The integrated reporting debate has led many people to think that integrated reporting means producing just a single consolidated report in place of stand-alone sustainability and annual reports.
The launch of the integrated reporting framework is set to herald a new era in the relationship between business, society and the environment and elevate sustainability thinking to the boardroom.
The integrated reporting process generated both internal and external benefits.
Accordingly, the choice to implement the integrated reporting is tied to the will to disclose its value proposition and the effects of its strategy of value creation (Bebbington 2007; Simaens and Koster 2013).
Namely, an action research approach has been adopted, being the researcher part of the same group involved in releasing a guidance for the implementation of the integrated reporting process in small and medium-sized companies (Del Baldo 2017b).
The integrated reporting path has been developing within the Industrial 2015 2020 plan and is oriented to implementing the principle of integrated thinking, improve connectivity among the dimensions of the business models, enhancing disclosure, monitor performance and strengthening stakeholder engagement on sustainable strategic issues and objectives (Table 5 and Graph 1).
Second, Costa Edutainment has been included among the Italian pivotal companies that, within the Italian Network for Business Reporting (an organization that, in turn, is part of the World Intellectual Capital Initiative and collaborates with the Integrated International Reporting Council – IIRC), started the implementation of the integrated reporting process.
The qualitative results attributed this success to the integrated reporting system adapted at the inception of IDSR in 2000, the multiple communication channels (radio call, telephone, fax and internet) between the district and national level, and the increased technical support at the start up of IDSR.
The good news is that integrated reporting is happening.
This is important not just for credibility, but also because of the forward-looking nature of an integrated report and the requirement to identify which governance body is responsible for its content. 5. Get agreement on your reporting package.
