This study examines the differences in corporate social reporting between public and private sector companies in India. The study analyzed 120 companies, stratified by ownership, to compare their corporate social reporting practices. An ANOVA test revealed that public sector companies disclosed significantly more social information than private sector companies. The study concludes that while most companies report social information voluntarily, making it mandatory could improve consistency and comparability. It also suggests including corporate social reporting topics in business curricula.
Corporate social reporting practices in india between private
1. CORPORATE SOCIAL REPORTING
PRACTICES BETWEEN PRIVATE AND
PUBLICSECTOR COMPANIES IN INDIA
BY MONIKA MISHRA
M.COM. 2ND YEAR
RAMA DEVI WOMENâS UNIVERSITY
3. INTRODUCTION
The âCorporationâ is an important actor in modern democracies; one
whose apparent lack of accountability to âstakeholdersâ affected by
corporate activities has sparked intense controversy .
The company must accept its obligation to be socially responsible and
to work for the larger benefits of the community.
companies should assess and report corporate social performance.
Corporate social reporting is a gesture to demonstrate organisationâs
commitment towards sustainability. It is a tool through which
organisation extends dialogue with its stakeholders (Das, 2003).
It involves measurement and reporting of internal and external
information concerning the impact of an activity on society. It is
reporting on some domain business activities that have social impact,
and is aimed at measuring adverse and beneficial effects of such
activities both on the firm and those affected by the firm (Ghosh,
2003).
Corporate social reporting has become a hallmark for organisations
operating on global basis.
4. Research Questions
This study intends to answer the following research
question:
What is the significance difference in corporate social
reporting between public sector and private sector
companies?
5. Objectives of the Study
The main objectives of the study are to:
âą To develop a conceptual model of corporate social
reporting.
âą To study the determinantsâ and degree of corporate social
reporting by ownership of companies.
6. Hypothesis
H0: There exist no significant difference in corporate social
reporting between public sector and private sector
companies.
H1: There exists significant difference in corporate social
reporting between public sector and private sector
companies.
7. Research Methodology
Sample size
Population consists of companies listed in Bombay Stock Exchange and
National Stock Exchange in India.
A sample of 120 companies was drawn from this population.
They were stratified by ownership into public sector and private sector
companies
Data Collection and Analysis
Data collection through content analysis from-
corporate annual reports
chairmanâs speech
directorsâ reports
notes to accounts and schedule to accounts
auditorâs report
8. TEST OF HYPOTHESIS
Bi-variate analysis such as analysis of variance (ANOVA) is
used to test the hypothesis.One way ANOVA is used to test
whether there is a significant difference in corporate social
reporting level between public and private sector
companies .
Environmental protection reporting, Energy Conservation
Reporting, Community Development Reporting, Employees
Welfare Reporting,Product Quality & Safety Reporting,
Stakeholdersâ Protection Reporting, Corporate social
reporting overall score are the factors taken into
consideration for testing the result.
9. RESULT
ï The ANOVA results rejects the null hypothesis and
accepts the research hypothesis as the p-value
associated with the mean corporate social reporting
disclosure level between the public and private sector co
ï The study found that public sector companies have
disclosed more information than the private sector
companies. mpanies is < 0.005.
10. Conclusion
ï The main conclusions emerged from the study is that there is a
significant difference in corporate social disclosure level between public
and private sector companies.
ï The study found that public sector companies have disclosed more
corporate social reporting information than the private sector companies.
ï Most of the companies have disclosed corporate social information on
voluntary basis. To improve the understandably, uniformity, and
comparability of corporate social information, this study suggests making
it mandatory.
ï This study suggests to include it in the commerce curriculum and also in
the curriculum of CA/CWA/CS.
ï Corporate social reporting of companies requires more attention of their
top management.
ï The companies should define their social goals, make plans for achieving
these goals, execute these plans properly measure their social
performance and get their social performance audited by the
independent persons.
Future research in this area will hopefully bring
more brightening result measuring and analysing social costs and benefits
data by the manager as well as by other concerned.
11. References:
ï 1. Adams, C.A, W.Y. Hill and Roberts.C.B.(1998), Corporate Social Reporting Practices in Westren
Europe: Legitimating corporate behavior, British Accounting Review.30.1-21.
ï 2.Adams, C. A., 2002, âInternal Organisational Factors Influencing Corporate Social andmEthical
Reporting beyond Current Theorisingâ, Accounting, Auditing & AccountabilitymJournal, 15(2): 223-250.
ï 3.Ahmed, K. & Courtis, J. K., 1999, âAssociation between Corporate Characteristics andmDisclosure
Levels in Annual Reports: A Meta-Analysisâ, British Accounting Review, 31:35-6 Ahmad, Z.; Hassan, S.;
Mohammad, J., 2003, âDeterminants of Environmental Reporting in Malaysiaâ International Journal of
Business Studies, 11(1): 69â90.
ï 4. Brammer, S. & Pavelin, S., 2006, âVoluntary Environmental Disclosures by Large UK Companiesâ,
Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, 33(7/8): 1168-1188.
ï 5.Das. S (2003),âTowards Corporate Social Reportingâ, Available from http://www.financial
express.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id-27639, Accessed on August 25, 2006.
ï 6. Deegan, C., 2002, âIntroduction. The Legitimising Effect of Social and Environmental Disclosures- A
Theoretical Foundationâ, Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 15(3): 282-311.
ï 7.Soloman.A. (2000). Could operate environmental reporting shodow financial reporting? Accounting
Forum, 24(1).30-55.
ï 8.Suchman, M. C., 1995, âManaging Legitimacy: Strategic and Institutional Approachesâ, Academy of
Management Review, 20(3): 571-610.
ï 9.Trotman, K. T. & Bradley, G. W., 1981, âAssociations between Social Responsibility Disclosure and
Characteristics of Companiesâ, Accounting, Organizations and Society, 6(4): 355-362.
ï 10. Vassal.V.K.: âA Spatio-temporal Analysis on Social Reporting by companies-evidence from Indian
Public sectorâ. Journal of Accounting and Finance, Vol.IX, No.2, October 1995, pp.192-216
ï 11. Cormier, D. & Magnan, M., 2003, âEnvironmental Reporting Management: A Continental European
Perspectiveâ, Journal Of Accounting And Public Policy, 22: 43-62.
ï 12. Cronbach, L. J. (1951), âCoefficient Alpha and the Internal Structure of Testâ, Psycomatrica, vol.16,
pp. 297-334.