Ibrahim M. Shaluf, Fakharul‐razi Ahmadun, Sa’ari Mustapha, Aini Mat Said and Rashid Sharif
The fireworks industry is a dangerous business. Many disasters occur due to manufacturing and use of fireworks. It has been recorded that there have been 15 disasters resulting…
Abstract
The fireworks industry is a dangerous business. Many disasters occur due to manufacturing and use of fireworks. It has been recorded that there have been 15 disasters resulting from fireworks worldwide. Malaysia has experienced such tragedies through a fire and explosion of Bright Sparklers fireworks factory. This paper summarizes the sequence of events which led to the Bright Sparkler disaster and proposes some lessons which could be learned from the experience.
Ibrahim M. Shaluf, Fakharul‐razi Ahmadun, Aini Mat Said, Sa’ari Mustapha and Rashid Sharif
Major hazard organizations are dealing with hazardous material exceeding the threshold quantity. Major hazard organizations are relatively secure areas and cannot fail from single…
Abstract
Major hazard organizations are dealing with hazardous material exceeding the threshold quantity. Major hazard organizations are relatively secure areas and cannot fail from single error. However, failure of an organization to control hazardous material usually results in a technological man‐made disaster. The conditions preceding the onset of technological man‐made disaster are collectively called the technological man‐made disaster precondition phase “incubation period”. A model has been developed representing the technological man‐made disaster pre‐condition phase where it focuses on the origin of the technological man‐made disaster. The model was based on detailed analysis of four technological man‐made disasters at major hazard installations in Malaysia.
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Esam Emad Ghassab, Carol Ann Tilt and Kathyayini Kathy Rao
Drawing on new insights from the perspectives and experiences of board members, the purpose of this study is to determine the board attributes that influence board roles in…
Abstract
Drawing on new insights from the perspectives and experiences of board members, the purpose of this study is to determine the board attributes that influence board roles in improving the integration of corporate social responsibility (CSR) into corporate governance structures. In total, 10 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with directors of listed Jordanian companies to explore their perceptions of the effect of board of directors' composition on CSR and CSR disclosure (CSRD). The key findings show that boards with a diverse range of directors is essential independent/nonexecutive members, directors with business and/or accounting backgrounds, and foreign members to determine if they aim to better manage their CSR. To take CSR to the next level in the Arab region, we need to strengthen corporate governance mechanisms, and put more pressures on companies to make changes in board composition. For example, we suggest that companies that appoint business-educated and foreign members to their boards tend to engage in more impactful social and environmental-related activities and reflect their sustainable development more effectively. The study responds to calls for further research adopting qualitative methods, such as case studies and interviews in order to obtain a complete and in-depth understanding of the influence of board composition on CSR/CSRD. The findings provide useful insights for practice, policymakers, and future research.
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Dominik Dienes, Remmer Sassen and Jasmin Fischer
The purpose of this paper is to systematise the research field of sustainability reporting. The authors contribute to closing this research gap and, on the basis of this…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to systematise the research field of sustainability reporting. The authors contribute to closing this research gap and, on the basis of this systematisation, address the research question of what are the drivers of sustainability reporting.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper systematically reviews existing studies and analyses drivers of sustainability reporting using a qualitative approach. The authors intend to demonstrate and discuss the wide range of approaches used in literature.
Findings
The review suggests that firm size, media visibility and ownership structure are the most important drivers of the disclosure of sustainability reports, while corporate governance only seems to have an influence on the existence of audit or sustainability committees. In contrast, other determinants such as profitability, capital structure, firm age or board composition as an indicator of corporate governance do not show a clear tendency.
Originality/value
The authors systemise the research field related to sustainability reporting to give an overview of the current research landscape that is not influenced by environmental or social reporting and discuss the identified determinants and the related variables. This results in a comprehensive report of what is known and unknown about the questions addressed in the systematic review.
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Filippo Vitolla, Nicola Raimo, Michele Rubino and Antonello Garzoni
This study aims to investigate the financial and country-level determinants of integrated reporting quality in the financial industry. Specifically, this study analyses the impact…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the financial and country-level determinants of integrated reporting quality in the financial industry. Specifically, this study analyses the impact of profitability, size, leverage and civil law system on the integrated reporting quality.
