Disclosure of the six capitals in strategy, risk and performance sections: Evidence from South Africa

Purpose: This article assesses the integration of multi-capitals in the strategy, risk and performance disclosures in 240 integrated reports of 30 South African-listed companies between 2013 and 2020. Design/methodology/approach: A disclosure checklist is developed interpretively, based on prior li...

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Main Authors: Amy C.R. Steenkamp, Warren Maroun, Nirupa Padia, Dusan Ecim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2025-01-01
Series:South African Journal of Business Management
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/4719
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author Amy C.R. Steenkamp
Warren Maroun
Nirupa Padia
Dusan Ecim
author_facet Amy C.R. Steenkamp
Warren Maroun
Nirupa Padia
Dusan Ecim
author_sort Amy C.R. Steenkamp
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: This article assesses the integration of multi-capitals in the strategy, risk and performance disclosures in 240 integrated reports of 30 South African-listed companies between 2013 and 2020. Design/methodology/approach: A disclosure checklist is developed interpretively, based on prior literature dealing with integrated reporting and thinking. A qualitative content analysis was conducted to evaluate the level of detail of multi-capital disclosures in the strategy, risk and performance sections of the sampled companies’ integrated reports. Descriptive trends are discussed, and non-parametric tests were conducted to explore associations between the grouping variables (year, industry and market capitalisation) and level of detail and capital presence, respectively. Findings/results: Companies are increasingly adopting a multi-capital approach to risk management, decision-making, strategies and operations and are disclosing the inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes in their integrated reports. The disclosure of multi-capital outcomes increases as an integrated logic takes hold in the companies. Significant positive associations were evident between the level of detail and the grouping variables. On average, companies included between four and six capitals in all integrated report sections. Financial capital and social and relationship capital were most prominent. Natural capital was the least referenced. Practical implications: This article provides companies with a practical method to evaluate and enhance their integrated reporting strategies focussing on a holistic adoption of multi-capitals in strategy, risk and performance sections. Originality/value: The longitudinal nature of the study, can add to the growing body of research on integrated thinking and reporting, particularly from a developing economy perspective.
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issn 2078-5585
2078-5976
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spelling doaj-art-a0b4c36cd3f24c099ef94293a7be8c372025-02-11T13:27:04ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Business Management2078-55852078-59762025-01-01561e1e1510.4102/sajbm.v56i1.47191435Disclosure of the six capitals in strategy, risk and performance sections: Evidence from South AfricaAmy C.R. Steenkamp0Warren Maroun1Nirupa Padia2Dusan Ecim3School of Accountancy, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgSchool of Accountancy, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgSchool of Accountancy, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgSchool of Accountancy, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgPurpose: This article assesses the integration of multi-capitals in the strategy, risk and performance disclosures in 240 integrated reports of 30 South African-listed companies between 2013 and 2020. Design/methodology/approach: A disclosure checklist is developed interpretively, based on prior literature dealing with integrated reporting and thinking. A qualitative content analysis was conducted to evaluate the level of detail of multi-capital disclosures in the strategy, risk and performance sections of the sampled companies’ integrated reports. Descriptive trends are discussed, and non-parametric tests were conducted to explore associations between the grouping variables (year, industry and market capitalisation) and level of detail and capital presence, respectively. Findings/results: Companies are increasingly adopting a multi-capital approach to risk management, decision-making, strategies and operations and are disclosing the inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes in their integrated reports. The disclosure of multi-capital outcomes increases as an integrated logic takes hold in the companies. Significant positive associations were evident between the level of detail and the grouping variables. On average, companies included between four and six capitals in all integrated report sections. Financial capital and social and relationship capital were most prominent. Natural capital was the least referenced. Practical implications: This article provides companies with a practical method to evaluate and enhance their integrated reporting strategies focussing on a holistic adoption of multi-capitals in strategy, risk and performance sections. Originality/value: The longitudinal nature of the study, can add to the growing body of research on integrated thinking and reporting, particularly from a developing economy perspective.https://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/4719integrated reportingintegrated thinkingmulti-capitalstrategyriskperformance
spellingShingle Amy C.R. Steenkamp
Warren Maroun
Nirupa Padia
Dusan Ecim
Disclosure of the six capitals in strategy, risk and performance sections: Evidence from South Africa
South African Journal of Business Management
integrated reporting
integrated thinking
multi-capital
strategy
risk
performance
title Disclosure of the six capitals in strategy, risk and performance sections: Evidence from South Africa
title_full Disclosure of the six capitals in strategy, risk and performance sections: Evidence from South Africa
title_fullStr Disclosure of the six capitals in strategy, risk and performance sections: Evidence from South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Disclosure of the six capitals in strategy, risk and performance sections: Evidence from South Africa
title_short Disclosure of the six capitals in strategy, risk and performance sections: Evidence from South Africa
title_sort disclosure of the six capitals in strategy risk and performance sections evidence from south africa
topic integrated reporting
integrated thinking
multi-capital
strategy
risk
performance
url https://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/4719
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AT warrenmaroun disclosureofthesixcapitalsinstrategyriskandperformancesectionsevidencefromsouthafrica
AT nirupapadia disclosureofthesixcapitalsinstrategyriskandperformancesectionsevidencefromsouthafrica
AT dusanecim disclosureofthesixcapitalsinstrategyriskandperformancesectionsevidencefromsouthafrica