Impression management strategies and water disclosures – the case of CDP A-list. Issue 3 (21st October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fialho, Ana; Morais, Ana; Costa, Rosalina Pisco
• Is Part Of: Meditari accountancy research. Volume 29:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 568
• Page End: 585
• Publication Date: 2020-10-21
• Subjects: Voluntary reporting -- CDP A-List -- Impression management strategies -- Voluntary programmes -- Water disclosures; Accounting -- Periodicals; Finance -- Periodicals; 657.05
• DOI: 10.1108/MEDAR-08-2019-0542
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2049-372X

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the introduction of water security, in 2015, as a category in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Climate A-List, increases the use of impression management (IM) strategies. The purpose is to analyze how companies reacted to programmes of voluntary disclosure of environmental information. Design/methodology/approach: Mixed-methods research was developed, combining a qualitative and quantitative approach. This study first used a qualitative content analysis of 15 companies' reports, from the materials sector, which was scored in the CDP Climate A-List, in 2017, to identify the IM strategies adopted. Next, this study conducted a quantitative analysis to test the mean differences of water references between years, industry and region. Findings: Three types of IM strategies are identified (justification and commitment, self-promotion and authorization). The references identified as self-promotion strategy increased in 2016. This indicates companies reacted to the programmes for voluntary disclosure of environmental information by increasing strategies of legitimization and image promotion. Research limitations/implications: Further research can be developed, focusing only on sustainability reports and extending the number of companies, the period and sectors under analysis. Originality/value: This paper shows how the inclusion of a topic such as water security in an environmental ranking of companies, namely, CDP A-List, affects the use of IM strategies in voluntary disclosures.