Implementing Integrated Reporting: Case Studies from the Italian Listed Companies

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the change experienced by the Italian listed companies through the implementation of integrating reporting. The objective of this study is to shed light on the company's moving reasons towards integrating reporting and on its effects on the company's thinking approach.This paper builds on multi-source data gathered through web-site visits, company materials and interviews, according to an interpretive case study approach.The authors found that the process of change experienced by the selected companies deserves consideration for at least two reasons: on the one hand, as a transition from a stand alone to an integrated thinking approach; on the other hand, as a transition from an implicit to a more explicit approach to sustainability.The paper is, to the best of the knowledge, the first one to explore the process of change experienced by the Italian listed companies through the implementation of integrated reporting.

Integrated Reporting: Development and State of Art —The Italian Case in the International Context

“…In fact, in this perspective, integrated reporting is able to guide management and provide evidence of positive business results. Despite the wide debate, a study by Camodeca and Almici (2017) highlighted how, in Italy, only six companies listed on 338 adopted integrated reporting. However, this situation seems to have changed due to the entry into force of a new law, the Legislative Decree n. 254 of December 30, 2016, which represents the implementation of Directive 2014/95 / EU.…”

Disclosure of Intellectual Capital Components in Integrated Reporting: An Empirical Analysis

“…Accordingly, many studies have replied to such a call. Several papers have examined emerging integrated reporting practices [8,[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]; some of them have focused on the application of the IIRC Framework's guiding principles [34][35][36][37] and users' benefits [26,38].…”

The integrated reporting of financial, social and sustainability capitals: a critical review and appraisal

“…However, some entities, out of their own volition, are already incorporating ESG information in their integrated reports (Perego et al, 2016;Churet & Eccles, 2014;Eccles & Krzus, 2010;Adams & Larrinaga-González, 2007). Recently, Camodeca and Almici (2017) have explored the content of the integrated disclosures of Italian listed companies. The authors featured material areas on commercial responsibility, including; "service quality and customer 13 satisfaction", "marketing and communications", "strategic risk", "responsible finance", "performance management", "staff training", "industrial relations", "remuneration and incentive policies", "work-life balance", and "research and innovation", among others (p.131).…”