Purpose

This study aims to provide insights into the poorly understood concept of integrated thinking by comparing and contrasting disclosures related to integrated thinking provided in integrated reports in two different institutional settings.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses content analysis of the narrative sections of integrated reports to explore similarities and differences in the way the concept of integrated thinking is portrayed. It uses a matched sample of financial services companies in two different institutional settings, South Africa (where integrated reporting (IR) is mandatory and IR practices are world-leading) and Japan (where IR is voluntary and interest in IR is still developing). IR adoption is viewed through the lens of institutional theory, focussing on isomorphic forces which affect companies’ structure, policies and practices.

Findings

Even though the conceptualisation of integrated thinking differs between South Africa and Japan, in both settings there is a strong association between integrated thinking disclosures and corporate governance practices, materiality assessments and the pursuit of an industry leadership position, suggesting a link between these concepts and the underlying level of integrated thinking. Japanese disclosures appear to mimic South African disclosures, highlighting South Africa’s leading role in IR, although Japan shows more varied interpretations of integrated thinking.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the growing body of literature on the poorly understood concept of integrated thinking, responding to calls from both academics and practitioners for more research in this area. It shows the potential for integrated thinking to develop through a process of mimicry and highlights South Africa’s leading role in the dissemination of best practice in the field. Its findings relating to the fluid conceptualisation of integrated thinking in different institutional settings will be of interest to regulators and practitioners. To the knowledge this is one of the first studies to consider disclosures relating to integrated thinking in the financial services sector. Focussing on the financial services sector, with its unique features and regulatory frameworks, allows for deeper analysis, free from the potential distortions inherent in studying a broader cross-section of industries. The study also highlights the importance of corporate governance to integrated thinking, suggesting future research avenues.

中文翻译：

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南非和日本综合报告中关于综合思维的叙述性披露的见解

目的

本研究旨在通过比较和对比两个不同机构环境中综合报告中提供的与综合思维相关的披露，提供对综合思维概念知之甚少的见解。

设计/方法/方法

该研究使用对综合报告叙述部分的内容分析来探讨综合思维概念描绘方式的异同。它在两个不同的机构环境中使用了金融服务公司的匹配样本，南非（综合报告 (IR) 是强制性的，IR 实践是世界领先的）和日本（IR 是自愿的，对 IR 的兴趣仍在发展）。通过制度理论的视角来看待 IR 的采用，重点关注影响公司结构、政策和实践的同构力量。

发现

尽管南非和日本对综合思维的概念化有所不同，但在这两种情况下，综合思维披露与公司治理实践、重要性评估和对行业领导地位的追求之间存在很强的关联，表明这些概念与综合思维的底层。日本的披露似乎模仿了南非的披露，突出了南非在 IR 中的主导作用，尽管日本对综合思维表现出更多不同的解释。

原创性/价值

这项研究为越来越多的关于整合思维概念知之甚少的文献做出了贡献，响应了学术界和从业者在该领域进行更多研究的呼吁。它展示了通过模仿过程发展综合思维的潜力，并突出了南非在传播该领域最佳实践方面的领导作用。其有关不同机构环境中综合思维的流动概念化的发现将引起监管者和从业者的兴趣。据了解，这是最早考虑与金融服务部门综合思维相关的披露的研究之一。专注于金融服务行业，以其独特的功能和监管框架，可以进行更深入的分析，免于研究更广泛的行业领域所固有的潜在扭曲。该研究还强调了公司治理对综合思维的重要性，提出了未来的研究途径。