Abstrakt
The narrative phenomenon in accounting concerns, i.e., the disclosure of environmental information and the impression management of stakeholders. The study examines and assesses the dependence between the company’s industry of activity and the narration perception adopted by the preparers of environmental reports, in particular, the impression management techniques used. To achieve the purpose of the article, an in-depth survey was conducted covering a non-random sample of the employees of Polish enterprises involved in the preparation and reporting of environmental information. Contingency tables and association measures for categorical variables were used in the statistical analysis of the survey data. The analysis results of the collected empirical data confirmed that the company’s industry of activity impacts the way report preparers evaluate the scope and apply narrative strategies, especially impression management techniques. The research expands knowledge on the perception of the importance of environmental disclosures and the issue of environmental narrative practices from an enterprise perspective. The results of the analysis indicated a level of pro-environmental awareness and confirmed the knowledge of narrative strategies and techniques. This study contributes to the discussion on the effects of environmental narrative in accounting, offering yet another element of the current practice diagnosis in this area in Poland.
Bibliografia
Act from 15 December 2016. Act amending the Accounting Act. Journal of Laws 2017, item 61. https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20170000061 (in Polish).
Act from 29 September 1994. The Accounting Act. Journal of Laws 2023, item 120. https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20230000120 (in Polish).
Act from 6 March 2018. Entrepreneurs Law. Journal of Laws 2018, item 646. https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20180000646 (in Polish).
Agresti, A. (2002). Categorical Data Analysis, 2nd ed. New York: Wiley.
Ahmad, N. N. N., & Mohamad, N. A. (2013). Environmental Disclosures by the Malaysian Construction Sector: Exploring Extent and Quality. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 21(4), 240-252. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1322
Aitkin, M., Francis, B., Hinde, J., & Darnell, R. (2009). Statistical modelling in R. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Akbaş, H. E. (2014). Company characteristics and environmental disclosure: An empirical investigation on companies listed on Borsa Istambul 100 Index. The Journal of Accounting and Finance, 2(2), 145-164. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/427507
Bąk, M., & Strojek-Filus, M. (2022). Impression management in reporting environmental information in groups of the energy, raw materials and fuel sectors. Economics and Environment, 83(4), 215-236. https://doi.org/10.34659/eis.2022.83.4.500
Beattie, V. (2014). Accounting narratives and the narrative turn in accounting research: issues, theory, methodology, methods and a research framework. The British Accounting Review, 46(2), 111-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bar.2014.05.001
Beattie, V., McInnes, B., & Fearnley, S. (2004). A methodology for analysing and evaluating narratives in annual reports: a comprehensive descriptive profile and metrics for disclosure quality attributes. Accounting Forum, 28(3), 205-236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accfor.2004.07.001
Beretta, S., & Bozzolan, S. (2008). Quality versus quantity: the case of forward-looking disclosure. Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Finance, 23(3), 333-375. https://doi.org/10.1177/0148558X0802300304
Boiral, O., & Henri, J. F. (2015). Is sustainability performance comparable? A study of GRI reports of mining organizations. Business & Society, 56(2), 283-317. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650315576134
Cairns, R. (2009). Green accounting for black gold. The Energy Journal, 30(4), 113-140. https://doi.org/10.5547/ISSN0195-6574-EJ-Vol30-No4-4
Camilleri, M. A. (2015). Valuing stakeholders engagement and sustainability reporting. Corporate Reputation Review, 18, 210-222. https://doi.org/10.1057/crr.2015.9
Cho, C. (2009). Legitimation strategies used in response to environmental disaster: a French case study of Total SA's Erika and AZF incidents. European Accounting Review, 18(1), 33-62. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638180802579616
Cho, C., & Patten, D. (2007). The role of environmental disclosures as tools of legitimacy: a research note. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 32(7-8), 639-647. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361-3682(06)00103-6
