nach oben

Journal of Business Ethics

Erschienen in:

01.10.2012

Multinationals’ Accountability on Sustainability: The Evolution of Third-party Assurance of Sustainability Reports

verfasst von: Paolo Perego, Ans Kolk

Erschienen in: Journal of Business Ethics | Ausgabe 2/2012

Einloggen

Aktivieren Sie unsere intelligente Suche, um passende Fachinhalte oder Patente zu finden.

search-config

KI-gestützte Suche

Aus

Abstract

In this article we explore how multinational corporations (MNCs) adopt assurance practices to develop and sustain organizational accountability for sustainability. Using a panel of Fortune Global 250 firms over a period of 10 years, we document the diffusion patterns of third-party assurance of sustainability reports. We specifically investigate how evolving auditing practices, namely diversity of assurance standards and type of assurance providers, shape the quality of sustainability assurance statements. The results illustrate great variability in the adoption of assurance practices in the formative stages of this novel market. Our descriptive analysis indicates the relevance of external institutional pressures as well as internal resources and capabilities as underlying factors driving the adoption of assurance. Our evidence also suggests that several MNCs project a decoupled or symbolic image of accountability through assurance, thereby undermining the credibility of these verification practices. The paper contributes to the emerging literature on international accountability standards and emphasizes the need to enhance theory-based, cross-disciplinary knowledge related to auditing and accountability processes for sustainability.

Vorheriger Artikel Stakeholder Pressures as Determinants of CSR Strategic Choice: Why do Firms Choose Symbolic Versus Substantive Self-Regulatory Codes of Conduct?

Nächster Artikel Legitimacy and Organizational Sustainability

Sie haben noch keine Lizenz? Dann Informieren Sie sich jetzt über unsere Produkte:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Jetzt informieren

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Jetzt informieren

Nur mit Berechtigung zugänglich

AccountAbility. (2003a). AA1000 Assurance Standard. London: AccountAbility.

AccountAbility. (2003b). AA1000 Assurance Standard Practitioners Note. London: AccountAbility.

Adams, C., Frost, G., & Webber, W. (2004). Triple bottom line: A review of the literature. In A. Henriques & J. Richardson (Eds.), The triple bottom Line: Does it all add up? (pp. 17–33). London: Earthscan.

Adams, C. A. (2004). The ethical, social and environmental reporting- performance portrayal gap. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 17(5), 731–757.CrossRef

Aguilera-Caracuel, J., Aragón-Correa, J., Hurtado-Torres, N., & Rugman, A. (2012). The effects of institutional distance and headquarters’ financial performance on the generation of environmental standards in multinational companies. Journal of Business Ethics, 105(4), 461–474.CrossRef

Ball, A., Owen, D. L., & Gray, R. (2000). External transparency or internal capture? The role of third-party statements in adding value to corporate environmental reports. Business Strategy and the Environment, 9(1), 1–23.CrossRef

Ballou, B., Casey, R. J., Grenier, J. H., & Heitger, D. L. (2011). Exploring the strategic integration of sustainability initiatives: Opportunities for accounting research. Accounting Horizons 26(2).

Barney, J. B. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17, 99–120.CrossRef

Beets, S. D., & Souther, C. C. (1999). Corporate environmental reports: The need for standards and an environmental assurance service. Accounting Horizons, 13(2), 129–145.CrossRef

Beyer, A., Cohen, D. A., Lys, T. Z., & Walther, B. R. (2010). The financial reporting environment: Review of the recent literature. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 50(2–3), 296–343.CrossRef

Blair, M., Williams, C., & Lin, L. (2008). The roles of standardization, certification, and assurance services in global commerce. Comparative Research in Law & Political Economy, 4 (3), 1–44.

Boiral, O., & Gendron, Y. (2011). Sustainable development and certification practices: Lessons learned and prospects. Business Strategy and the Environment, 20(5), 331–347.CrossRef

Brock, D. M. (2012). Building global capabilities: a study of globalizing professional service firms. Service Industries Journal, 32(10), 1593–1607.

Carey, P., Simnett, R., & Tanewski, G. (2000). Voluntary demand for internal and external auditing by family businesses. Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory, 19(1), 37–51.CrossRef

Christmann, P., & Taylor, G. (2004). Environmental self-regulation in the global economy: The role of firm capabilities. Research in Global Strategic Management, 9, 119–145.CrossRef

Cooper, S. M., & Owen, D. L. (2007). Corporate social reporting and stakeholder accountability: The missing link. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 32(7–8), 649–667.CrossRef

CorporateRegister. (2008). The CSR Assurance Statement Report. London: CorporateRegister.

