Suchergebnisse

Using legitimacy theory, this study investigates the extent of social and environmental disclosure (SED) of Indian textile firms over the 2010-2012 period and the factors that explain such disclosure practices. Firm-level characteristics and corporate governance variables are incorporated as key predictors for these important disclosures. This study reveals a relatively low extent of 13.57% of SED in annual reports of Indian textile firms. This finding of low overall voluntary disclosure is largely consistent with the previous studies particularly in the emerging economies setting. The results show that firm size, international brand, audit committee independence, CEO duality, profitability, international certification obtained and year of reporting are statistically significant factors in explaining the variation in extent of SED. Potential concern may arise from such a lack corporate communication related to social or environmental activities and risks as it may lead to questions whether firms domiciled in India and their international brand-name affiliations have been transparent and accountable regarding their production and supply activities. The theoretical contribution of this study is the successful testing of legitimacy theory in the context of an emerging economy. This study highlights the influence of international exposures such as brand development and corporate governance attributes have on the SED communication practices. The dearth of social and environmental disclosure by Indian textile firms has implications for foreign purchasers of branded products as international companies have been implicated in sub-optimal social or environmental practices or incidents. Such international brand-name companies may be responsible for such breaches and face significant adverse publicity if negative social or environmental impacts or breaches of rules or regulations are found subsequent to the supply of these textile products. Significant negative media publicity may have unfavourable consequences on the reputation of these firms and their directors as well as their long-term financial performance. Firms with branded textile products likely use disclosure as an important means to promote an image of them being forward thinking socially and environmentally responsible entities for preserving their legitimacy status. This research offers empirical evidence in regard to social and environmental (SED) practices that may assist regulatory bodies to introduce more focused and effective non-financial disclosure guidelines and regulations.

PurposeThe paper seeks to investigate the key drivers and level of voluntary disclosures in biotechnology company annual reports.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses an intellectual capital disclosure index score of voluntary disclosures in a large sample of listed biotechnology companies, and tests the relationship between voluntary disclosures of intangible firm value with traditional agency theory variables. The relationships are tested statistically using correlation and multiple‐regression analysis.FindingsThe key drivers of voluntary intellectual capital disclosures were the level of board independence, firm age, level of leverage and firm size. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that board independence, leverage and size had a significant relationship with the level of voluntary intellectual capital disclosure. Separate regression controlling for large‐sized and small‐sized firms demonstrated that voluntary intellectual capital disclosure was only driven by board independence and the levels of firm leverage in large firms. Small firms did not demonstrate this relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications of this research are that smaller biotechnology companies' managers are not motivated by external debt‐holder demands to make voluntary disclosures about intangible firm value. In addition, large biotechnology companies, which are better able to establish independent board oversight, appear more effective at driving voluntary intellectual capital disclosures, perhaps in response to greater demand by owners. A limitation of this study is its Australian context and that data is analysed only from 2005 financial year annual reports.Originality/valueTo the authors' knowledge this is an original paper whose findings have valuable implications for managing intellectual capital at the firm level. The paper clearly demonstrates that disclosures about intangible firm value is being driven by traditional agency theory variables and more contemporary corporate governance issues, and that small firms may be ignoring the importance of disclosing more about their intellectual capital.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine voluntary risk disclosures within annual reports in four key South‐East Asian countries' (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia) manufacturing listed companies over the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) 2007‐2009 financial years.Design/methodology/approachLongitudinal and cross‐country analyses test the veracity of agency theory to predict the level of firms' risk disclosures. A comprehensive risk disclosure index (RDI) checklist is created with key predictor variables (country, company size, managerial ownership and board independence) tested to explain the dissemination of CSR information over time.FindingsThe findings show that the communication of risk data stays relatively consistent (26‐29 per cent across the three GFC "crisis" years). This is arguably a low level of communication from a social responsibility corporate lens. Multiple regression analysis provides evidence that country, size and board independence are positively significantly associated and leverage is negatively significantly associated with the extent of voluntary risk disclosure. Interestingly, Indonesia, the least developed country with arguably the highest business risk factors, consistently has statistically lower levels of risk disclosure compared with their three neighbours.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample frame is selected from the stock exchange population of manufacturing companies in key South‐East Asian countries. However, for complete generalization the findings should be tested in other countries and other industries.Practical implicationsThe study findings are useful for firm self‐evaluation and benchmarking of risk communication by other corporations across countries.Social implicationsThe study shows relatively low levels of risk disclosure over the GFC crisis time period. Communication of these items are influenced by key firm characteristics and economic drivers. Arguably, higher risk disclosure leads to better understanding of a company's social responsibility stance.Originality/valueThis is a critically important time span to investigate risk disclosures as it encompasses those years most directly impacted by the global financial crisis (GFC).

PurposeThis study aims to advance explanations of the communication level of labor disclosures of Indonesian listed companies.Design/methodology/approachYear‐ending 2007 Annual report disclosures of 223 Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) listed companies are analyzed. The labor practices and decent work disclosure component of the 2006 Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines are used as the benchmark disclosure index checklist.FindingsThe results show a low level of voluntary disclosure (17.7 per cent). The highest level of communication is for issues related to skills management and lifelong learning programs for employees. Very few companies disclosed information about health and safety committee and agreements, and salary of men to women. Statistical analysis reveals that government ownership and international operations are positively significant predictors of "labour" communication. Isomorphic institutional theory partially explains the variability of these disclosures. Bigger companies also provide more labor practices and decent work disclosures.Research limitations/implicationsThe main implications of the findings are that Indonesian companies are not clearly communicating labor responsibility issues as a key precondition of corporate social responsibility (CSR). They may be obfuscating some information to protect their image and reputation.Originality/valueThis paper provides insights into the disclosure practices of labor issues, a specific social disclosure theme which is rarely examined in prior literature, under the umbrella of institutional theory. The research also includes "goal factor" to be tested as one of the independent variables.

Purpose– The purpose of this research is to investigate the factors determining the social and environmental reporting (SER) of Indian textile and apparel (TA) firms.Design/methodology/approach– The 2010 annual reports of a sample of top 100 Indian TA firms listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange were examined to assess the extent of SER. SER was assessed based on the Global Reporting Initiative index applicable to the TA industry. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to investigate the determinants of SER.Findings– This study reports a low extent of SER in the annual reports of Indian listed TA firms, with a mean disclosure of 14 per cent. On average, firms reported more extensive environmental information, with a mean disclosure of 18.4 per cent, compared to social information, with a mean disclosure of 10.7 per cent. Most firms reported social information relating to "labour practices and decent work", while the reporting of information relating to "human rights" was sparse. Overall, the SER patterns provide support for legitimacy theory. Consistent with legitimacy theory expectations, corporate size, brand development and audit committee size are significant factors determining the variation in SER. No significant relationship was found between board independence, level of ownership and SER.Originality/value– There is no existing study specifically on SER by TA firms in India. In fact, there is surprisingly little research on SER in the Indian context in general. Given the dearth in research on corporate social reporting in the Indian context, the study extends prior literature on corporate SER by concentrating on SER of TA firms in an emerging economy. The theoretical contribution of this study is the testing of legitimacy theory in the context of an emerging economy. This study contributes towards practice by delineating the relationship between governance structure and SER, particularly with regard to issues such as child labour. These findings have implications for the future development of reporting standards and regulations in regard to corporate governance in India. The dearth of social reporting by Indian TA firms has implications for foreign purchasers of branded products, as international companies have been implicated in sub-optimal social or environmental practices or incidents.

The results reveal that tertiary institutions have low levels of EEO reporting especially for sexual orientation and religious issues. More mandatory state-based legislation may be needed.