Application of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) in the sustainability reporting of financial services
MONTE, TOMAS (2009)
2009
Yrityksen taloustiede, laskentatoimi - Accounting and Finance
Kauppa- ja hallintotieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Economics and Administration
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2009-09-11
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-20031
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-20031
Tiivistelmä
Sustainability reporting refers to the process in which an organization gives an account of issues related to corporate sustainability over a particular reporting period. The report is meant for both internal and external use. Sustainability reporting gives information about the organization’s interactions with its social and ecological environment. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has pioneered the development of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting framework. GRI Reporting Framework is designed for use by organizations of any size, sector or location.
The importance of the research is due to the emerging trend and development of sustainability reporting. Moreover, GRI’s rapid rise to the most popular sustainability reporting tool makes it an interesting target worth of study. The present global economic state adds more current importance for the study. As the economic crisis deepens, observers are watching closely to see whether companies will stick to their sustainability commitments. Financial services, often claimed as the catalyst for the current financial crisis, are under many watchful and critical eyes.
The purpose of the research is to find out how financial services report sustainability issues according to GRI. The research problem includes both a theoretical and an empirical perspective. GRI and its applications are covered in the sense of how financial services should report sustainability according to GRI. On the other hand, the research is trying to find out how financial services are applying GRI in their sustainability reporting. Hermeneutics and content analysis are the main research methods used in the study in order to find answers to the research problem. A comprehensive case study is used as a tool to find specific information about GRI based sustainability reports of financial services.
The key findings of the research cover many aspects of GRI based reporting by financial services. During the ten year existence of GRI, the number of reporting financial services has grown rapidly. GRI based reporting amongst financial services is a global phenomenon with companies reporting from every continent of the globe. Different kind of financial services are reporting differently: the extent and focus of reporting varies between organizations of different size and geographical location. The application levels system is causing confusion for both the reporting organization and to the report user.
Asiasanat:Sustainability reporting, CSR reporting, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), financial services, Financial Services Sector Supplement
The importance of the research is due to the emerging trend and development of sustainability reporting. Moreover, GRI’s rapid rise to the most popular sustainability reporting tool makes it an interesting target worth of study. The present global economic state adds more current importance for the study. As the economic crisis deepens, observers are watching closely to see whether companies will stick to their sustainability commitments. Financial services, often claimed as the catalyst for the current financial crisis, are under many watchful and critical eyes.
The purpose of the research is to find out how financial services report sustainability issues according to GRI. The research problem includes both a theoretical and an empirical perspective. GRI and its applications are covered in the sense of how financial services should report sustainability according to GRI. On the other hand, the research is trying to find out how financial services are applying GRI in their sustainability reporting. Hermeneutics and content analysis are the main research methods used in the study in order to find answers to the research problem. A comprehensive case study is used as a tool to find specific information about GRI based sustainability reports of financial services.
The key findings of the research cover many aspects of GRI based reporting by financial services. During the ten year existence of GRI, the number of reporting financial services has grown rapidly. GRI based reporting amongst financial services is a global phenomenon with companies reporting from every continent of the globe. Different kind of financial services are reporting differently: the extent and focus of reporting varies between organizations of different size and geographical location. The application levels system is causing confusion for both the reporting organization and to the report user.
Asiasanat:Sustainability reporting, CSR reporting, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), financial services, Financial Services Sector Supplement