Design/methodology/approach
Hypotheses were tested using a regression model on a sample of 87 financial institutions. An integrated reporting (IR)-quality scoreboard was used to measure report quality.
Findings
The results show that IR quality is significantly and positively influenced by profitability, size, financial leverage and the civil law system.
Practical implications
The results have particularly important implications for large, profitable financial institutions that make greater use of financial leverage and that are localized in non-civil law countries. Managers should increase transparency by expanding the content and quality of the information contained in the integrated reports.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by revealing several financial factors that influence IR quality. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate IR quality in the context of the financial industry.
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Md. Abdur Rouf and Md. Alamgir Hossan
The purpose of this study is to provide a profound understanding of the nature and extent of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in the annual report by the listed…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to provide a profound understanding of the nature and extent of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in the annual report by the listed banking sectors in Bangladesh for examining the effect of board size and board composition on CSR disclosure.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample selected of all the 30 listed banks enlisted in the Dhaka Stock Exchange and the study used a content analysis approach. An ordinary least square regression model is fitted to the data for assessing the effect of independent variables on the total CSR disclosure score. An un-weighted approach has been used for this study.
Findings
The results of the study demonstrate that the extent of CSR disclosure of listed banks in Bangladesh varies from 11.11% to 73.33%, and on average, they report 45.37% and 43.44%, respectively. Moreover, the study observed a significant relationship between the proportion of female directors and CSR disclosure. Conversely, board size has been found no significant relationship with the CSR disclosure but the proportion of independent directors has been found a significant relationship with the CSR disclosure in the annual report by the listed banking sectors in Bangladesh.
Social implications
The study is expected to get a maximum scenario of CSR disclosure of banking sectors in Bangladesh. Government and other regulatory bodies can also get full information concerning CSR disclosure practices for formulating guidelines in this regard. If the Government of Bangladesh implicates the policies that the banks are to nominate a required number of female directors to boards, the consideration of the significant number of female directors and their power will be able to protect the interests of different stakeholder groups notably.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the CSR literature as it presents empirical evidence of the effects of board size and board composition on the CSR disclosure of banking sectors in developing countries such as Bangladesh.
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Husam Ananzeh, Hamzeh Al Amosh and Khaldoon Albitar
This paper aims to investigate whether and how better corporate governance practices can lead to philanthropic behavior among companies in the UK. In particular, this study…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate whether and how better corporate governance practices can lead to philanthropic behavior among companies in the UK. In particular, this study attempts to determine whether corporate governance quality in general, as well as its specific mechanisms, affects corporate giving.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis is based on a sample of Financial Times Stock Exchange All-Share nonfinancial companies. Data on firm donations, including donations amount and donations intensity, were manually collected from companies’ annual reports for the period 2018–2020. This paper uses panel data models to examine the research hypotheses.
Findings
The results of this study indicate that both donations amount and donations intensity are positively associated with the practice of better corporate governance. Board independence is positively associated with donations amount, but not with the intensity of donations. Furthermore, board size, board gender diversity and the establishment of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) committee are likely to have a positive impact on the amount and the intensity of firms’ donations. However, neither the chief executive officer board membership nor the audit committee’s independence is related to the firm’s donations.
Practical implications
This study sheds light on specific governance factors that affect firm donations in the context of UK companies. This allows regulators and legislators to evaluate the donations activities in the country and issue more directives to reinforce corporate governance practices that support corporate donations. In addition, the findings of this study are considered crucial to investors who prefer investing in companies with significant CSR-related activities to improve the value relevance of their investments.
Originality/value
This study provides a shred of unique evidence on the impact of corporate governance practices on firms’ donations.
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Md. Abdur Rouf and Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Faryan
This study examines, in relation to agency theory, the influence of corporate mechanism on the environmental reporting of banking businesses registered on the Dhaka Stock Exchange…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines, in relation to agency theory, the influence of corporate mechanism on the environmental reporting of banking businesses registered on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).
Design/methodology/approach
This study was carried out consuming an example of 150 annual reports from 30 banks for the period 2015–2019. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to investigate the inspiration of corporate governance on the range of inclusive environmental reporting.
