Adoption of Integrated Reporting: Reasons and Benefits—A Case Study Analysis

Abstract

Integrated reporting is the new corporate reporting tool that includes financial and non-financial information in a single document. Although some studies describe the potential benefits of integrated reporting, this practice is still not widespread. One of the reasons for the limited diffusion is linked to the absence of empirical evidence that demonstrates the actual concreteness of these benefits for organizations that decide to adopt integrated reporting. This study analyses the process of adopting integrated reporting and the benefits associated with it through a case study. In particular, the case of Generali Group is analysed in the aim of highlighting the adoption path and the effects deriving from the implementation of integrated reporting in a context like the Italian one, still not very attentive to these issues. The findings show how the implementation of integrated reporting has been the result of a clear desire of top management and that the adoption of this practice has had a decidedly positive impact both from an internal and external point of view.