Exploring integrated reporting in the banking industry: the multiple capitals approach
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the engagement with integrated reporting (IR) of the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), as one of the banks that pioneered IR. Banking industry members face critical sector-specific issues regarding the use of capitals, especially the disclosure of relational and natural capital-related information, and reporting of the outcomes of capitals. This study examines an innovative approach to accounting for multiple capitals adopted by DBS during its journey toward IR.
Design/methodology/approach
This empirical research follows the case study method, using semi-structured interviews with DBS’s managers, and analyzing reports and other documentation.
Findings
The authors find that DBS re-conceptualizes, re-categorizes and measures multiple capitals as a form of non-financial value using the balance sheet approach to make visible the interactions and potential tensions (trade-offs) among capitals.
Research limitations/implications
Case studies are best used to understand a specific context, so the findings of this study cannot be generalized statistically. However, the study does provide insights into the banking industry that may be applicable to other organizations.
Practical implications
The categorization and reporting of multiple capitals using the balance sheet approach and the integration of the balanced scorecard are innovative operationalizations of the International <IR> Framework.
Originality/value
This study provides an innovative approach to the categorization and measurement of multiple capitals. It represents a step toward reducing the gap between research and practice on IR.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
A preliminary version of this paper was presented by the authors at the 28th International Congress on Social and Environmental Accounting Research, August 23–25, 2016, University of St Andrews, Scotland. The authors would like to thank all participants at the 28th International Congress on Social and Environmental Accounting Research, August 2016, University of St Andrews, Scotland for their comments and suggestions. The authors sincerely appreciate the time and useful comments given by anonymous reviewers. A special thank furthermore goes to the Guest Editor, Professor Subhash Abhayawansa, for his invaluable support during the review process and to the Editor, Professor Merrill Warkentin. Finally, a special thank goes to the DBS Group top and middle management.
Erratum: It has been brought to the attention of the publisher that the article “Exploring integrated reporting in the banking industry: the multiple capitals approach” Doni, F., Larsen, M., Bianchi, M.S. and Corvino, A. (2019), published in Journal of Intellectual Capital, was excluded from the special issue “Extending intellectual capital through integrated reporting” due to an editorial error.
The article has now been included in Journal of Intellectual Capital, Vol. 20, Issue 1. When citing the article, the citation should be given as Federica Doni, Mikkel Larsen, Silvio Bianchi Martini and Antonio Corvino, (2019) “Exploring integrated reporting in the banking industry: the multiple capitals approach”, Journal of Intellectual Capital, Vol. 20 No. 1, https://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-11-2017-0146.
Emerald sincerely apologises to the authors for any inconvenience caused.
Citation
Doni, F., Larsen, M., Bianchi Martini, S. and Corvino, A. (2019), "Exploring integrated reporting in the banking industry: the multiple capitals approach", Journal of Intellectual Capital, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 165-188. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-11-2017-0146
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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