Theoretical frameworks applied in integrated reporting and sustainability reporting research

Background: Over the last few decades, with the emergence of integrated reporting (IR) and sustainability reporting (SR) as new reporting methods, corporate reporting practices attracted substantial interest as a topic of research. Throughout the literature, many theories have been adopted to explai...

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Main Authors: Liya Lakhani, Shelly Herbert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2022-08-01
Series:South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sajems.org/index.php/sajems/article/view/4427
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author Liya Lakhani
Shelly Herbert
author_facet Liya Lakhani
Shelly Herbert
author_sort Liya Lakhani
collection DOAJ
description Background: Over the last few decades, with the emergence of integrated reporting (IR) and sustainability reporting (SR) as new reporting methods, corporate reporting practices attracted substantial interest as a topic of research. Throughout the literature, many theories have been adopted to explain IR and SR practices and there is currently an increased focus on non-financial reporting. Aim: The purpose of this study is to identify and analyse the theories used in the growing body of IR and SR research, to gather insight into current trends in the use and dominance of these theories in the related literature. Setting: Research articles in the Scopus database for the period spanning from 2010 to 2019 were included in the study. Method: Using a systematic review methodology, 574 articles on IR and SR published in the Scopus database for the period spanning from 2010 to 2019, were systematically searched for the presence of theories that may be used to explain these practices. Results: The results show that the most dominant theories in the last decade are the legitimacy, stakeholder, institutional, agency and signalling theories. Conclusion: Supported by extensive numerical data, this research provides insights into the theoretical perspectives used in the study of IR and SR and contributes to the existing discourse surrounding applicable theoretical frameworks for studying corporate reporting practices. These insights can be used to study IR and SR as the world grapples with changes in the reporting and business environment.
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spelling doaj.art-8939cebce2fe4d108af3579fb458e4c52022-12-22T04:32:23ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences1015-88122222-34362022-08-01251e1e1210.4102/sajems.v25i1.44271012Theoretical frameworks applied in integrated reporting and sustainability reporting researchLiya Lakhani0Shelly Herbert1College of Accounting, Faculty of Commerce, University of Cape Town, Cape TownCollege of Accounting, Faculty of Commerce, University of Cape Town, Cape TownBackground: Over the last few decades, with the emergence of integrated reporting (IR) and sustainability reporting (SR) as new reporting methods, corporate reporting practices attracted substantial interest as a topic of research. Throughout the literature, many theories have been adopted to explain IR and SR practices and there is currently an increased focus on non-financial reporting. Aim: The purpose of this study is to identify and analyse the theories used in the growing body of IR and SR research, to gather insight into current trends in the use and dominance of these theories in the related literature. Setting: Research articles in the Scopus database for the period spanning from 2010 to 2019 were included in the study. Method: Using a systematic review methodology, 574 articles on IR and SR published in the Scopus database for the period spanning from 2010 to 2019, were systematically searched for the presence of theories that may be used to explain these practices. Results: The results show that the most dominant theories in the last decade are the legitimacy, stakeholder, institutional, agency and signalling theories. Conclusion: Supported by extensive numerical data, this research provides insights into the theoretical perspectives used in the study of IR and SR and contributes to the existing discourse surrounding applicable theoretical frameworks for studying corporate reporting practices. These insights can be used to study IR and SR as the world grapples with changes in the reporting and business environment.https://sajems.org/index.php/sajems/article/view/4427integrated reportingsustainability reportinglegitimacy theorystakeholder theoryinstitutional theoryagency theorysignalling theorytheoretical perspectives
spellingShingle Liya Lakhani
Shelly Herbert
Theoretical frameworks applied in integrated reporting and sustainability reporting research
South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences
integrated reporting
sustainability reporting
legitimacy theory
stakeholder theory
institutional theory
agency theory
signalling theory
theoretical perspectives
title Theoretical frameworks applied in integrated reporting and sustainability reporting research
title_full Theoretical frameworks applied in integrated reporting and sustainability reporting research
title_fullStr Theoretical frameworks applied in integrated reporting and sustainability reporting research
title_full_unstemmed Theoretical frameworks applied in integrated reporting and sustainability reporting research
title_short Theoretical frameworks applied in integrated reporting and sustainability reporting research
title_sort theoretical frameworks applied in integrated reporting and sustainability reporting research
topic integrated reporting
sustainability reporting
legitimacy theory
stakeholder theory
institutional theory
agency theory
signalling theory
theoretical perspectives
url https://sajems.org/index.php/sajems/article/view/4427
work_keys_str_mv AT liyalakhani theoreticalframeworksappliedinintegratedreportingandsustainabilityreportingresearch
AT shellyherbert theoreticalframeworksappliedinintegratedreportingandsustainabilityreportingresearch