Cho, C., Laine, M., Roberts, R., & Rodrigue, M. (2015). Organized hypocrisy, organizational façades, and sustainability reporting. Accounting, Organisation and Sociaty, 40, 78-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2014.12.003
Cho, C., Michelon, G., & Patten, D. (2012). Impression management in sustainability reports: an empirical investigation of the use of graphs. Accounting & the Public Interest, 12(1), 16-37. https://doi.org/10.2308/apin-10249
Cho, C., Roberts, R., & Patten, D. (2010). The language of US corporate environmental disclosure. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 35(4), 431-443. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361-3682(09)00099-3
Coetzee, C., & Staden, C. (2011). Disclosure responses to mining accidents: South African evidence. Accounting Forum, 35(4), 232-246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accfor.2011.06.001
Cormier, D., & Gordon, I. (2001). An examination of social and environmental reporting strategies. Accounting, Organizations and Accountability, 14(5), 587-617. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000006264
Courtis, J. K. (2004). Effective communication requires that content be relevant to user needs. Corporate report obfuscation: artefact or phenomenon? The British Accounting Review, 36(3), 291-312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bar.2004.03.005
de Villiers, C., & Staden, C. (2006). Can less environmental disclosure have a legitimizing effect? Evidence from Africa. Accounting, Organisation and Society, 31(8), 763-781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2006.03.001
Deegan, C. (2002). Introduction: The legitimising effect of social and environmental disclosure theoretical foundation. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 15(3), 282-311. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513570210435852
Deegan, C., & Gordon, B. (1996). A study of the environmental disclosure practices of Australian Corporations. Accounting and Business Research, 26(3), 187-199. https://doi.org/10.1080/00014788.1996.9729510
Deegan, C., & Rankin, M. (1999). The environmental reporting expectations gap: Australian evidence. The British Accounting Review, 31(3), 313-346. https://doi.org/10.1006/bare.1999.0102
Diouf, D., & Boiral, O. (2017). The quality of sustainability reports and impression management: A stakeholder perspective. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 30(3), 643-667. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-04-2015-2044
Directive (EU) 2014/95 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 amending Directive 2013/34/EU as regards disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups, Pub. L. No. 32014L0095, 330 OJ L (2014). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/95/oj
Directive (EU) 2022/2464 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 amending Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, Directive 2004/109/EC, Directive 2006/43/EC and Directive 2013/34/EU, as regards corporate sustainability reporting, Pub. L. No. 32022L2464, 322 OJ L (2022). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022L2464
du Toit, E. (2017). The readability of integrated reports. Meditari Accountancy Research, 25(4), 629-653. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEDAR-07-2017-0165
Dura, J., & Suharsono, R. (2022). Application Green Accounting To Sustainable Development Improve Financial Performance Study In Green Industry. Jurnal Akuntansi, 26(2), 192-212. https://doi.org/10.24912/ja.v26i2.893
Dyduch, J., & Krasodomska, J. (2017). Determinants of Corporate Social Responsibility disclosure: An empirical study of Polish listed companies. Sustainability, 9(11), 1934. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9111934
Griffin, P. A. (2013). Cap‐and‐trade emission allowances and US companies' balance sheets. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 4(1), 7-31. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMPJ-01-2012-0001
Günther, E. (2006). Accounting for emission rights. In R. Antes, B. Hansjürgens & P. Letmathe (Eds.), Emissions Trading and Business (pp. 219-239). Physica-Verlag HD. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/3-7908-1748-1_16
Hahn, R., & Lülfs, R. (2014). Legitimizing Negative Aspects in GRI-Oriented Sustainability Reporting: A Qualitative Analysis of Corporate Disclosure Strategies. Journal of Business Ethics, 123, 401-420. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1801-4
Helfaya, A., Whittington, M., & Alawattage, Ch. (2019). Exploring the quality of corporate environmental reporting Surveying preparers’ and users’ perceptions. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 32(1), 163-193. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-04-2015-2023
Henri, J.-F., & Journeault, M. (2008). Environmental Performance Indicators: An Empirical Study of Canadian Manufacturing Firms. Journal of Environmental Management, 87(1), 165-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.01.009
