Purpose – The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how mandatory obligation to follow the International <IR> Framework while producing the corporate reports influence the intellectual capital disclosures in the reports. Research design – The study uses a disclosure scoreboard to score a selected sample of annual reports depending on whether it disclose intellectual capital information or not. The sample consists of companies listed in South Africa were it is mandatory to follow the integrated reporting framework and companies listen in Sweden where it is not mandatory to produce an integrated report. Empirical results and conclusion – The results of this thesis indicates that the mandatory use of the International <IR> Framework have an impact on the amount of intellectual capital disclosures. Further it concludes that higher level of compliance with the framework further increases the intellectual capital disclosure. Contribution – This study has been an early step towards concluding whether the use of integrated reporting has any effect on the amount of intellectual capital information disclosed in companies’ annual report.

Sustainability has become one of the key issues facing today’s organisations. Poor risk management, excessive compensation and greed have opened the behaviour of organisations to the eyes of the world and have called in corporate disclosures to date. While an increase of disclosure in non-financial reports has been noted, there is little evidence to suggest that the investment community is using this information to make informed investment decisions. The goal of this research was to draw attention to the importance of alignment of non-financial information between organisations and the investment community, in order to ultimately encourage responsible investment. This was done by way of a three-phase endeavor that delivered: • A best-practice framework for the communication of non-financial performance by organisations • An assessment of six South African organisations and their communication of non-financial information, specifically with their investment community • An assessment of six investment firms’ perceptions and expectations of non-financial performance communication in South Africa The study highlighted the importance of engaging the investor community in order to understand their expectation of non-financial performance information, thus rendering non-financial reports useful to the investment community and progressing the responsible investment movement in South Africa. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Um grande desafio das companhias hoje é como comunicar, em um formato conciso, informações valiosas de investimentos a todos os seus potenciais usuários, por meio de canais de comunicação ou plataformas. Isso porque, nos últimos anos, os relatórios corporativos têm sofrido constantes mudanças. Ademais, questiona-se se o Relato Integrado apresenta condições de atender a essa demanda. Ainda, trata-se de uma ideia recente, com vistas a melhorar a qualidade das informações divulgadas pelas empresas e trazer ao mercado uma visão de longo prazo quanto à sustentabilidade das empresas. Assim, neste trabalho, propôs-se a analisar, à luz da teoria da Sinalização, o impacto da divulgação do Relato Integrado na acurácia dos analistas de mercado, os quais são os principais responsáveis por munir os investidores com informações relevantes à sua tomada de decisão. Para tal, utilizou-se uma amostra de 80 empresas: 40 que divulgam o Relato Integrado e 40 semelhantes em tamanho, setor de atuação e país, mas que não publicam referido relato. O período analisado compreendeu três anos antes da adoção (2008, 2009 e 2010) e três anos depois (2012, 2013 e 2014). Para obter os dados, utilizou-se a base de dados da Thomson ONE Analytics®. O teste se baseou no modelo de efeitos fixos com dummies temporais, que se mostrou mais adequado, conforme proposta e disposição dos dados. Pelos resultados obtidos com o teste, identificouse que o Relato Integrado tem impacto estatisticamente significante na acurácia consensual do analista de mercado, mas de forma negativa. Embora isso ateste os resultados de estudos anteriores referentes a informações de cunho não financeiro - de que o analista de mercado não está interessado em tais informações - ao observar as dummies temporais, os resultados apontam uma melhora do aprendizado do analista de mercado, pelo aumento de sua acurácia, após a divulgação. Ao demonstrar significância estatística, após a adoção do relato, as dummies temporais revelam que, na amostra geral, houve melhora na previsibilidade do analista de mercado, apesar de ser maior nas empresas que não o divulgam. Desse modo, os resultados contribuem para aferir a relevância da divulgação do Relato Integrado. Ademais, demonstrar que, apesar das pesquisas anteriores concluírem que, isoladamente, a informação de cunho não financeiro pode não ser relevante ao analista de mercado. Isso porque, ao utilizar o pensamento integrado, pela divulgação do Relato Integrado, essa demonstrou relevância na curva de aprendizado, por meio da melhora da acurácia consensual do analista de mercado ao longo do tempo. / Nowadays, companies face the challenge to communicate valuable investment information to all their potential users, in a concise way, through communication channels or platforms. Moreover, there are doubts whether the Integrated Reporting had conditions to fulfill this demand or not. In addition, this is a recent idea, aiming to enhance the quality of information disclosed by companies, and bring their sustainability to the market in the long term. Therefore, in this work, we proposed to analyse the impact of the Integrated Reporting disclosure on the market analysts\' accuracy, responsible for providing the investors