Forward‐looking information in integrated reports: Insights from "best in class". (5th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mio, Chiara; Marchini, Pier Luigi; Medioli, Alice
• Is Part Of: Corporate social responsibility and environmental management. Volume 27:Number 5(2020)
• Page Start: 2212
• Page End: 2224
• Publication Date: 2020-05-05
• Subjects: content analysis -- disclosure -- forward‐looking information -- forward‐looking score -- integrated reporting; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environmental auditing -- Periodicals; 658.408
• DOI: 10.1002/csr.1959
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1535-3958

Abstract

Abstract: Are integrated reports actually forward looking or do they disclose mainly the past? Stakeholders, particularly investors, increasingly call for more information on strategies, risks, and opportunities that companies face. Integrated Reporting, through its future‐oriented approach, represents a response to these corporate reporting challenges, by making companies disclose more about their future outlook, enabling investors and other stakeholders to take a much longer term view. In such a context, this study explore the extent and characteristics of forward‐looking information in reports that are recognized as best practices by a reputable awards process or through benchmarking in the International Integrated Reporting Council's database and proposes different dimensions of analysis. Overall, the results show that even among the best in class integrated reports, there are differences in the disclosure of forward‐looking information and that the information needs of stakeholders regarding future‐oriented disclosure do not seem to be fully met.