The disclosure of the materiality process in sustainability reporting by Spanish state-owned enterprises

Purpose – This paper aims to assess the disclosure of the materiality process in the preparation of sustainability reports of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). This paper also explores the effects of regulation mandating that SOEs prepare sustainability reports. In the specific case of port authoritie...

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Authors: Ruiz-Lozano, Mercedes, Vicente Lama, Marta De, Tirado Valencia, Pilar, Cordobés Madueño, Magdalena
Format: article
Publication Date:2022
Country:España
Institution:Universidad Loyola Andalucía
Repository:Brújula
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.uloyola.es:20.500.12412/5163
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12412/5163
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Materiality process, Sustainability reporting, State-owned enterprises (SOEs), Institutional theory, Legitimacy theory, Stakeholder theory
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spelling The disclosure of the materiality process in sustainability reporting by Spanish state-owned enterprisesRuiz-Lozano, MercedesVicente Lama, Marta DeTirado Valencia, PilarCordobés Madueño, MagdalenaMateriality process, Sustainability reporting, State-owned enterprises (SOEs), Institutional theory, Legitimacy theory, Stakeholder theoryPurpose – This paper aims to assess the disclosure of the materiality process in the preparation of sustainability reports of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). This paper also explores the effects of regulation mandating that SOEs prepare sustainability reports. In the specific case of port authorities, the study analyses the influence of a sector guideline that determines what should be included and the structure of the report. Another aim of this paper is to delve into SOE’s motivations for disclosing information on materiality assessments, using the assumptions of the different theories to explain their reporting practices. Design/methodology/approach – Using a sample of SOEs sustainability reports, a content analysis is undertaken. The methodology involves the analysis of the information disclosed by SOEs in Spain and the development of a materiality disclosure index. This index enables sampled entities to be classified on a scale of 0–5, based on the extent of their disclosures of the materiality determination process. This study also identifies several variables that explain differences in these disclosures. Findings – A low rate of information disclosed about the materiality process can be attributed to the desire of SOEs to create symbolic legitimacy. In a context where the disclosure of sustainability information is mandatory, only few organisations apply the principle of materiality to define the content of their sustainability reports. These results highlight that institutional isomorphism has only had a limited effect on the materiality process. Research limitations/implications – Limitations associated with the sample size and composition of the sample by sector apply. Practical implications – This research shows that generally accepted reporting guidelines constitute a reference framework for sustainability reporting but that the principles underpinning these frameworks are not always implemented. Originality/value – This study extends the literature on the implementation of the principle of materiality and uses disclosure theories to explain the actual reporting by SOEs of their materiality process.2022info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12412/5163reponame:Brújulainstname:Universidad Loyola AndalucíaInglésinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:repositorio.uloyola.es:20.500.12412/51632026-06-24T12:48:37Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv The disclosure of the materiality process in sustainability reporting by Spanish state-owned enterprises
title The disclosure of the materiality process in sustainability reporting by Spanish state-owned enterprises
spellingShingle The disclosure of the materiality process in sustainability reporting by Spanish state-owned enterprises
Ruiz-Lozano, Mercedes
Materiality process, Sustainability reporting, State-owned enterprises (SOEs), Institutional theory, Legitimacy theory, Stakeholder theory
title_short The disclosure of the materiality process in sustainability reporting by Spanish state-owned enterprises
title_full The disclosure of the materiality process in sustainability reporting by Spanish state-owned enterprises
title_fullStr The disclosure of the materiality process in sustainability reporting by Spanish state-owned enterprises
title_full_unstemmed The disclosure of the materiality process in sustainability reporting by Spanish state-owned enterprises
title_sort The disclosure of the materiality process in sustainability reporting by Spanish state-owned enterprises
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Ruiz-Lozano, Mercedes
Vicente Lama, Marta De
Tirado Valencia, Pilar
Cordobés Madueño, Magdalena
author Ruiz-Lozano, Mercedes
author_facet Ruiz-Lozano, Mercedes
Vicente Lama, Marta De
Tirado Valencia, Pilar
Cordobés Madueño, Magdalena
author_role author
author2 Vicente Lama, Marta De
Tirado Valencia, Pilar
Cordobés Madueño, Magdalena
author2_role author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Materiality process, Sustainability reporting, State-owned enterprises (SOEs), Institutional theory, Legitimacy theory, Stakeholder theory
topic Materiality process, Sustainability reporting, State-owned enterprises (SOEs), Institutional theory, Legitimacy theory, Stakeholder theory
description Purpose – This paper aims to assess the disclosure of the materiality process in the preparation of sustainability reports of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). This paper also explores the effects of regulation mandating that SOEs prepare sustainability reports. In the specific case of port authorities, the study analyses the influence of a sector guideline that determines what should be included and the structure of the report. Another aim of this paper is to delve into SOE’s motivations for disclosing information on materiality assessments, using the assumptions of the different theories to explain their reporting practices. Design/methodology/approach – Using a sample of SOEs sustainability reports, a content analysis is undertaken. The methodology involves the analysis of the information disclosed by SOEs in Spain and the development of a materiality disclosure index. This index enables sampled entities to be classified on a scale of 0–5, based on the extent of their disclosures of the materiality determination process. This study also identifies several variables that explain differences in these disclosures. Findings – A low rate of information disclosed about the materiality process can be attributed to the desire of SOEs to create symbolic legitimacy. In a context where the disclosure of sustainability information is mandatory, only few organisations apply the principle of materiality to define the content of their sustainability reports. These results highlight that institutional isomorphism has only had a limited effect on the materiality process. Research limitations/implications – Limitations associated with the sample size and composition of the sample by sector apply. Practical implications – This research shows that generally accepted reporting guidelines constitute a reference framework for sustainability reporting but that the principles underpinning these frameworks are not always implemented. Originality/value – This study extends the literature on the implementation of the principle of materiality and uses disclosure theories to explain the actual reporting by SOEs of their materiality process.
publishDate 2022
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2022
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12412/5163
url https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12412/5163
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Brújula
instname:Universidad Loyola Andalucía
instname_str Universidad Loyola Andalucía
reponame_str Brújula
collection Brújula
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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