with crucial information for their decision taking, under the Signaling theory. For this, we used a sample of 80 companies: 40 that disclosure the Integrated Reporting, and 40 similar in size, acting department and country, but that do not disclosure such document. The studied period involved three years before the adoption (2008, 2009 and 2010), and three years after it (2012, 2013 and 2014). To obtain data, we used the Thomson ONE Analytics® database. The test was based on the fixed effects model with temporal dummies, the most adequate one according to data proposal and disposition. In accordance with the test results, we identified that the Integrated Reporting has a statistically significant impact on the consensual accuracy of the market analyst, but in a negative way. Although this certifies previous studies results concerning non-financial information - that is, the Market analyst is not interested in such information - when observing the temporal dummies, the results showed an enhancement in this analyst´s learning. Through the increase in his accuracy after disclosure. When demonstrating statistical significance after the adoption, the temporal dummies revealed that in the general sample there has been an improvement in the market analyst predictability, although higher than in companies that do not disclosure the document. Thus, the results contribute to attesting the relevance of the disclosure of the Integrated Reporting. Furthermore, demonstrates that, despite previous studies showing that in isolation, nonfinancial information may not be relevant to the market analyst. This happens because using integrated thinking through the disclosure of the Integrated Reporting has demonstrated relevance in the learning curve, by improving the consensus of the market analyst over time.

Um grande desafio das companhias hoje é como comunicar, em um formato conciso, informações valiosas de investimentos a todos os seus potenciais usuários, por meio de canais de comunicação ou plataformas. Isso porque, nos últimos anos, os relatórios corporativos têm sofrido constantes mudanças. Ademais, questiona-se se o Relato Integrado apresenta condições de atender a essa demanda. Ainda, trata-se de uma ideia recente, com vistas a melhorar a qualidade das informações divulgadas pelas empresas e trazer ao mercado uma visão de longo prazo quanto à sustentabilidade das empresas. Assim, neste trabalho, propôs-se a analisar, à luz da teoria da Sinalização, o impacto da divulgação do Relato Integrado na acurácia dos analistas de mercado, os quais são os principais responsáveis por munir os investidores com informações relevantes à sua tomada de decisão. Para tal, utilizou-se uma amostra de 80 empresas: 40 que divulgam o Relato Integrado e 40 semelhantes em tamanho, setor de atuação e país, mas que não publicam referido relato. O período analisado compreendeu três anos antes da adoção (2008, 2009 e 2010) e três anos depois (2012, 2013 e 2014). Para obter os dados, utilizou-se a base de dados da Thomson ONE Analytics®. O teste se baseou no modelo de efeitos fixos com dummies temporais, que se mostrou mais adequado, conforme proposta e disposição dos dados. Pelos resultados obtidos com o teste, identificouse que o Relato Integrado tem impacto estatisticamente significante na acurácia consensual do analista de mercado, mas de forma negativa. Embora isso ateste os resultados de estudos anteriores referentes a informações de cunho não financeiro - de que o analista de mercado não está interessado em tais informações - ao observar as dummies temporais, os resultados apontam uma melhora do aprendizado do analista de mercado, pelo aumento de sua acurácia, após a divulgação. Ao demonstrar significância estatística, após a adoção do relato, as dummies temporais revelam que, na amostra geral, houve melhora na previsibilidade do analista de mercado, apesar de ser maior nas empresas que não o divulgam. Desse modo, os resultados contribuem para aferir a relevância da divulgação do Relato Integrado. Ademais, demonstrar que, apesar das pesquisas anteriores concluírem que, isoladamente, a informação de cunho não financeiro pode não ser relevante ao analista de mercado. Isso porque, ao utilizar o pensamento integrado, pela divulgação do Relato Integrado, essa demonstrou relevância na curva de aprendizado, por meio da melhora da acurácia consensual do analista de mercado ao longo do tempo. / Nowadays, companies face the challenge to communicate valuable investment information to all their potential users, in a concise way, through communication channels or platforms. Moreover, there are doubts whether the Integrated Reporting had conditions to fulfill this demand or not. In addition, this is a recent idea, aiming to enhance the quality of information disclosed by companies, and bring their sustainability to the market in the long term. Therefore, in this work, we proposed to analyse the impact of the Integrated Reporting disclosure on the market analysts\' accuracy, responsible for providing the investors with crucial information for their decision taking, under the Signaling theory. For this, we used a sample of 80 companies: 40 that disclosure the Integrated Reporting, and 40 similar in size, acting department and country, but that do not disclosure such document. The studied period involved three years before the adoption (2008, 2009 and 2010), and three years after it (2012, 2013 and 2014). To obtain data, we used the Thomson ONE Analytics® database. The test was based on the fixed effects model with temporal dummies, the most adequate one according to data proposal and disposition. In accordance with the test results, we identified that the Integrated Reporting has a statistically significant impact on the consensual accuracy of the market analyst, but in a negative way. Although