A simplified activity-based costing approach for SMEs : the case study of an Italian small road company

Purpose: The paper proposes an original conceptual model for designing a simplified Activity-Based Costing (ABC) approach for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) by focusing on the transport sector. Design/Methodology/Approach: The model is designed starting from the distinctive characteristics of the SMEs’ collaborative culture. The approach is then tested in the case of an Italian small-road company. Findings: The simplified ABC, which was gradually introduced in the SME, allowed the firm to gain confidence with the costing system. Moreover, the discussion of the results led to identifying the main areas to improve. Practical Implications: Costing systems based on collaboration can lead to operational improvements in SMEs operating in dynamic and competitive sectors as transport. Moreover, advanced technologies may hold a crucial role for their development. Originality/Value: Not much research has considered collaboration as a driver for introducing ABC in SMEs. The paper contributes to the literature on simplified managerial approaches, suggesting trends for future research.peer-reviewe

social reporting in italian public schools in theory and practice

Some of the challenges that schools are currently facing include the stakeholders engagement, the necessity to open schools to the local territory and the need to be accountable for activities and results.The Italian reform of the school system has required schools to overcome their self-referentiality and to make themselves more accountable to stakeholders. The social reporting process can be considered as an effective response to enable schools to become accountable, triggering fruitful stakeholder engagement processes and, at the same time, implementing a management tool.This is an exploratory research paper. It aims to describe, through a questionnaire, the awareness and dissemination degree of social reporting in Public schools located in Southern Italy given the particularities of this area. Frequency percentage and descriptive statistical methods are used to interpret findings. Results show that, although social reporting is well known in theory, it is still under-used by schools in practice.</p

A Procedure for Characterizing the Range of Input Uncertainty Parameters by the Use of FFTBM

In the last years various methodologies were proposed to evaluate the uncertainty of Best Estimate (BE) code predictions. The most used method at the industrial level is based upon the selection of input uncertain parameters, on assigning related ranges of variations and Probability Distribution Functions (PDFs) and on performing a suitable number of code runs to get the combined effect of the variations on the results. A procedure to characterize the variation ranges of the input uncertain parameters is proposed in the paper in place of the usual approach based (mostly) on engineering judgment. The procedure is based on the use of the Fast Fourier Transform Based Method (FFTBM), already part of the Uncertainty Method based on the Accuracy Extrapolation (UMAE) method and extensively used in several international frameworks. The FFTBM has been originally developed to answer questions like “How long improvements should be added to the system thermal-hydraulic code model? How much simplifications can be introduced and how to conduct an objective comparison?”. The method, easy to understand, convenient to use and user independent, clearly indicates when simulation needs to be improved. The procedure developed for characterizing the range of input uncertainty parameters involves the following main aspects: a) One single input parameter shall not be ‘responsible’ for the entire error |exp-calc|, unless exceptional situations to be evaluated case by case; b) Initial guess for Max and Min for variation ranges to be based on the usual (adopted) expertise; c) More than one experiment can be used per each NPP and each scenario. Highly influential parameters are expected to be the same. The bounding ranges should be considered for the NPP uncertainty analysis; d) A data base of suitable uncertainty input parameters can be created per each NPP and each transient scenario

Sustainability Performance Indicators and Non-Financial Information Reporting. Evidence from the Italian Case

Non-financial reporting is a growing topic, and the adoption of the EU Directive 2014/95/EU on non-financial information (NFI) is increasing the use of this reporting. One of the most distinctive elements of guidelines and standards that are widely used to draw-up reports on NFI is sustainability performance indicators (SPIs). SPIs can provide a significant value-added to non-financial corporate communication, and they are useful tools to support internal decision-making processes. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects produced on SPIs disclosure by the entry into force of the Italian Decree implementing the Directive on NFI. Content analysis method is used to analyze indicators disclosed by Italian companies before and after the adoption of the Decree. Findings show that each category of SPIs was largely used by the companies of our 2012 sample, but a reduction of the quantity of indicators disclosed was documented in 2017. Therefore, after the introduction of mandatory disclosure of NFI, companies seem to focus only on indicators considered more &ldquo;relevant&rdquo; according to the Directive. This research represents one of the preliminary analysis on the adoption of the Directive in Italy and on its first effects on NFI reporting practices