Hernádi, B. H. (2012). Green accounting for corporate sustainability. Theory, Methodology, Practice, 8(2), 23. https://ideas.repec.org/a/mic/tmpjrn/v8y2012i02p23-30.html
Ho, L. C. J., & Taylor, M. E. (2007). An empirical analysis of Triple Bottom-Line Reporting and its determinants: Evidence from the United States and Japan. Journal of International Financial Management & Accounting, 18(2), 123-150. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-646X.2007.01010.x
Hooghiemstra, R. (2000). Corporate communication and impression management – new perspectives why companies engage in corporate social reporting. Journal of Business Ethics, 27, 55-68. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006400707757
Ignat, G., Timofte, A., & Acostăchioaie, F. (2016). Green accounting versus sustainable development. Agronomy Series of Scientifc Research/Lucrari Scientifc Seria Agronomies, 59(1), 245-248. http://www.uaiasi.ro/revagrois/PDF/2016-1/paper/48.pdf
Jaggi, B., & Zhao, R. (1996). Environmental performance and reporting: Perception of managers and accounting professionals in Hong Kong. The International Journal of Accounting, 31(3), 333-346. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7063(96)90023-0
Jastrzębska, E. (2023). The reporting of climate-related information by CSR leaders in Poland: A climate-related disclosures index. Economics and Environmental, 84(1), 96-115. https://doi.org/10.34659/eis.2023.84.1.520
Jones, J., & Shoemaker, P. (1994). Accounting narratives: a review of empirical studies of content and readability. Journal of Accounting Literature, 13, 142-184. https://www.econbiz.de/Record/accounting-narratives-a-review-of-empirical-studies-of-content-and-readability-jones-michael-john/10007013329
Jones, M. (2011). The nature, use and impression management of graphs in social and environmental accounting. Accounting Forum, 35(2), 75-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accfor.2011.03.002
Kanbaty, M., Hellmann, A., & He, L. (2020). Infographics in corporate sustainability re-ports: Providing useful information or used for impression management? Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 26, 100309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2020.100309
Krivačić, D., & Janković, S. (2017). Managerial Attitudes on Environmental Reporting: Evidence from Croatia. Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management, 5(4), 327-341. https://doi.org/10.5890/jeam.2017.12.005
Marston, C., & Shrives, P. (1991). The use of disclosure index in accounting research: a review article. British Accounting Review, 23(3), 195-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/0890-8389(91)90080-L
Mason, C., & Simmons, J. (2014). Embedding corporate social responsibility in corporate governance: A stakeholder systems approach. Journal of Business Ethics, 119(1), 77-86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1615-9
Mata, C., Fialho, A., & Eugenio, T. (2018). A decade of environmental accounting reporting: What we know? Journal of Cleaner Production, 198, 1198-1209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.07.087
Merkl-Davies, D. M., & Brennan, N. M. (2007). Discretionary Disclosure Strategies in Corporate Narratives: Incremental Information or Impression Management? Social Science Electronic Publishing, 26, 116-196. http://hdl.handle.net/10197/2907
Merkl-Davies, D. M., & Brennan, N. M. (2011). A conceptual framework of impression management: new insights from psychology, sociology, and critical perspective. Accounting and Business Research, 41(5), 415-437. https://doi.org/10.1080/00014788.2011.574222
Merkl-Davies, D. M., & Brennan, N. M. (2013). Accounting Narratives and Impression Management. In L. Jack, J. Davison & R. Craig (Eds.), The Routledge Companion to Communication in Accounting (pp. 109-132). London: Routledge.
Michelon, G., Pilonato, S., & Ricceri, F. (2015). CSR reporting practices and the quality of disclosure: an empirical analysis. Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 33, 59-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpa.2014.10.003
Morrison, J. (2015). Business Ethics – New Challenges in a Globalized World. London: Palgrave.
Nitkin, D., & Brooks, L. J. (1998). Sustainability Auditing and Reporting: The Canadian Experience. Journal of Business Ethics, 17, 1499-1507. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006044130990
Novovic Buric, M., Jakšić Stojanović, A., Lalević Filipović, A., & Kascelan, L. (2022). Research of Attitudes toward Implementation of Green Accounting in Tourism Industry in Montenegro – Practices, and Challenges. Sustainability, 14(3), 1725. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031725
Ott, L. (1984). An Introduction to Statistical Methods and Data Analysis, 2nd ed. Boston: PWS Publishers.
