An in-depth, enlightening look at the integrated reporting movementThe Integrated Reporting Movement explores the meaning of the concept, explains the forces that provide momentum to the associated movement, and examines the motives of the actors involved. The book posits integrated reporting as a key mechanism by which companies can ensure their own long-term sustainability by contributing to a sustainable society. Although integrated reporting has seen substantial development due to the support of companies, investors, and the initiatives of a number of NGOs, widespread regulatory intervention has yet to materialize. Outside of South Africa, adoption remains voluntary, accomplished via social movement abetted, to varying degrees, by market forces. In considering integrated reporting's current state of play, the authors provide guidance to ensure wider adoption of the practice and success of the movement, starting with how companies can improve their own reporting processes. But the support of investors, regulators, and NGOs is also important. All will benefit, as will society as a whole.Readers will learn how integrated reporting has evolved over the years, where frameworks and standards are today, and the practices that help ensure effective implementation--including, but not limited to an extensive discussion of information technology's role in reporting and the importance of corporate reporting websites. The authors introduce the concepts of an annual board of directors' "Statement of Significant Audiences and Materiality" and a "Sustainable Value Matrix" tool that translates the statement into management decisions. The book argues that the appropriate combination of market and regulatory forces to speed adoption will vary by country, concluding with four specific recommendations about what must be done to accelerate high quality adoption of integrated reporting around the world.

Foreword ixPreface xiiiAcknowledgments xviiChapter 1: South Africa 1The Uniqueness of South Africa 2South Africa's Journey to Integrated Reporting 3South African Assessment of the South African Experience 10Our Reflections on the South African Experience 18Notes 18Chapter 2: Meaning 31Company Experimentation: Examples from the First Integrated Reports 32Expert Commentary: The First Reflections on Integrated Reporting 40Codification: Creating Common Meaning 44Notes 51Chapter 3: Momentum 59Adoption 61Accelerators 63Awareness 78Notes 80Chapter 4: Motives 97Companies 98Audience 102Supporting Organizations and Initiatives 106Regulators 107Service Providers 109Notes 111Chapter 5: Materiality 119The Social Construction of Materiality 120Materiality in Environmental Reporting 122Comparing Different Definitions of Materiality 123Audience 127Governance 129Materiality for Integrated Reporting 132Notes 134Chapter 6: The Sustainable Value Matrix 147A Short History of the Materiality Matrix 147Issues with the Matrix 150The Current State of Materiality Matrices 152From the Materiality Matrix to the Sustainable Value Matrix 157Notes 165Appendix 6A: Comparing the Ford and Daimler Materiality Matrices 173Notes 177Appendix 6B: Methodology for the Materiality Matrices Review 179Note 189Chapter 7: Report Quality 191The Six Capitals 192Content Elements 194Special Factors 200Assurance 207Notes 209Appendix 7A: Methodology for Analyzing 124 Company Integrated Reports 221Notes 223Chapter 8: Reporting Websites 225Methodology 226Website Category Analysis 227Website Feature Analysis 233Three Examples 241Notes 246Appendix 8A: Methodology for Website Coding 253Chapter 9: Information Technology 261Integrated Reporting Processes 262Four IT Trends 265Contextual Reporting 269(World Market Basket) 271Notes 274Chapter 10: Four Recommendations 281A Very Brief History of Financial Reporting 282Balancing Experimentation and Codification 283Balancing Market and Regulatory Forces 285Greater Advocacy from the Accounting Community 287Achieving Clarity Regarding the Roles of Key Organizations 289A Possible Scenario 290Final Reflection 292Notes 292About the Authors 299Index 301