dc.contributor.author | Cho, Charles H. | |
dc.contributor.author | Michelon, Giovanna | |
dc.contributor.author | Patten, Dennis M. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-11-22T15:04:32Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2012-05-11 | |
dc.description.abstract | Purpose – In this study we investigate the use of graphs in corporate sustainability
reports and attempt to determine, first, whether the use of graphs appears to be associated
with attempts at impression management, and second, whether differences across three
levels of reporting regulatory structure (Leuz, Nanda and Wysocki, 2003) are associated
with differences in the level of impression management.
Design/methodology/approach - Based on a sample of 120 sustainability reports issued
by firms from six different countries, we empirically test for differences in presentation
of favorable as opposed to unfavorable items (enhancement) and for differences in the
direction of materially distorted graphs (obfuscation).
Findings - For the overall sample we find substantial evidence of both enhancement and
obfuscation in the graph displays. We also find more limited evidence that impression
management differs across companies facing different regulatory structures.
Research limitations/implications – We investigate graph use for only one year’s
reports and for a sample of large companies from only six different countries. Further,
our enhancement findings are not evidence that the companies are necessarily providing
misleading information. However, our results show that the way information is being
provided in corporate sustainability reports appears to be manipulated by the firms to
enhance a positive image and to obfuscate negative trends. The reports may thus be less
about increasing corporate accountability across the social and environmental domains
than about managing impressions. Hence, it may be beneficial for advocate organizations
such as the Global Reporting Initiative to provide additional guidance on “how”
information gets portrayed in sustainability reports.
Originality/value – Our study expands prior research into corporate manipulation of
graphs to the domain of sustainability reporting and adds further evidence that the
reporting needs to be carefully assessed. | en_GB |
dc.identifier.citation | Vol. 3, Issue 1, pp. 74 - 88 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.1108/20408021211223561 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10871/13995 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_GB |
dc.publisher | Emerald | en_GB |
dc.subject | sustainability reporting | en_GB |
dc.subject | graph usage | en_GB |
dc.subject | impression management | en_GB |
dc.title | Enhancement and obfuscation through the use of graphs in sustainability reports: An international comparison | en_GB |
dc.type | Article | en_GB |
dc.date.available | 2013-11-22T15:04:32Z | |
dc.identifier.issn | 2040-8021 | |
dc.description | ‘This article is (c) Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/ Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.' | en_GB |
dc.identifier.journal | Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal | en_GB |