Stakeholder Engagement in Sustainability Reporting: Evidence of Reputation Risk Management in Large Australian Companies

Ardiana, P.A.

Abstract

The objective of this research is to examine whether stakeholder engagement in sustainability reporting constitutes the process of managing reputation risks. This research utilises Shrives and Brennan’s (2017) framework of rhetorical strategies of non-compliance to obtain empirical evidence of reputation risk management in the context of stakeholder engagement in sustainability reporting. Quantitative and qualitative methods of content analysis were undertaken on 154 sustainability disclosures in both annual reports and sustainability reports of large Australian companies. This research finds that large Australian companies engage with their stakeholders to manage reputation risks: to increase market share and pre-empt social issues. It is evident that large Australian companies use several forms of rhetorical statements in their sustainability disclosures with respect to reputation risk management efforts. However, there is no evidence that they shirk responsibilities.

Citation

Ardiana, P. (2019). Stakeholder Engagement in Sustainability Reporting: Evidence of Reputation Risk Management in Large Australian Companies. Australian Accounting Review, 29(4), 726-747. https://doi.org/10.1111/auar.12293

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 15, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Sep 8, 2019
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2019
• Deposit Date: Sep 26, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 8, 2021
• Journal: Australian Accounting Review
• Print ISSN: 1035-6908
• Electronic ISSN: 1835-2561
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 726-747
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/auar.12293
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1285003