Dacin, M. T., Goodstein, J., & Scott, W. R. (2002). Institutional theory and institutional change: Introduction to the special research forum. Academy of Management Journal, 45(1), 45–56.CrossRef

Dando, N., & Swift, T. (2003). Transparency and assurance: Minding the credibility gap. Journal of Business Ethics, 44(2), 195–200.CrossRef

Deegan, C., Cooper, B. J., & Shelly, M. (2006). An investigation of TBL report assurance statements: UK and European evidence. Managerial Auditing Journal, 21(4), 329–371.CrossRef

Delmas, M. (2002). The diffusion of environmental management standards in Europe and in the United States: An institutional perspective. Policy Sciences, 35, 91–119.CrossRef

Delmas, M. A., & Montes-Sancho, M. J. (2011). An institutional perspective on the diffusion of international management system standards: The case of the environmental management standard ISO 14001. Business Ethics Quarterly, 21(1), 103–132.CrossRef

Delmas, M. A., & Toffel, M. W. (2011). Institutional pressures and organizational characteristics: Implications for environmental strategy. In P. Bansal & A. J. Hoffman (Eds.), The oxford handbook of business and the natural environment (pp. 231–247). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

DiMaggio, P. J., & Powell, W. W. (1983). The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields. American Sociological Review, 48, 147–160.CrossRef

Dong, M., & Stettler, A. (2011). Estimating firm-level and country-level effects in cross-sectional analyses: An application of hierarchical modeling in corporate disclosure studies. The International Journal of Accounting, 46(3), 271–303.CrossRef

Edgley, C. R., Jones, M. J., & Solomon, J. F. (2010). Stakeholder inclusivity in social and environmental report assurance. Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, 23(4), 532–557.CrossRef

Everaert, P., Sarens, G., & Rommel, J. (2007). Sourcing strategy of Belgian SMEs: Empirical evidence for the accounting services. Production Planning & Control, 18(8), 716–725.CrossRef

FEE. (2002). FEE discussion paper: Providing assurance on sustainability reports. Brussels: Fédération des Experts Comptables Européens.

FEE. (2004). FEE call for action: Assurance for sustainability. Brussels: Fédération des Experts Comptables Européens.

FEE. (2006). Key issues in sustainability assurance: An overview. Brussels: Fédération des Experts Comptables Européens.

Fortanier, F., Kolk, A., & Pinkse, J. (2011). Harmonization in CSR reporting MNEs and global CSR standards. Management International Review, 51(5), 665–696.CrossRef

Fransen, L., & Kolk, A. (2007). Global rule-setting for business: A critical analysis of multi-stakeholder standards. Organization, 14(5), 667–684.CrossRef

Gilbert, D. U., Rasche, A., & Waddock, S. (2011). Accountability in a global economy: The emergence of international accountability standards. Business Ethics Quarterly, 21(1), 23–44.CrossRef

Gray, R., & Bebbington, J. (2000). Environmental accounting, managerialism and sustainability: Is the planet safe in the hands of business and accounting? In M. Freedman, and B. Jaggi (Eds.) Advances in environmental accounting & management (pp. 1–44). Amsterdam: JAI Press.

Greenwood, R., & Hinings, C. R. (1996). Understanding radical organizational change: Bringing together the old and the new institutionalism. Academy of Management Review, 21(4), 1022–1054.

Greenwood, R., Suddaby, R., & Hinings, C. R. (2002). Theorizing change: The role of professional associations in the transformation of institutionalized fields. Academy of Management Journal, 45(1), 58–80.CrossRef

GRI. (2006). 2006 Sustainability reporting guidelines (G3). Amsterdam: Global Reporting Initiative.

Hart, S. (1995). A natural-resource-based view of the firm. Academy of Management Review, 20(4), 984–1014.

Hart, S. L., & Dowell, G. (2011). A natural-resource-based view of the firm: Fifteen years after. Journal of Management, 37(5), 1464–1479.CrossRef

Heras-Saizarbitoira, I., & Boiral, O. (2012). ISO9001 and ISO14001: Towards a research agenda on management systems standards. International Journal of Management Reviews. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2370.2012.00334.x.

IAASB. (2003). International standard on assurance engagements 3000: Assurance engagements other than audits or reviews of historical information. New York: International Federation of Accountants IFAC.

Iansen-Rogers, J., & Oelschlaegel, A. (2005). Assurance standards briefing. AA1000 Assurance Standards & ISAE3000. Amsterdam: AccountaAbility & KPMG Sustainability.

Jamali, D. (2010). MNCs and International Accountability Standards through an institutional lens: Evidence of symbolic conformity or decoupling. Journal of Business Ethics, 95(4), 617–640.CrossRef

King, A., & Lenox, M. (2001). Who adopts management standards early? An examination of ISO 14001 certifications. Academy of Management Proceedings (pp. A1–A6). Washington, DC: Academy of Management.

Kolk, A. (2003). Trends in sustainability reporting by the Fortune Global 250. Business Strategy and the Environment, 12(5), 279–291.CrossRef

Kolk, A. (2005). Environmental reporting by multinationals from the Triad: Convergence or divergence? Management International Review, 45(1), 145–166.

Kolk, A. (2010). Trajectories of sustainability reporting by MNCs. Journal of World Business, 45(4), 367–374.CrossRef

Kolk, A., & Perego, P. (2010). Determinants of the adoption of sustainability assurance statements: an international investigation. Business Strategy and the Environment, 19(3), 182–198.

KPMG/UvA. (2002). KPMG International survey of corporate sustainability reporting 2002. Amsterdam: KPMG Global Sustainability Services.

