Integrating sustainability reporting into management practices

• Published in: Accounting forum Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 288 - 302
• Main Authors: Adams, Carol A., Frost, Geoffrey R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2008
• Subjects: Accounting; Australia; Companies; Corporate social responsibility; Corporate social responsibility (CSR); Decision-making; Evaluation; Great Britain; Key performance indicators; Key performance indicators (KPIs); Performance measurement; Social responsibility; Sustainability; Sustainability reporting; Sustainable development; Decision-making; Corporate social responsibility (CSR); Performance measurement; Sustainability reporting; Sustainability; Key performance indicators (KPIs)
• ISSN: 0155-9982; 1467-6303
• DOI: 10.1016/j.accfor.2008.05.002

This paper examines the process of developing key performance indicators (KPIs) for measuring sustainability performance and the way in which sustainability KPIs are used in decision-making, planning and performance management. Interviews were conducted with personnel from four British and three Australian companies. The findings indicate that the organisations are integrating environmental indicators, and increasingly also social indicators, into strategic planning, performance measurement and decision-making including risk management. However, the sustainability issues on which our sample focus and the management operations on which they impact vary considerably. This has implications for the development of practice, voluntary guidelines and legislation.