Main Article Content
Abstract
Purpose: This research explores the intersection of financial reporting and social responsibility by integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics into corporate financial reports. It aims to assess the impact of sustainability reporting frameworks on transparency and stakeholder engagement in the corporate sector.
Research Design and Methodology: This study employs a systematic literature review and interpretive analysis to examine the existing theoretical and empirical literature on the evolution of financial reporting frameworks towards incorporating social responsibility. An interpretive approach through thematic analysis identifies key patterns and insights.
Findings and Discussion: The results show a significant paradigm shift in financial reporting, with an increasing inclusion of ESG metrics alongside traditional financial information. This change is driven by regulatory requirements and stakeholder demand, with a focus on enhanced transparency and accountability. Challenges such as greenwashing and the authenticity of social responsibility claims persist, affecting standardization and data integrity.
Implications: The findings underscore the need for more robust and standardized reporting frameworks to enhance the credibility and comparability of sustainability reports. Highlighting the importance of corporate accountability, the study suggests that integrating financial reporting with social responsibility is crucial for future research, particularly in terms of its impact on corporate reputation and stakeholder relations.
Keywords
Article Details

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References
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- Adams, C., Hill, W. Y., & Roberts, C. B. (2016). Environmental, social and governance reporting and the assurance of corporate social responsibility: An empirical study of corporate reporting practice. British Accounting Review, 48(4), 363-382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bar.2014.11.002
- Adams, C., McNicholas, P., & Zutshi, A. (2019). The evolution of corporate social reporting practices in light of global financial crisis: Evidence from Australia. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 32(7), 2073-2106. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-02-2019-3862
- Ansari, S., & Euske, K. (1987). Rational, rationalizing, and reifying uses of accounting data in organizations. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 12(6), 549-570. https://doi.org/10.1016/0361-3682(87)90029-9
- Arena, M., Azzone, G., & Bengo, I. (2021). From measurement to decision-making: A review of the role of social and environmental indicators in corporate sustainability assessments. Journal of Cleaner Production, 281, 125209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125209
- Bebbington, J., Unerman, J., & O'Dwyer, B. (2020). Sustainability accounting and accountability. Routledge.
- Bhattacharya, C. B., Korschun, D., & Sen, S. (2020). Strengthening stakeholder-company relationships through mutually beneficial corporate social responsibility initiatives. Journal of Business Ethics, 162(1), 25-44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-3914-5
- Birkinshaw, J., Bouquet, C., & Barsoux, J. L. (2002). The 5 myths of innovation. MIT Sloan Management Review, 44(2), 43-50.
- Birkinshaw, J., Morrison, A., & Hulland, J. (2002). Structural and competitive determinants of a global integration strategy. Strategic Management Journal, 23(9), 859-884. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.274
- Carroll, A. B., & Brown, J. (2018). Corporate social responsibility: A review of current concepts, research, and issues. In A. Crane, A. McWilliams, D. Matten, J. Moon, & D. S. Siegel (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of corporate social responsibility (pp. 1-32). Oxford University Press.
- Chen, G., Ye, X., & Zhao, X. (2021). Big data analytics, IT capability, and supply chain agility: Evidence from Chinese manufacturers. International Journal of Information Management, 58, 102364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102364
- Chenhall, R. H. (2003). Management control systems design within its organizational context: Findings from contingency-based research and directions for the future. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 28(2-3), 127-168.
- Chenhall, R. H., & Morris, D. (1986). The impact of structure, environment, and interdependence on the perceived usefulness of management accounting systems. The Accounting Review, 61(1), 16-35.
- Cho, C. H., Guidry, R. P., Hageman, A. M., & Patten, D. M. (2020). Sustainability accounting and reporting: Fad or trend? Accounting Horizons, 35(1), 137-160. https://doi.org/10.2308/AH-2020-0026
- Cowan, T., Halsgrove, C., & Tinkler, A. (2021). Intended and unintended consequences of mandatory corporate social responsibility reporting: Evidence from a natural experiment. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 88, 101250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2020.101250
- Eisenhardt, K. M., & Galunic, D. C. (2017). Coevolving: At last, a way to make synergies work. Harvard Business Review, 95(1), 132-140.
