas Ostermaier & Dominik Aaken, 2020. "Freedom trumps profit: a liberal approach to business ethics," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 90(5), pages 947-962, June.
    14. Aleksandra Szewieczek & Beata Dratwińska-Kania & Aleksandra Ferens, 2021. "Business Model Disclosure in the Reporting of Public Companies—An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-27, September.
    15. Kar Shun Wong & Azlan Amran & Ei Yet Chu, 2023. "Institutional antecedents of integrated reporting quality: The moderating role of board independence," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 621-640, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nuradhi Kalpani Jayasiri & Sriyalatha Kumarasinghe & Rakesh Pandey, 2023. "12 years of integrated reporting: A review of research," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 2187-2243, June.
    2. Amir Hossain & Sudipta Bose & Abul Shamsuddin, 2023. "Diffusion of integrated reporting, insights and potential avenues for future research," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 2503-2555, June.
    3. Annika Wahl & Michel Charifzadeh & Fabian Diefenbach, 2020. "Voluntary Adopters of Integrated Reporting – Evidence on Forecast Accuracy and Firm Value," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 2542-2556, September.
    4. Jannik Gerwanski, 2020. "Does it pay off? Integrated reporting and cost of debt: European evidence," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(5), pages 2299-2319, September.
    5. Dimes, Ruth & de Villiers, Charl, 2024. "Hallmarks of Integrated Thinking," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(1).
    6. Filippo Vitolla & Nicola Raimo & Michele Rubino, 2019. "Appreciations, criticisms, determinants, and effects of integrated reporting: A systematic literature review," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(2), pages 518-528, March.
    7. Busco, Cristiano & Malafronte, Irma & Pereira, John & Starita, Maria Grazia, 2019. "The determinants of companies’ levels of integration: Does one size fit all?," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(3), pages 277-298.
    8. Niccol? Comerio & Patrizia Tettamanzi, 2019. "Systematic literature network analysis in accounting: A first application on integrated reporting research," FINANCIAL REPORTING, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2019(2), pages 73-95.
    9. Mohammed S. Y. Omran & Mohammad A. A. Zaid & Aladdin Dwekat, 2021. "The relationship between integrated reporting and corporate environmental performance: A green trial," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 427-445, January.
    10. José Navarrete-Oyarce & Juan Alejandro Gallegos & Hugo Moraga-Flores & José Luis Gallizo, 2021. "Integrated Reporting as an Academic Research Concept in the Area of Business," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-16, July.
    11. Hans B. Christensen & Luzi Hail & Christian Leuz, 2021. "Mandatory CSR and sustainability reporting: economic analysis and literature review," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1176-1248, September.
    12. Warren Maroun, 2020. "A Conceptual Model for Understanding Corporate Social Responsibility Assurance Practice," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 161(1), pages 187-209, January.
    13. Slack, Richard & Tsalavoutas, Ioannis, 2018. "Integrated reporting decision usefulness: Mainstream equity market views," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 184-198.
    14. Jannik Gerwanski & Othar Kordsachia & Patrick Velte, 2019. "Determinants of materiality disclosure quality in integrated reporting: Empirical evidence from an international setting," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(5), pages 750-770, July.
    15. Stefania Veltri & Antonella Silvestri, 2020. "The value relevance of corporate financial and nonfinancial information provided by the integrated report: A systematic review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3038-3054, December.
    16. Eduardo Flores & Marco Fasan & Wesley Mendes‐da‐Silva & Joelson Oliveira Sampaio, 2019. "Integrated reporting and capital markets in an international setting: The role of financial analysts," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(7), pages 1465-1480, November.
    17. Charl de Villiers & Elmar R. Venter & Pei†Chi Kelly Hsiao, 2017. "Integrated reporting: background, measurement issues, approaches and an agenda for future research," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57(4), pages 937-959, December.
    18. Anna Pistoni & Lucrezia Songini & Francesco Bavagnoli, 2018. "Integrated Reporting Quality: An Empirical Analysis," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(4), pages 489-507, July.
    19. Pavlopoulos, Athanasios & Magnis, Chris & Iatridis, George Emmanuel, 2017. "Integrated reporting: Is it the last piece of the accounting disclosure puzzle?," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 23-46.
    20. Luca Leukhardt & Michel Charifzadeh & Fabian Diefenbach, 2022. "Does integrated reporting quality matter to capital markets? Empirical evidence from voluntary adopters," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1482-1494, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Integrated reporting; Sustainability reporting; International integrated reporting council; Sustainability performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M1 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration
    • M4 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting
    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jbecon:v:89:y:2019:i:5:d:10.1007_s11573-018-0922-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.