On dimensions in corporate disclosure studies

AbstractPurpose – The purpose of this paper is to set out key issues on the dimensions in corporate disclosure studies, introduce the papers appearing in this special issue and set agenda for future corporate disclosure research. Design/methodology/approach – This is a discussion paper exploring key issues both theoretically and pragmatically.Findings – The paper finds that there are many dimensions in corporate disclosure studies that are under-researched. The paper argued that future disclosure studies should explore new and challenging determinants of corporate disclosure including socio-cultural factors. It encouraged researchers especially early career and doctoral researchers to experiment with alternative theoretical framing beyond agency theory, including multi-theoretical approaches whilst exploring different avenues of corporate disclosure besides annual reports. Furthermore, the paper encouraged qualitative disclosure studies and alternative analytical techniques complementary to regression models. Research limitations/implications – There is a possibility that the issues explored in this paper, and the other papers in this special issue, will lead to a considerable growth in academic studies in this area.Practical implications – The paper contributes to the growing debate on corporate disclosures.Originality/value – The paper sets an agenda for research into the various dimensions in corporate disclosures.Keywords: disclosure research; theoretical framing; disclosure avenues and regression modelsPaper type General revie

CSR communication research: A theoretical-cum-methodological perspective from semiotics

Despite the proliferation of studies on corporate social responsibility (CSR), there is a lack of consensus and a cardinal methodological base for research on the quality of CSR communication. Over the decades, studies in this space have remained conflicting, unintegrated and sometimes overlapping. Drawing on semiotics – a linguistic-based theoretical and analytical tool, our article explores an alternative perspective to evaluating the quality and reliability of sustainability reports. Our article advances CSR communication research by introducing a theoretical-cum-methodological perspective which provides unique insights into how to evaluate the quality of CSR communication. Particularly, we illustrate the application of our proposed methodology on selected UK FTSE100 companies. Our two-phased analysis employed the Greimas Canonical Narrative Schema and the Semiotic Square of Veridiction in drawing meanings from selected sustainability/CSR reports. In addition, we present a distinctive CSR Report Quality Model capable of guiding policy makers and firms in designing sustainability/CSR reporting standards.N/

NGO accountability on environmentalism: a literature review of relevant issues and themes

This chapter, which is in themes, starts with a survey of the rise of environmentalism for the purpose of sustainability. It then evaluates the roles of nongovernmental organisations' (NGOs') self-regulation and government regulation on the need for accountability that ensures sustainability. NGOs' accountability is a way of making sure that stakeholders' social, environmental and economic sustainability are protected and rigorously evaluated. This chapter further examines what the enduring mechanisms should be if true accountability, which leads to sustainability, will be achieved to suggest a holistic accountability that involves downward and upward accountability. In doing so, this chapter utilised the identified five mechanisms that ensure the continuity of world sustainability, which is prima-facie, the objective of funders/donors, beneficiaries/stakeholders and the NGO's loop.N/

Insights regarding the applicability of semiotics to CSR communication research

The chapter argues for a linguistic based theory and analytical tool – Semiotics in evaluating the quality and authenticity of Corporate Social Responsibility Reports (CSRR). Despite the proliferation of studies on CSR communication, there is lack of consensus and cardinal methodological base for evaluating the quality of CSRR. Over the decades, the findings from the enormous studies on the subject have remained conflicting, unintegrated and often pedestrian or overlapping. Drawing on Semiotics – a linguistic-based theoretical and analytical tool, this chapter explores an alternative perspective to evaluating the quality and veracity of CSR reports. The author proposed a two-phased model that employed the Greimas semiotics narrative schema and the semiotic square of veridiction in drawing meanings from CSRR. The chapter advances CSR communication research by introducing a fundamental theoretical methodology

The challenges faced by integrating Islamic corporate governance in companies of Gulf countries with non-Islamic companies across border through merger and acquisition

One method of achieving company expansion to address new markets and access cheaper funds is through international mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The companies in the Gulf zone following Islamic principles are keen to engage with non-Islamic companies, for example, European companies to access the benefits of globalization. However, for such takeover to succeed, congruence between the organization culture and the control system is necessary. The potentially diverse external legal and political environments can generate areas of concerns, which can only be addressed through harmonization of the corporate and financial governance of such organizations. There is a considerable body of literature on differences between Islamic and conventional corporate governance (CG), especially on financial models. However, not much research has been conducted on international M&A between companies following Islamic and the conventional CG. Such research is necessary, especially between different Islamic countries, to better the understand critical issues and let companies make more informed decisions. This study investigates the variation and extent of the Shariah CG code compliances among Islamic companies in three Gulf countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, and how it affect international crossborder M&A among the companies with the western ones. It was found that despite the strong economic and cultural ties between the Gulf countries states; there was diversity in the application of Islamic law within the selected countries and its effect on the international M&A. This paper can provide some insights view in controlling and organizing the M&A activities between Islamic and non-Islamic financial institutions, as the Islamic governance in practical terms, cannot be viewed as an identical homogenous practice across the Islamic domain. Cultural variations do exist