- Fasan, M., Pilonato, S., & Stoppioni, A. (2019). Integrated reporting and corporate governance: An empirical investigation. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, 19(1), 25-47. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-08-2017-0165
- Flammer, C., & Luo, J. (2017). Corporate social responsibility as an employee governance tool: Evidence from a quasi-experiment. Strategic Management Journal, 38(2), 163-183. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2512
- Flammer, C., & Luo, J. (2017). Corporate social responsibility as an employee governance tool: Evidence from a quasi-experiment. Strategic Management Journal, 38(2), 163-183. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2512
- Galbraith, J. R. (1973). Designing complex organizations. Addison-Wesley.
- Galbraith, J. R. (1974). Organization design: An information processing view. Interfaces, 4(3), 28-36.
- Galbraith, J. R. (2009). Designing organizations: Strategy, structure, and process at the business unit and enterprise levels. Jossey-Bass.
- Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). (n.d.). About GRI. https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/about-gri/
- Gond, J. P., Grubnic, S., Herzig, C., & Moon, J. (2019). Configuring management control systems: Theorizing the integration of sustainability into management control. Management Accounting Research, 100692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mar.2019.100692
- Gray, R., Adams, C., & Owen, D. (2021). Accountability, social responsibility and sustainability: accounting for society and the environment. Routledge.
- Hansen, G. S., & Wernerfelt, B. (1989). Determinants of firm performance: The relative importance of economic and organizational factors. Strategic Management Journal, 10(5), 399-411.
- Hawn, O., & Ioannou, I. (2019). Mind the gap: The interplay between external and internal actions in the case of corporate social responsibility. Strategic Management Journal, 40(9), 1407-1430. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3034
- Ioannou, I., & Serafeim, G. (2017). The consequences of mandatory corporate sustainability reporting: Evidence from four countries. Harvard Business School Working Paper, (17-024). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2739560
- Ioannou, I., & Serafeim, G. (2020). Corporate sustainability: A strategy? Harvard Business Review, 98(3), 78-89.
- Jones, G. R., George, J. M., & Hill, C. W. (2013). Contemporary management. McGraw-Hill Education.
- Jones, O., Mundy, J., & Minocha, S. (2020). Digital leadership: Leading virtual teams in times of crisis. Industrial and Commercial Training, 52(1), 9-14.
- Kallunki, J. P., Laitinen, T., & Silvola, H. (2011). The impact of strategic accounting choices on corporate performance—Empirical evidence from Finnish companies. Management Accounting Research, 22(2), 104-119.
- King, A. A., Lenox, M. J., & Terlaak, A. (2005). The strategic use of decentralized institutions: Exploring certification with the ISO 14001 management standard. Academy of Management Journal, 48(6), 1091-1106. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2005.19573111
- Kolk, A., Levy, D., & Pinske, J. (2019). Corporate social responsibility in global value chains: Where are we now and where are we going? Journal of Business Ethics, 160(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04151-2
- Laufer, W. S. (2003). Social accountability and corporate greenwashing. Journal of Business Ethics, 43(3), 253-261. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023331212247
- Lawrence, P. R., & Lorsch, J. W. (1967). Differentiation and integration in complex organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 12(1), 1-47. https://doi.org/10.2307/2391211
- Lawrence, P. R., & Lorsch, J. W. (1967). Differentiation and integration in complex organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 12(1), 1-47.
- Lins, K. V., Servaes, H., & Tamayo, A. (2017). Social capital, trust, and firm performance: The value of corporate social responsibility during the financial crisis. The Journal of Finance, 72(4), 1785-1824. https://doi.org/10.1111/jofi.12473
- Margolis, J. D., & Walsh, J. P. (2003). Misery loves companies: Rethinking social initiatives by business. Administrative Science Quarterly, 48(2), 268-305. https://doi.org/10.2307/3556658
- Marquis, C., & Qian, C. (2014). Corporate social responsibility reporting in China: Symbol or substance? Organization Science, 25(1), 127-148. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1120.0786
- McWilliams, A., & Siegel, D. (2000). Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: correlation or misspecification? Strategic Management Journal, 21(5), 603-609. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(200005)21:5
- Merchant, K. A., & Van der Stede, W. A. (2017). Management control systems: Performance measurement, evaluation and incentives. Pearson.