Rise and Fall of the Materiality Matrix: Lessons from a Missed Takeoff

After a long period of the inclusion of materiality matrices within standard setters documents and non-financial reports, the Global Reporting Initiative officially abandoned the materiality matrix in 2021 after the GRI 3 standard release. To bridge the detected gaps in the literature, this article aims to investigate approaches to and arguments for the matrix until the issuance of GRI 3. The two-step research strategy adopted gives the same level of attention to the opposite positions found. Phase 1 (approach-oriented) reviews the materiality matrix presentation in the 2014–2020 non-financial reports of a sample of worldwide sustainability-oriented companies. Phase 2 (argument-oriented) performs qualitative content analysis on feedback for the GRI 3 preparatory works. The findings show that, besides the staunch adopters, a core of non-adopters persisted and prevented the takeoff of the matrix. Moreover, further insights into possible drivers both in favour of and against these approaches are provided. The final discussion both considers the lessons learnt, overlapping with policy implications, and suggests future research avenues

Seeking Performance-Based Accountability in Italian Public Healthcare Organizations

Using content and cluster analysis and considering a time span of five years, this study examines the adoption and compliance level of Performance-Based Accountability (PBA) in the Italian Local Healthcare Authorities (LHAs) under the Legislative Decree no. 150/2009. The results showed a barely sufficient level of PBA compliance. Higher levels of citizen involvement in PBA processes, the commitment of Regions, and integration with other accountability systems are three conditions for improving the effectiveness and usefulness for stakeholders of this NPM reform for LHAs.</p

KPIs Reporting and Financial Performance in the Transition to Mandatory Disclosure: The Case of Italy

European companies of public interest requested to comply with the Directive 2014/95/EU on Non-Financial Information (NFI) are allowed to fulfil the regulatory obligation following the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, which constitute at present the most widely spread framework for sustainability reporting. Given such prevalence, this paper examines the level of disclosure on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and its relationship with financial performance over the period 2016&ndash;2018 for Italian-listed companies adopting GRI guidelines to convey NFI under the Decree 254/2016. The research applies content analysis of the annual and sustainability reports to measure the disclosure index on KPIs, and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to estimate the financial performance. A Tobit-regression model explores the nexus between financial performance and companies&rsquo; disclosure. Findings show a decrease in the disclosure levels in the early adoption of mandatory NFI and a significant association with the financial performance of the sampled companies. The study, assuming a comprehensive view of the financial indicators, improves our knowledge of the relationship between sustainability disclosure and financial performance and adds to the literature on the evolution of NFI in the transition from voluntary to mandatory regime

An Investigation of Global Reporting Initiative Performance Indicators in Corporate Sustainability Reports: Greek, Italian and Spanish Evidence

This study has two main purposes. First, it explores the performance indicators disclosed in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)-based Sustainability Reports (SRs) produced by the companies of three different countries: Italy, Spain and Greece. Second, it verifies how some corporate variables, country of origin variables and “attributes” of the SRs can explain the disclosure of GRI indicators. To verify the quantity and type of the indicators disclosed, we performed a content analysis of the SRs. We use a regression trees technique to describe how the companies’ variables explain a different use of the indicators. The findings show that Spanish companies, on average, disclose the greatest number of indicators. The social indicators related to Labour are those more frequently reported in the SRs of the three countries. The least reported are social indicators related to Human Rights. The results show the central role that assurance, ROA and sector may have in classifying the disclosure level of indicators. The study contributes both theoretical and empirical literature on sustainability indicators. It also sheds further light on the determinants of the disclosure of indicators