Institutional isomorphism and quality of gender disclosure. The Italian case

Abstract

Purpose: Non-financial reporting (NFR), including gender disclosure (GD), is a tool companies use for institutional legitimisation and represents an organisational field that evolves due to regulatory and stakeholder pressure. This research uses the theoretical approach of institutional isomorphism in the context of neo-institutional theory to investigate GD's degree of maturity (quality and homogenei-ty) in a homogeneous institutional context. Design/methodology/approach: This paper adopts a qualitative research meth-odology based on a content analysis of the GD resulting from the NFRs of listed Italian companies in 2016 and 2021. Findings: The results show the degree of institutionalisation achieved through GD after introducing the mandatory NFR. The analysis reveals companies' conver-gence process in terms of isomorphic behaviour and changes in the quality of GD. The findings unfold the institutional pressure that has the most significant impact on the quality of GD, fostering a homogenisation of disclosure at the company level. Originality/value: This is the first study to assess isomorphism and its effects on the quality of GD. This research enriches the literature on institutional theory by analysing the impact of different isomorphic forces on GD. Practical implications: This paper assists policymakers, supervisors, and investors in evaluating the quality of GD and identifying the issues leading to the most critical matters and inefficient or non-transparent behaviours. The findings improve regulatory quality, information control, and assessment of the appropriateness and reliability of the NFR. The implications guide regulators in identifying stand-ards and tools that enhance strategies regarding gender diversity and performance disclosure.