Findings
The outcomes reveal that insider equity, board leadership structure, and presence of female directors are statistically significant, while board size and outside directors are insignificant. Furthermore, the results also indicate that the adoption of environmental disclosure among banking businesses in Bangladesh is extra motivated by an increase in the inside skills and moderately the outside acceptability weights. Additionally, there appears to be a supposed lack of stakeholder pressure for environmental disclosure.
Originality/value
The results show that the range of environmental reporting of banking businesses in Bangladesh is good, at an average of 53.90%. It concludes that corporate governance has a substantial inspiration on the range of environmental reporting of banking businesses in Bangladesh.
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Jonas da Silva Oliveira, Graça Maria do Carmo Azevedo and Maria José Pires Carvalho Silva
This study aims to explore the firm’s and country-level institutional forces that determine banks’ CSR reporting diversity, during the recent global financial crisis.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the firm’s and country-level institutional forces that determine banks’ CSR reporting diversity, during the recent global financial crisis.
Design/methodology/approach
Specifically, this study assesses whether economic and institutional conditions explain CSR disclosure strategies used by 30 listed and unlisted banks from six countries in the context of the recent 2007/2008 global financial crisis. The annual reports and social responsibility reports of the largest banks in Canada, the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal were content analyzed.
Findings
The findings suggest that economic factors do not influence CSR disclosure. Institutional factors associated with the legal environment, industry self-regulation and the organization’s commitments in maintaining a dialogue with relevant stakeholders are crucial elements in explaining CSR reporting. Consistent with the Dillard et al.’s (2004) model, CSR disclosure by banks not only stems from institutional legitimacy processes, but also from strategic ones.
Practical implications
The findings highlight the importance of CSR regulation to properly monitor manager’s’ opportunistic use of CSR information and regulate the assurance activities (regarding standards, their profession or even the scope of assurance) to guarantee the proper credibility reliability of CSR information.
Originality/value
The study makes two major contributions. First, it extends and modifies the model used by Chih et al. (2010). Second, drawn on the new institutional sociology, this study develops a theoretical framework that combines the multilevel model of the dynamic process of institutionalization, transposition and deinstitutionalization of organizational practices developed by Dillard et al. (2004) with Campbell’s (2007) theoretical framework of socially responsible behavior. This theoretical framework incorporates a more inclusive social context, aligned with a more comprehensive sociology-based institutional theory (Dillard et al., 2004; Campbell, 2007), which has never been used in the CSR reporting literature hitherto.
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Amer Al Fadli, John Sands, Gregory Jones, Claire Beattie and Domenico Pensiero
This study aims to investigate the influence of board independence on the level of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting in Jordan over time. The paper also compares…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the influence of board independence on the level of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting in Jordan over time. The paper also compares this level of influence between the pre- and post-issuance of the Jordanian corporate governance code (JCGC) in 2009.
Design/methodology/approach
Longitudinal data (panel data) from all non-financial listed companies on the Amman stock exchange for the period 2006-2015 was collected and analysed. The content analysis method was used to assess the CSR reporting evident in the annual reports. An ordinary least square regression was used to investigate the relationship between board independence and the level of CSR reporting.
Findings
The results revealed that board independence has a positive and significant influence on the level of CSR reporting. This influence became significantly stronger post the issuance of the corporate governance code in Jordan. The findings suggest that the presence of independent directors on the board encourages companies to report additional CSR information as one of the legitimation strategies to manage the expectations of stakeholder groups.
Research limitations/implications
This study provides motivation for regulators and companies to continue to improve board independence effectiveness.
Practical implications
The study supported evidence from prior studies, conducted the developed countries, that legitimacy theory is also applicable in Jordanian companies, which is a developing country. This study contributes to the debate and findings of the literature about governance and CSR reporting, specifically in the Middle East, as well as the potential of future studies in developing countries using a legitimacy theory as the basis for their investigations and motivation. This study provides evidence to motivate regulators and companies to improve, further, board independence effectiveness.
Originality/value
This empirical study has explored the potential influence of board independence on the level of CSR reporting in Jordan for JCGC pre- and post-issuance, which has not been examined previously and the findings for future studies in the Middle East region and other developing countries.