Corporate social responsibility and financial performance relationship: a review of measurement approaches

The relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate financial performance (CFP) has been subject to extensive empirical enquiry. Yet the body of evidence that has accumulated about the nature of the relationship is equivocal. A commonly identified reason for the diverse and contradictory results is measurement issues pertaining to both concepts of interest. This article aims to review alternative operationalisations and measurement approaches for the CSR and CFP concepts that have been deployed in empirical literature concerned with the CSR–CFP relationship. Several findings emanate from our study. First, CSR operationalisations in empirical literature range from multidimensional to one-dimensional. Second, CSR measurement approaches include reputation indices, content analyses, questionnaire-based surveys and one-dimensional measures, whereas CFP measurement approaches include accounting-based measures, market-based measures and combined measures. Third, no CSR measurement approach is without drawbacks. In addition to approach specific drawbacks, two problems inherent in most approaches are researcher subjectivity and selection bias that may influence the nature of CSR–CFP relationship detected in empirical literature. Finally, potential pathways to remedy these drawbacks are suggested

Organizational configurations of strategic choices and strategic management accounting

This is the first study to adopt a configurational paradigm in an investigation of strategic management accounting (SMA) adoption. The study examines the alignment and effectiveness of strategic choice and strategic management accounting (SMA) system design configurations. Six configurations were derived empirically by deploying a cluster analysis of data collected from a sample of 193 large Slovenian companies. The first four clusters appear to provide some support for the central configurational proposition that higher levels of vertical and horizontal configurational alignments are associated with higher levels of performance. Evidence that contradicts the theory is also apparent, however, as the remaining two clusters exhibit high degrees of SMA vertical and horizontal alignment, but low performance levels. A particular contribution of the paper concerns its demonstration of the way that the configurational paradigm can be operationalised to examine management accounting phenomena and the nature of management accounting insights that can derive from applying the approach

Carbon management strategies in manufacturing companies: An exploratory note

In order to meet the Kyoto Protocol's greenhouse gas emissions targets, the EU has implemented an Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) as a cornerstone of its climate policy. The main attribute of this mechanism is its inherent flexibility. It offers companies the possibility of tailoring a carbon management strategy that is the most cost-effective, i.e. reducing actual emissions vs. buying allowances to emit. Although the EU ETS was launched in 2005, to date little is known about its implications for corporate carbon management. The study provides some original insights into corporate carbon management strategies by deploying a case study of two Slovenian manufacturing companies.Um die Ziele des Kyoto-Protokolls bezüglich Treibhausgasemissionen zu erreichen, hat die EU ein Emissionshandelsschema (EUETS) als Eckstein seiner Klimapolitik eingeführt. Die wichtigste Eigenschaft dieses Mechanismus ist die inherente Flexibilität. Es bietet den Unternehmen die Möglichkeit der Anpassung ihrer Kohlenstoffmanagement-Strategie, das heisst die Verringerung der tatsächlichen Emissionen oder der Kauf von entsprechenden Zertifikaten. Obwohl die EUETS im Jahr 2005 eingeführt wurde, ist bis heute nur wenig über ihre Bedeutung für das betriebliche Kohlenstoffmanagement bekannt. Diese Studie liefert einige Einblicke in betriebliche Kohlenstoffmanagement-Strategie anhand einer Fallstudie von zwei slowenischen Industrieunternehmen

Organizational configurations of strategic choices and strategic management accounting

This is the first study to adopt a configurational paradigm in an investigation of strategic management accounting (SMA) adoption. The study examines the alignment and effectiveness of strategic choice and strategic management accounting (SMA) system design configurations. Six configurations were derived empirically by deploying a cluster analysis of data collected from a sample of 193 large Slovenian companies. The first four clusters appear to provide some support for the central configurational proposition that higher levels of vertical and horizontal configurational alignments are associated with higher levels of performance. Evidence that contradicts the theory is also apparent, however, as the remaining two clusters exhibit high degrees of SMA vertical and horizontal alignment, but low performance levels. A particular contribution of the paper concerns its demonstration of the way that the configurational paradigm can be operationalised to examine management accounting phenomena and the nature of management accounting insights that can derive from applying the approach

Management accountants’ participation in strategic management process: A cross – industry comparision

While the role of management accountants has traditionally been limited to the provision of useful information to decision-makers, recent studies show that contemporary management accountants have become an integral part of strategic decision-making processes. The findings based on a survey of 193 large Slovenian companies reveal that Slovenian accountants are relatively strongly involved in strategic management processes, although the level of participation varies intensely across industries. Participation is relatively high in contemporary manufacturing industries, the trade sector, and tourism and hospitality services, whereas it is relatively low in public services and utilities, construction, and logistics sectors.Während die Rolle der kostenrechner sich traditionell auf die Bereitstellungen von Informationen für Entscheidungsträger beschränkt hat, zeigen aktuelle Studien dass heutige Kostenrechner ein integraler Bestandteil von strategischen Entscheidungsprozessen geworden sind. Die vorliegenden, auf 193 großen slowenischen Unternehmen basierenden Ergebnisse offenbaren, dass slowenische Kostenrechner relativ stark an strategischen Managementprozessen beteiligt sind, obwohl das Beteiligungsniveau zwischen den Branchen stark variiert. Die Beteiligung ist relativ hoch in der Industrie, im Handel, im Tourismus und in der Gastronomie, während sie in öffentlichen Versorgungsunternehmen, im Baugewerbe und im Logistiksektor relativ niedrig ist

An exploratory investigation of an integrated contingency model of strategic management accounting

This study examines the effect of strategic choices, market orientation, and company size on two distinct dimensions of strategic management accounting (SMA) and, in turn, the mediating effect of SMA on company performance. A model is advanced and tested using structural equation modelling and data collected from a sample of 193 large Slovenian companies. The validity of the quantitative data findings has been appraised using qualitative data collected in ten exploratory interviews. The study's findings support contingency theory's tenet of no universally appropriate SMA system, with factors such as company size and strategy having a significant bearing on the successful application of SMA.