The influence of institutional factors on corporate narratives: A thematic content analysis of Guinness

Abstract

This article provides a thematic content analysis of the Chairman’s Statement of Arthur Guinness & Son Ltd over time. The analysis traces the evolution of the content over four distinct periods using a coding scheme developed from extant research. The objective is to study whether the corporate narratives change in line with the institutional factors over time. To interpret the results, we draw on an institutional theory–based lens to offer potential explanations of some of the change and also of stability. Institutions can not only constrain behaviour but also support and empower agents to bring about change. The results of the longitudinal content analysis reveal some variations over time, but in general the content is relatively stable. This may be explained by the organisation itself being an institution that is sufficiently institutionalised so that corporate reporting remained relatively stable. This suggests Guinness may be an example of a strong institution over time.

Non-IFRS and changes in accounting institutions – Lessons from Nokia

“…We call for additional research on understanding these ‘true and fair views’ or impressions in reporting (see also Moreno et al, 2019). We also suggest more institutionally oriented research on accounting (see also Gervais and Quinn, 2016; Moreno and Quinn, 2020), specifically on the responses to institutional demands in contexts of failure. Future research might view the developments of separate accounting professions (e.g.…”

“…We contribute, first, to earlier literature on institutionalised developments in accounting relevance and reliability (see Currall and Epstein, 2003; Greenwood et al, 2011; Liguori, 2012; Pratt and Foreman, 2000; Suddaby et al, 2015), and second, to longitudinal historical institutional work (Gervais and Quinn, 2016; Moreno and Quinn, 2020) on accounting change: We argue that valourizing some new primary accounting measure (Agostino and Arnaboldi, 2020; Länsiluoto et al, 2013; Quinn, 2014) and the actions, the context-specific institutional work related to this (e.g. the heroic work and leading through example in each situation), is an effective way to create accounting and identity changes.…”

“…In this article, we analysed the changes in accounting focus with an illustration of the Nokia case from 1992 to 2021. We also depict legitimacy of accounting (with reliability and relevance dimensions, see Figure 1), and the changes between periods of perceived success and failure through the lenses of contingency theory (Covaleski et al, 1996; Otley, 2016) and historical institutionalist research (Gervais and Quinn, 2016; Moreno and Quinn, 2020), particularly through the concept of institutional work (Canning and O’Dwyer, 2016; Lawrence and Suddaby, 2006).…”

“…Institutions are often changed through key individuals’ actions (see e.g. Hiebl et al, 2015; Moreno and Quinn, 2020). Recently, however, the role and efforts of individual actors at the grass-root level of operations in changing institutionalised practices has been focused on in accounting research by using the concept of institutional work (Canning and O’Dwyer, 2016; Lawrence and Suddaby, 2006; Lawrence et al, 2011; Suddaby et al, 2015).…”

“…Recent research has explored the role of accounting in institutional changes historically (e.g., Gervais and Quinn, 2016; Hiebl et al, 2015; Moreno and Quinn, 2020; Quinn and Jackson, 2014). This study, however, focuses on the changing accounting emphasis between FA and MA and the changing perceptions of accounting relevance and reliability during periods of perceived organisational success and failure, taking as our case organisation the Nokia corporation.…”