The influence of multinational enterprises on subsidiaries: context matters

Purpose: This paper examines how differences in the institutional environment of a multinational enterprise (MNE) shape the role of management control systems (MCSs) and social capital in the headquarters-subsidiary relationship of an emerging economy MNE. Design/methodology/approach: A case study design was adopted in this research. Data was gathered by means of semi-structured interviews, document analysis and observations. Interviews were conducted at the Nigerian headquarter (HQ) and United Kingdom (UK) subsidiary of the Nigerian multinational enterprise. Findings: The study found that the subsidiary operated autonomously, given its residence in a stronger institutional environment than the HQ. Instead of the HQ depending on MCSs as a means of coordination and control, it relied on social capital that existed between the HQ and the subsidiary to coordinate and integrate the operation of the foreign subsidiary studied. Originality/value: The reliance on social capital as a means of coordination and control of the foreign subsidiary in this study is significant, given that previous studies have indicated that multinational HQs normally employ MCSs as a means of control of foreign subsidiaries. Also, while previous studies have suggested that MNEs HQs have better expertise which enables them to design and transfer MCSs to foreign subsidiaries, this study found that such expertise relates to the institutional environment from which the HQ is operating from. Through the lens of institutional sociology theory and social capital theory, these findings directly contribute to the literature on the transference of practices and control systems in accounting and international business literatures

An Evaluation of Management Perspectives of Sustainability Reporting in the Nigerian Oil Industry

PURPOSE: This article investigates the perspectives of managers involved in sustainability reporting in the Nigerian oil industry. // DESIGN/METHODOLOGY: The article adopts a survey methodology in its approach to conduct this investigation. The survey employed a structured interview to investigate five themes built around the motivation for sustainability reporting within these organizations, hierarchical responsibility for sustainability reporting, the organizations objectives relative to the welfare of the people within the communities it operates in, policies in place to rejuvenate the damaged environment resulting from it’s operations and finally how sufficient in monetary terms is the company’s effort to wipe out its operational footprint. // FINDINGS: The data gathered was analysed qualitatively under these various themes. The general view emerging amongst the vast majority of the managers interviewed was that oil companies operating within the region have a key social responsibility and disclosure role to play but that it remains the role of the Nigerian Federal Government to provide the institutional framework around which the development of the region is to be hinged. // RESEARCH IMPLICATIONS: More research is required in the area of CSR and CSD in developing/emerging markets to understand the link between weak institutional frameworks and voluntary CSR and CSD. // ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This article contributes to CSR and CSD literature in broad terms and in specific terms to the literature on sustainable operations in developing/emerging markets. The originality is based on the fact that it explores manager’s perspectives in a developing/emerging market

Fraud interpretation and disclaimer audit opinion: evidence from the Solomon Islands Public Sector (SIPS)

Purpose – Financial Transactions Fraud (FTF) and Financial Statements Fraud (FSF) grew exponentially during the last decades coupled with complex and sophisticated technological developments. This study investigates the practitioners’ interpretation of fraud with recurring audit issues in the Disclaimer Audit Opinions (DAOs) reports within the Solomon Islands Public Sector (SIPS). Design/methodology/approach - The empirical study involves qualitative data analysis. The analysis alongside theoretical developments is informed by the “fraud triangle” theory.Findings – The research results revealed the practitioners’ acknowledgement of financial statement Fraud, Financial Transaction Fraud and fraud in the SIPS, as generally prevalent and aligned to some components of the fraud triangle theory. This study is sceptic about the good intentions of the International Public-Sector Accounting Standards –Cash-basis (IPSAS) framework and favours the Provincial Government Act 1997 and the Public Finance Management Act 2013 (PFMA) requirements. It further suggests that fraud is positively linked to repeated audited report issues and the executive management when DAOs issues appear repeatedly in annual audit reports. Originality – This study contributes to the literature on fraud and attempts to link the interpretation of fraud with recurring audit issues in the Disclaimer Audit Opinions (DAOs) reports in the Solomon Islands Public Sector (SIPS). It views fraud awareness and knowledge from the perspective of the audit practitioner. There is an increasing need to understand how fraud knowledge impacts decision making and the actions of auditors and others, an area that is underdeveloped

Workplace fraud and theft in SMEs: Evidence from the mobile telephone sector in Nigeria

Purpose - This study investigates employee fraud within small enterprises in the Nigerian mobile phone sector. It also seeks to understand the key factors that motivate employees to engage in fraudulent behaviours against their employers, and the consequences of these fraudulent behaviours on small businesses (SMEs) in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach - The empirical study involves the use of quantitative research. Data was collected through structured questionnaires from 159 business owners, sales representatives, cashiers and suppliers. Frequency distribution, Percentages, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the collected data. Findings - The findings from this research shows a significant relationship between personal and organisational factors and employee theft. Particularly, organisational factors made the strongest positive contribution to employee theft. The research also revealed that employee theft had significant effects on employers but less significance on employees. In addition, the research revealed that many businesses did not have preventive measures against employee theft in their firms. Originality/Value – This study shows the relationship between different factors that could cause an employee to engage in fraudulent behaviours, particularly in SMEs in Nigeria