KPMG/UvA. (2008). KPMG International survey of corporate sustainability reporting 2008. Amsterdam: KPMG Global Sustainability Services.

Manetti, G., & Becatti, L. (2009). Assurance services for sustainability reports: Standards and empirical evidence. Journal of Business Ethics, 87, 289–298.CrossRef

Meyer, J. W., & Rowan, B. (1977). Institutionalized organizations: Formal structure as myth and ceremony. American Journal of Sociology, 83(2), 340–363.CrossRef

Mock, T. J., Strohm, C., & Swartz, K. M. (2007). An examination of worldwide assured sustainability reporting. Australian Accounting Review, 17(1), 67–77.CrossRef

Neron, P. Y. (2010). Business and the polis: What does it mean to see corporations as political actors? Journal of Business Ethics, 94(3), 333–352.CrossRef

Neuendorf, K. A. (2002). Content analysis guidebook. London: Sage Publications.

O’Dwyer, B. (2003). Conceptions or corporate social responsibility: The nature of managerial capture. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 16(4), 523–557.CrossRef

O’Dwyer, B., & Owen, D. L. (2005). Assurance statement practice in environmental, social and sustainability reporting: A critical evaluation. The British Accounting Review, 37(2), 205–229.CrossRef

O’Dwyer, B., & Owen, D. (2007). Seeking stakeholder-centric sustainability assurance: An examination of recent sustainability practice. Journal of Corporate Citizenship, 25, 77–94.

O’Dwyer, B., Owen, D., & Unerman, J. (2011). Seeking legitimacy for new assurance forms: The case of assurance on sustainability reporting. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 36(1), 31–52.CrossRef

Oliver, C. (1991). Strategic responses to institutional processes. Academy of Management Review, 16(1), 145–179.

Pflugrath, G., Roebuck, P. J., & Simnett, R. (2011). Impact of assurance and assurer’s professional affiliation on financial analysts? Assessment of credibility of Corporate Social Responsibility information. Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory, 30(3), 239–254. doi:10.2308/ajpt-10047.

Power, M. (1997). Expertise and the construction of relevance: Accountants and environmental audit. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 22(2), 123–146.CrossRef

Scott, W. R. (2001). Institutions and organizations. Foundations for organizational science series. London: Sage Publications.

Shi, Y. Q., Magnan, M., & Kim, J. B. (2012). Do countries matter for voluntary disclosure? Evidence from cross-listed firms in the US. Journal of International Business Studies, 43(2), 143–165.CrossRef

Simnett, R., Vanstraelen, A., & Chua, W. F. (2009). Assurance on sustainability reports: An international comparison. Accounting Review, 84(3), 937–967.CrossRef

Smith, J., Haniffa, R., & Fairbrass, J. (2011). A conceptual framework for investigating ‘capture’ in corporate sustainability reporting assurance. Journal of Business Ethics, 99(3), 425–439.CrossRef

Teece, D. J., Pisano, G., & Shuen, A. (1997). Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 15, 1–20.

Toffel, M. W., & Marquis, C. (2011). The globalization of corporate environmental disclosure: Accountability or greenwashing? Working paper Harvard University 11–115.

Viehöver, M. G., Türk, V., & Vaseghi, S. (2010). CSR assurance in practice: Measuring and auditing sustainability. In M. Pohl & N. Tolhurst (Eds.), Responsible business, How to manage a CSR strategy successfully. Chichester: Wiley.

Yin, H., & Schmeidler, P. J. (2009). Why do standardized ISO 14001 environmental management systems lead to heterogeneous environmental outcomes? Business Strategy and the Environment, 18(7), 469–486.CrossRef

Zadek, S., & Raynard, P. (2004). The future of sustainability assurance. London: ACCA and AccountAbility.

Titel: Multinationals’ Accountability on Sustainability: The Evolution of Third-party Assurance of Sustainability Reports
verfasst von: Paolo Perego
Ans Kolk
Publikationsdatum: 01.10.2012
Verlag: Springer Netherlands
Erschienen in: Journal of Business Ethics / Ausgabe 2/2012
Print ISSN: 0167-4544
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-0697
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1420-5

Springer Professional

Abstract

Bitte loggen Sie sich ein, um Zugang zu Ihrer Lizenz zu erhalten.

Sie haben noch keine Lizenz? Dann Informieren Sie sich jetzt über unsere Produkte:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 2/2012

“Norming” and “Conforming”: Integrating Cultural and Institutional Explanations for Sustainability Adoption in Business

Cross-sector Alliances for Corporate Social Responsibility Partner Heterogeneity Moderates Environmental Strategy Outcomes

The Long-Term Sustenance of Sustainability Practices in MNCs: A Dynamic Capabilities Perspective of the Role of R&D and Internationalization

Legitimacy and Organizational Sustainability

Stakeholder Pressures as Determinants of CSR Strategic Choice: Why do Firms Choose Symbolic Versus Substantive Self-Regulatory Codes of Conduct?

Sustaining Sustainability in Organizations

Premium Partner