- Mintzberg, H. (1979). The structuring of organizations: A synthesis of the research. Prentice-Hall.
- Mintzberg, H. (1980). Structure in 5's: A synthesis of the research on organization design. Management Science, 26(3), 322-341. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.26.3.322
- Mintzberg, H. (1980). Structure in 5's: A synthesis of the research on organization design. Management Science, 26(3), 322-341.
- Mio, C., Fasan, M., & Pilonato, S. (2020). Integrated reporting practices: Insights from an exploratory study. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 21(1), 96-116. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-02-2019-0039
- Moura, G. L., Barcellos, M. D. F., & Lunkes, R. J. (2021). The role of accounting information in the sustainable supply chain management: A systematic literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 279, 123678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123678
- Oikonomou, I., Brooks, C., & Pavelin, S. (2020). The effects of corporate social performance on the cost of corporate debt and credit ratings. Financial Review, 55(6), 975-1005. https://doi.org/10.1111/fire.12255
- Ouchi, W. G. (1979). A conceptual framework for the design of organizational control mechanisms. Management Science, 25(9), 833-848. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.25.9.833
- Ouchi, W. G. (1979). A conceptual framework for the design of organizational control mechanisms. Management Science, 25(9), 833-848.
- Patten, D. M. (2020). The resource dependence, stakeholder, and legitimacy explanations for corporate social disclosures. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 11(5), 822-849. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMPJ-11-2019-0458
- Robertson, J., & Smith, A. (2022). Leading virtual teams: A comparative analysis of leader decision-making. Journal of Management & Organization, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1017/jmo.2022.1
- Serafeim, G., & Ioannou, I. (2017). Corporate social responsibility and access to finance. Strategic Management Journal, 38(12), 2623-2643. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2657
- Sikka, P., Puxty, T., & Willmott, H. (2019). The dark side of accountability: Accounting for the state-corporate crime nexus in the UK. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 76, 49-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2018.07.006
- Smith, M., & Johnson, W. (2022). Hierarchical structures and innovation: A review and synthesis. International Journal of Management Reviews, 24(1), 176-197.
- Srinivasan, R., Subramanian, N., & Martinez, V. (2020). Blockchain and cloud computing: Opportunities and challenges. Journal of Management Information Systems, 37(1), 261-292. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421222.2020.1775699
- Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). (n.d.). About SASB. https://www.sasb.org/about/
- Tolentino, L. R. C., Lins, K. V., & Servaes, H. (2020). Do political connections affect the cost of debt? Journal of Financial Economics, 135(3), 711-734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2019.11.005
References
Adams, C., & McNicholas, P. (2007). Making a difference: Sustainability reporting, accountability and organizational change. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 20(3), 382-402. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513570710748558
Adams, C., Hill, W. Y., & Roberts, C. B. (2016). Environmental, social and governance reporting and the assurance of corporate social responsibility: An empirical study of corporate reporting practice. British Accounting Review, 48(4), 363-382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bar.2014.11.002
Adams, C., McNicholas, P., & Zutshi, A. (2019). The evolution of corporate social reporting practices in light of global financial crisis: Evidence from Australia. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 32(7), 2073-2106. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-02-2019-3862
Ansari, S., & Euske, K. (1987). Rational, rationalizing, and reifying uses of accounting data in organizations. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 12(6), 549-570. https://doi.org/10.1016/0361-3682(87)90029-9
Arena, M., Azzone, G., & Bengo, I. (2021). From measurement to decision-making: A review of the role of social and environmental indicators in corporate sustainability assessments. Journal of Cleaner Production, 281, 125209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125209
Bebbington, J., Unerman, J., & O'Dwyer, B. (2020). Sustainability accounting and accountability. Routledge.
Bhattacharya, C. B., Korschun, D., & Sen, S. (2020). Strengthening stakeholder-company relationships through mutually beneficial corporate social responsibility initiatives. Journal of Business Ethics, 162(1), 25-44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-3914-5
Birkinshaw, J., Bouquet, C., & Barsoux, J. L. (2002). The 5 myths of innovation. MIT Sloan Management Review, 44(2), 43-50.
