Emerging phenomenon of corporate social and environmental reporting in China

Autor: Shengli Yu, Anna Rowe
Rok vydání: 2017
Předmět:
Zdroj: Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal. 8:386-415
ISSN: 2040-8021
DOI: 10.1108/sampj-09-2016-0064
Popis: Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the motivations underpinning recent evolving corporate social and environmental reporting (CSER) among enterprises in China through the lenses of senior managers. Design/methodology/approach Using the interpretive tenets of engagement research, semi-structured in-depth interviews were adopted to explore the perceptions of senior managers from 21 large companies in various industries. The aim is to make sense of the emerging CSER phenomenon occurring in the field through engagement, observation and penetrating interviews. Findings The findings identify the main enablers driving CSER in China as: regulations and government influence; management awareness; benefits to company image; peer pressure/reporting by peers and public pressure on controversial companies. Guided by a system-based theoretical framework in terms of motivations for CSER, this study offers insights into the effectiveness of using widely adopted Western-based theoretical approaches in a Chinese context where companies operate against a different socio-economic, political, regulatory and cultural backdrop. Research limitations/implications The deep-rooted face (Mianzi) culture has the potential to influence managers to portray a positive image about their companies and themselves. Originality/value This engagement-based study is one of the few initiatives exploring managerial perceptions of CSER in China that adds to the scant literature pertaining to rich “emic” data in accounting, encompassing cultural influence by applying systems-oriented theoretical framework. The stimulus for CSER identified are useful for regulators and organizations to better comprehend how to set effective policies that promote CSER and fit the distinctive institutional characteristics of China.
Databáze: OpenAIRE