Abstract:
The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) issued its Integrated Reporting
(<IR>) framework in 2013 intending to promote integrated thinking in organisational contexts
for corporate sustainability. However, arguments are mounted against limitations in these
guidelines and their potential to create integrated thinking. Mainly, the maintenance of the
financial prominence, neglecting sustainability needs is among the criticisms. Nevertheless,
still, the framework contains some guidelines relevant to promote integrated thinking. An
organisational change towards integrated thinking requires effective communication of the
right message. This paper, benefitting from the Stakeholder Theory and the Stakeholder
Agency Theory perspectives, sheds light on the potential of those guidelines to communicate
the knowledge of integrated thinking to managers and concludes finding their failures.
Utilising a content analysis of relevant guidelines contained in the <IR> framework, this paper
contributes to the discussion of integrated reporting and integrated thinking for corporate
sustainability.