Birkinshaw, J., Morrison, A., & Hulland, J. (2002). Structural and competitive determinants of a global integration strategy. Strategic Management Journal, 23(9), 859-884. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.274
Carroll, A. B., & Brown, J. (2018). Corporate social responsibility: A review of current concepts, research, and issues. In A. Crane, A. McWilliams, D. Matten, J. Moon, & D. S. Siegel (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of corporate social responsibility (pp. 1-32). Oxford University Press.
Chen, G., Ye, X., & Zhao, X. (2021). Big data analytics, IT capability, and supply chain agility: Evidence from Chinese manufacturers. International Journal of Information Management, 58, 102364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102364
Chenhall, R. H. (2003). Management control systems design within its organizational context: Findings from contingency-based research and directions for the future. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 28(2-3), 127-168.
Chenhall, R. H., & Morris, D. (1986). The impact of structure, environment, and interdependence on the perceived usefulness of management accounting systems. The Accounting Review, 61(1), 16-35.
Cho, C. H., Guidry, R. P., Hageman, A. M., & Patten, D. M. (2020). Sustainability accounting and reporting: Fad or trend? Accounting Horizons, 35(1), 137-160. https://doi.org/10.2308/AH-2020-0026
Cowan, T., Halsgrove, C., & Tinkler, A. (2021). Intended and unintended consequences of mandatory corporate social responsibility reporting: Evidence from a natural experiment. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 88, 101250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2020.101250
Eisenhardt, K. M., & Galunic, D. C. (2017). Coevolving: At last, a way to make synergies work. Harvard Business Review, 95(1), 132-140.
Fasan, M., Pilonato, S., & Stoppioni, A. (2019). Integrated reporting and corporate governance: An empirical investigation. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, 19(1), 25-47. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-08-2017-0165
Flammer, C., & Luo, J. (2017). Corporate social responsibility as an employee governance tool: Evidence from a quasi-experiment. Strategic Management Journal, 38(2), 163-183. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2512
Flammer, C., & Luo, J. (2017). Corporate social responsibility as an employee governance tool: Evidence from a quasi-experiment. Strategic Management Journal, 38(2), 163-183. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2512
Galbraith, J. R. (1973). Designing complex organizations. Addison-Wesley.
Galbraith, J. R. (1974). Organization design: An information processing view. Interfaces, 4(3), 28-36.
Galbraith, J. R. (2009). Designing organizations: Strategy, structure, and process at the business unit and enterprise levels. Jossey-Bass.
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). (n.d.). About GRI. https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/about-gri/
Gond, J. P., Grubnic, S., Herzig, C., & Moon, J. (2019). Configuring management control systems: Theorizing the integration of sustainability into management control. Management Accounting Research, 100692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mar.2019.100692
Gray, R., Adams, C., & Owen, D. (2021). Accountability, social responsibility and sustainability: accounting for society and the environment. Routledge.
Hansen, G. S., & Wernerfelt, B. (1989). Determinants of firm performance: The relative importance of economic and organizational factors. Strategic Management Journal, 10(5), 399-411.
Hawn, O., & Ioannou, I. (2019). Mind the gap: The interplay between external and internal actions in the case of corporate social responsibility. Strategic Management Journal, 40(9), 1407-1430. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3034
Ioannou, I., & Serafeim, G. (2017). The consequences of mandatory corporate sustainability reporting: Evidence from four countries. Harvard Business School Working Paper, (17-024). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2739560
Ioannou, I., & Serafeim, G. (2020). Corporate sustainability: A strategy? Harvard Business Review, 98(3), 78-89.
Jones, G. R., George, J. M., & Hill, C. W. (2013). Contemporary management. McGraw-Hill Education.
Jones, O., Mundy, J., & Minocha, S. (2020). Digital leadership: Leading virtual teams in times of crisis. Industrial and Commercial Training, 52(1), 9-14.
Kallunki, J. P., Laitinen, T., & Silvola, H. (2011). The impact of strategic accounting choices on corporate performance—Empirical evidence from Finnish companies. Management Accounting Research, 22(2), 104-119.