this certifies previous studies results concerning non-financial information - that is, the Market analyst is not interested in such information - when observing the temporal dummies, the results showed an enhancement in this analyst´s learning. Through the increase in his accuracy after disclosure. When demonstrating statistical significance after the adoption, the temporal dummies revealed that in the general sample there has been an improvement in the market analyst predictability, although higher than in companies that do not disclosure the document. Thus, the results contribute to attesting the relevance of the disclosure of the Integrated Reporting. Furthermore, demonstrates that, despite previous studies showing that in isolation, nonfinancial information may not be relevant to the market analyst. This happens because using integrated thinking through the disclosure of the Integrated Reporting has demonstrated relevance in the learning curve, by improving the consensus of the market analyst over time.

M.Com., Facultyof Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / Following the release of the King III report on Corporate Governance for South Africa in March 2010, South African companies are expected to embrace the concept of integrated reporting in which they are required to report on their strategies, corporate governance, risk management processes, financial performance and sustainability. More importantly, companies need to show how these components of integrated reporting are linked to one another, so that stakeholders can make informed decisions about their current performance as well as their ability to create and sustain value in the future. The purpose of this report by is to determine whether the level of reporting by South African listed companies has improved subsequent to the release of the King III report. The findings of this study reveal improvements in this regard. However, there is still a need for further improvement in the level of reporting by South African listed companies in order to achieve the objective of integrated reporting.

The relevance and reliability of annual financial reports as a basis for making decisions about an organisation came in dispute after a series of corporate collapses. Sustainability reports have similarly suffered weaknesses and stakeholders are unable to form a comprehensive picture of an organisation’s performance and its ability to create and sustain value. Integrated reporting incorporates concise and material information from financial statements and the sustainability report and other sources to enable stakeholders to evaluate the organisation’s performance and to make an informed assessment about its ability to create and sustain value. The focus of this study was to investigate the opinion of employees as stakeholders of a South African bank and their perception of the relevance of the elements in an integrated report, if they had to assess the ability of an organisation to sustain value in the future. A literature study was conducted to address the concept of integrated reporting and the integrated report as well as relevant aspects. Based on the literature study, integrated reporting should enable stakeholders to assess the ability of the organisation to create and sustain value over the short-, medium- and long-term. Special attention has been given to the elements to be included in an integrated report as suggested by the IRC SA’s framework and employees as stakeholders of organisations. The latter has been used as basis of the empirical study that was conducted. The empirical study focused on the opinion of employees regarding the relevance of the eight elements in an integrated report as stakeholders of a South African bank and it was conducted by means of a self-completion questionnaire. The internal consistency and reliability of the questionnaire was assessed by calculating Cronbach alpha coefficients and it had acceptable reliability. Frequency distributions, mean values and standard deviations were calculated as well as independent t-tests and Anovas to determine the differences between the means of different groups within the selected demographic variables and the constructs. Furthermore, effect size values (d-values) were used to indicate if there were practical significant differences between any demographical variables regarding the constructs and individual questions. In the final chapter, conclusions were drawn based on the literature and empirical study. It was evident from the empirical study that most of the respondents found the elements to be either moderately or totally relevant to be included in a report, if the ability of an organisation has to be assessed to sustain value in the future. Recommendations were provided on three elements (business model, remuneration policies and analytical commentary) and the report was concluded by recommending possible future research that could be conducted based on this study. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The relevance and reliability of annual financial reports as a basis for making decisions about an organisation came in dispute after a series of corporate collapses. Sustainability reports have similarly suffered weaknesses and stakeholders are unable to form a comprehensive picture of an organisation’s performance and its ability to create and sustain value. Integrated reporting incorporates concise and material information from financial statements and the sustainability report and other sources to enable stakeholders to evaluate the organisation’s performance and to make an informed assessment about its ability to create and sustain value. The focus of this study was to investigate the opinion of employees as stakeholders of a South African bank and their perception of the relevance of the elements in an integrated report, if they had to assess the ability of an organisation to sustain value in the future. A literature study was conducted to address the concept of integrated reporting and the integrated report as well as relevant aspects. Based on the literature study, integrated reporting should enable stakeholders to assess the ability of the organisation to create and sustain value over the short-, medium- and long-term. Special attention has been given to the elements to be included in an integrated report as suggested by the IRC SA’s framework and employees as stakeholders of organisations. The latter has been used as basis of the empirical study that was conducted. The empirical study focused on the opinion of employees regarding the relevance of the eight elements in an integrated report as stakeholders of a South African bank and it was conducted by means of a self-completion questionnaire. The internal consistency and reliability of the questionnaire was assessed by calculating Cronbach alpha coefficients and it had acceptable reliability. Frequency distributions, mean values and standard deviations were calculated as well as independent t-tests and Anovas to determine the differences between the means of different groups within the selected demographic variables and the constructs. Furthermore, effect size values (d-values) were used to indicate if there were practical significant differences between any demographical variables regarding the constructs and individual questions. In the final chapter, conclusions were drawn based on the literature and empirical study. It was evident from the empirical study that most of the respondents found the elements to be either moderately or totally relevant to be included in a report, if the ability of an organisation has to be assessed to sustain value in the future. Recommendations were provided on three elements (business model, remuneration policies and analytical commentary) and the report was concluded by recommending possible future research that could be conducted based on this study. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

In the last few years, the inefficiencies of the current corporate reports have become increasingly evident. With increasing engagement in mindful business practices, firm value goes beyond just the financial capital. It is important to consider the environmental, social and governance impacts of operating activities. However, the corporate reporting landscape in the United States of America still lags behind in integrating its information. This paper recognizes the need for corporate reporting to evolve to the Integrated Reporting method. This is followed by an explanation of the benefits and improvements that Integrated Reporting can bring to published information and decision making through its multiple capital model and the guiding principles. This is followed by an analysis of an Integrated Report produced in the United States to shed light on the lack of consolidation with IR in the U.S. In comparison, we will look at an exemplary Integrated Report to understand how implementation of IR Framework has benefited reporting entities in other parts of the world. This paper attempts to bring to the attention the dwindling pace of the U.S. entities in keeping up with corporate reporting trends, why this is potentially problematic and what needs to be done to improve the corporate reporting atmosphere in the U.S. for the benefit of organizations as well as their stakeholders.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(経営科学) / 甲第22817号 / 経営博第11号 / 新制||経営||2(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院経営管理教育部経営科学専攻 / (主査)教授 若林 靖永, 教授 澤邉 紀生, 教授 若林 直樹 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy in Management Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

Thesis M.Com. (Accounting)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, 2015 / With changes in international governance trends leaning towards integrated reporting, and the inclusion of good governance practices in the Companies Act No. 71 of 2008, it has become imperative for companies to embrace integrated reporting in order to be, and also be seen to be, responsible with regard to social, environmental and economic issues. The purpose of this report is to investigate the trends in the extent of integrated reporting by companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The report sought to investigate compliance with the recommendations of the King Report and Code of Governance Principles for South Africa 2009 (King III) by companies listed on the JSE. The report assesses the extent of reporting and disclosures made by companies in relation to the specific recommendations contained in the various chapters of King III since the inclusion of King III in the JSE listing requirements for financial years beginning on or after 1 March 2010. The report also assesses the extent of economic, social and environmental sustainability reporting as required by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. The annual integrated reports of fifty-two companies listed under the various sectors of the JSE were examined to determine whether there had been significant changes in the specific disclosures provided by these companies, as recommended by King III, from 2010 to 2012. The key findings of the study show that although there has been an increase in the level of disclosure by companies, this change was not significant over the three-year period. The results also show that much improvement is needed in disclosures relating specifically to the new King III sections of risk management, compliance management and IT governance. Key words: corporate governance, disclosure, financial performance, integrated reporting, non-financial information, sustainability