Papaj-Wlisłocka, E. (2021). Uwarunkowania ujawnień informacji niefinansowych w Polsce – teoria i praktyka. Katowice: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego w Katowicach. (in Polish).
PR. (2023). Projekt rozporządzenia (PR) delegowanego i załączników do niego zawierających poszczególne standardy ESRS. https://pl.materiality.pl/dyrektywa-i-europejskie-standardy-sprawozdawczosci-w-zakresie-zrownowazonego-rozwoju/ (in Polish).
Qi, Y., Taplin, R., & Brown, A. M. (2012). Natural environmental disclosures in the annual reports of Chinese listed entities. Journal of Asian and African studies, 47(6), 587-604. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021909611422498
R Development Core Team. (2023). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing. http://cran.r-project.org/
Rahman, M. M., & Rahman, M. S. (2020). Green Reporting as a Tool of Environmental Sustainability: Some Observations in the Context of Bangladesh. International Journal of Management and Accounting, 2(2), 31-37. https://doi.org/10.34104/ijma.020.031037
Rämö, H. (2011). Visualizing the Phronetic Organization: The Case of Photographs in CSR Reports. Journal of Business Ethics, 104, 371-387. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10551-011-0916-8
Reizinger-Ducsai, A. (2007). Accounting for emission rights. Periodica Polytechnica Social and Management Sciences, 15(2), 53-57. https://doi.org/10.3311/pp.so.2007-2.02
Reverte, C. (2009). Determinants of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure Ratings by Spanish listed firms. Journal of Business Ethics, 88, 351-366. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9968-9
Sahay, A. (2004). Environmental reporting by Indian corporations. Corporate Social responsibility and environmental Management, 11(1), 12-22. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.51
Sandberg, M., & Holmlund, M. (2015). Impression management tactics in sustainability reporting. Social Responsibility Journal, 11(4), 677-689. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-12-2013-0152
Schaltegger, S., & Burritt, R. (2017). Contemporary Environmental Accounting. Issues, Concepts and Practice. London: Imprint Routledge.
Strojek-Fikus, M., & Sulik-Górecka, A. (2022). Assesment of the Quality of Reporting Information on CO2 Emission Rights on the Example of Energy Sector Groups Listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Management Systems in Production Engineering, 30(2), 116-129. https://doi.org/10.2478/mspe-2022-0015
Szadziewska, A., & Kujawski, J. (2022). Environmental disclosures in the non-financial reporting of energy companies. Creating a reliable business image or impression management? Zeszyty Teoretyczne Rachunkowości, 46(2), 157-194. http://dx.doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0015.8814
Szreder, M. (2004). Metody i techniki sondażowych badań opinii. Warszawa: Polskie Wydawnictwo Ekonomiczne. (in Polish).
Talbot, D., & Boiral, O. (2018). GHG Reporting and Impression Management: An Assessment of Sustainability Reports from the Energy Sector. Journal of Business Ethics, 147(2), 367-383. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2979-4
Turzo, T., Marzi, G., Favino, Ch., & Terzani, S. (2022). No-financial reporting research and practice: Lessons from the last decade. Journal of Cleaner Production, 345(1), 131154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131154
van der Lugt, C., van de Wijs, P. P., & Petrovics, D. (2020). Carrots & Sticks: Sustainability Reporting Policy: Global trends in disclosure as the ESG agenda goes mainstream. https://www.carrotsandsticks.net/media/zirbzabv/carrots-and-sticks-2020-june2020.pdf
Wang, J. (2016). Literature review on the impression management in corporate information disclosure. Modern Economy, 7(6), 725-731. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/me.2016.76076
Wilmshurst, T. D., & Frost, G. R. (2000). Corporate environmental reporting: A test of legitimacy theory. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 13(1), 10-26. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513570010316126
Utwór dostępny jest na licencji Creative Commons Uznanie autorstwa – Na tych samych warunkach 4.0 Miedzynarodowe.
Prawa autorskie (c) 2024 Czasopismo "Economics and Environment"