King, A. A., Lenox, M. J., & Terlaak, A. (2005). The strategic use of decentralized institutions: Exploring certification with the ISO 14001 management standard. Academy of Management Journal, 48(6), 1091-1106. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2005.19573111
Kolk, A., Levy, D., & Pinske, J. (2019). Corporate social responsibility in global value chains: Where are we now and where are we going? Journal of Business Ethics, 160(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04151-2
Laufer, W. S. (2003). Social accountability and corporate greenwashing. Journal of Business Ethics, 43(3), 253-261. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023331212247
Lawrence, P. R., & Lorsch, J. W. (1967). Differentiation and integration in complex organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 12(1), 1-47. https://doi.org/10.2307/2391211
Lawrence, P. R., & Lorsch, J. W. (1967). Differentiation and integration in complex organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 12(1), 1-47.
Lins, K. V., Servaes, H., & Tamayo, A. (2017). Social capital, trust, and firm performance: The value of corporate social responsibility during the financial crisis. The Journal of Finance, 72(4), 1785-1824. https://doi.org/10.1111/jofi.12473
Margolis, J. D., & Walsh, J. P. (2003). Misery loves companies: Rethinking social initiatives by business. Administrative Science Quarterly, 48(2), 268-305. https://doi.org/10.2307/3556658
Marquis, C., & Qian, C. (2014). Corporate social responsibility reporting in China: Symbol or substance? Organization Science, 25(1), 127-148. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1120.0786
McWilliams, A., & Siegel, D. (2000). Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: correlation or misspecification? Strategic Management Journal, 21(5), 603-609. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(200005)21:5
Merchant, K. A., & Van der Stede, W. A. (2017). Management control systems: Performance measurement, evaluation and incentives. Pearson.
Mintzberg, H. (1979). The structuring of organizations: A synthesis of the research. Prentice-Hall.
Mintzberg, H. (1980). Structure in 5's: A synthesis of the research on organization design. Management Science, 26(3), 322-341. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.26.3.322
Mintzberg, H. (1980). Structure in 5's: A synthesis of the research on organization design. Management Science, 26(3), 322-341.
Mio, C., Fasan, M., & Pilonato, S. (2020). Integrated reporting practices: Insights from an exploratory study. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 21(1), 96-116. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-02-2019-0039
Moura, G. L., Barcellos, M. D. F., & Lunkes, R. J. (2021). The role of accounting information in the sustainable supply chain management: A systematic literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 279, 123678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123678
Oikonomou, I., Brooks, C., & Pavelin, S. (2020). The effects of corporate social performance on the cost of corporate debt and credit ratings. Financial Review, 55(6), 975-1005. https://doi.org/10.1111/fire.12255
Ouchi, W. G. (1979). A conceptual framework for the design of organizational control mechanisms. Management Science, 25(9), 833-848. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.25.9.833
Ouchi, W. G. (1979). A conceptual framework for the design of organizational control mechanisms. Management Science, 25(9), 833-848.
Patten, D. M. (2020). The resource dependence, stakeholder, and legitimacy explanations for corporate social disclosures. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 11(5), 822-849. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMPJ-11-2019-0458
Robertson, J., & Smith, A. (2022). Leading virtual teams: A comparative analysis of leader decision-making. Journal of Management & Organization, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1017/jmo.2022.1
Serafeim, G., & Ioannou, I. (2017). Corporate social responsibility and access to finance. Strategic Management Journal, 38(12), 2623-2643. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2657
Sikka, P., Puxty, T., & Willmott, H. (2019). The dark side of accountability: Accounting for the state-corporate crime nexus in the UK. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 76, 49-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2018.07.006
Smith, M., & Johnson, W. (2022). Hierarchical structures and innovation: A review and synthesis. International Journal of Management Reviews, 24(1), 176-197.
Srinivasan, R., Subramanian, N., & Martinez, V. (2020). Blockchain and cloud computing: Opportunities and challenges. Journal of Management Information Systems, 37(1), 261-292. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421222.2020.1775699
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). (n.d.). About SASB. https://www.sasb.org/about/
Tolentino, L. R. C., Lins, K. V., & Servaes, H. (2020). Do political connections affect the cost of debt? Journal of Financial Economics, 135(3), 711-734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2019.11.005