Valentina Minutiello

Integrating environmental and social practices into small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remains challenging, particularly, due to limited corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation and the lack of effective environmental management tools. This study explores the drivers behind sustainability adoption and environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure among 196 Italian manufacturing SMEs in the northern region. Using a mixed-methods approach and PLS-SEM analysis, the research identifies the main factors influencing SMEs' alignment with the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Results show that corporate beliefs are more influential in guiding sustainability strategies than leaders' personal backgrounds or firm characteristics. Additionally, the availability of sustainability accounting tools and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated sustainability transitions. The study provides early but significant insights into how SMEs are approaching responsible practices and offers guidance for policymakers and institutions to support this shift. It highlights the urgent need for targeted frameworks that help SMEs fully integrate social and environmental considerations, thus contributing meaningfully to the global SDGs agenda.

The purpose of this chapter is to extract the backbones of the research field on Intellectual Capital Disclosure (ICD) and to identify new directions for future research, by answering two different research questions: RQ1: What are the main themes that have been developed within ICD research? RQ2: What is the future of ICD research? An innovative literature review method was applied, which combines a systematic literature review and bibliographic network analysis: the "Systematic Literature Network Analysis" (SLNA). Moreover, the SLNA was integrated with other tools, such as the Global Citation Score analysis and the keyword analysis. The analysis suggests the presence of two directions in the development of the field: the first is related to the identification of the main determinants of the ICD quality and diffusion, and the second regards the design of a shared theoretical framework to support further investigations on this topic. The main limitations concern the use of only one database (Scopus) for extracting the data and the presence of subjectivity problems. However, these limitations are partially solved through different tools to perform the analysis. This chapter contributes to the literature by providing a systematic view of the existing debate and new unexplored streams of research on Intellectual Capital Disclosure. Besides, it highlights the quality of a new methodology (called SLNA) to conduct a dynamic analysis in this research field.

Due to the growing sensitivity toward ESG practices, academic attention on the subject has also grown. However, only a few studies have taken into consideration the influence that negative events can exert on the quality of corporate communication on environmental, social and governance issues. The purpose of this chapter is, therefore, to fill the previous gap in the literature, studying the relationship between ESG disclosure and ESG controversies, from a legitimacy theory perspective. Findings confirm that companies may decide to improve the quality of their disclosure with the aim of restoring their legitimacy to operate in the market and mitigate the reputational impacts of adverse events.

This Book examines the topic of non-financial reporting, focusing on the two main types of reporting: Sustainability Reporting (SR) and Integrated Reporting (IR). It includes an overview of the research, with the aim of highlighting the diversity of approaches used by researchers as well as the multiplicity of facets that concern non-financial reporting. The chapters address the main macro-themes related to non-financial disclosure and attributable to the following categories: 1. The factors that influence the quality of non-financial reports; 2. The different types of non-financial disclosure (such as, for example, Circular Economy disclosure or Intellectual Capital Disclosure); 3. The motivations behind the adoption of non-financial communication, explained, for example, according to the legitimacy theory as the need for companies to improve or restore their reputation on the market. For each category, the volume provides examples of studies and starts the discussion for further necessary insights.

In recent years, the field of accounting has undergone a significant transformation. International accounting standards, particularly the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Accounting Standards (IAS), have become essential for ensuring transparency and comparability of financial information worldwide. By adopting IFRS and IAS, companies can present financial statements consistently, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions based on reliable, comparable data. This workbook is designed to help students understand and apply these principles, offering both theoretical and practical support. It provides a comprehensive overview of the main international standards, with practical exercises that encourage critical thinking. Topics covered include tangible assets, intangible assets, construction contracts, inventories, impairment tests, income taxes, lease contracts, cash flow statements, and ratio analysis. It aims to provide a solid foundation for those wishing to apply international accounting principles, particularly for students in financial reporting courses.

The chapter aims to provide a comprehensive view of current practices on diversity, equity, and inclusion in family firms and tries to develop some suggestions for future research to improve the awareness of the importance of these virtuous practices.
A systematic literature review is conducted on the Scopus database. The final sample is subject to an analysis process devoted to identifying the main authors that contributed to the research field development and the main journals for publication number and is clustered considering the emergent topics. Findings show the main clusters present in the research area on diversity, inclusion, and equality in family firms and identify the most recent trends, to depict the evolution of academics’ interest over time. Finally, for each cluster, possible avenues for future research are proposed. Among the implications of the study, it allows identifying the main gaps in previous literature through the definition of an agenda useful for scholars to develop new studies in this research area. Instead, from a practical perspective, it could be a useful starting point for increasing the awareness by family firms on the relevance of these practices and improving the adoption of diversity and inclusion policies in their daily operations.

In recent decades, a growing awareness of companies’ important role within society emerged. Companies are considered accountable for their actions and their commitment to sustainability has become essential. Sustainability is a critical success factor and a source of competitive advantage that guarantees survival over time. The process of change necessarily passes through corporate disclosure: consequently, many businesses have begun to incorporate environmental and social issues in their reports to demonstrate their commitment. This trend highlights the need to systematize the main non-financial reporting tools available to companies. In light of these premises, this book investigates the topic of non-financial disclosure by analyzing and comparing the main reporting tools used. It also discusses three case studies as practical examples of the implementation of Sustainability or Integrated Reporting. The different case studies represent a useful tool for comparing the different types of non-financial reports and provide a guide for companies in the process of implementing and drafting a non-financial report.

Different fields of research have conducted studies on the topic of behavioural research. Accounting researchers' attention to this topic has recently started to grow, and consequently, the need to define the future development of the research field has emerged. This paper aims to conduct a literature review on the topic of behavioural accounting research (BAR) to clarify what has already been studied by researchers and to suggest possible new research developments. For this purpose, a new methodology called 'Systematic Literature Network Analysis' (SLNA) was applied. The findings confirm the need to further explore this research area by conducting new empirical studies on the application of behavioural theories and by using new tools for data collection. The paper's contributions to the literature are the following: it provides a systematic picture of the literature on BAR, applies a new methodology for the analysis of the literature, and provides an agenda for future research.

The importance of introducing a new sustainable development paradigm to safeguard the entire planet is now undisputed. One of the tools aiming to respond to this need consists of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) contained within the 2030 Agenda. Businesses play a crucial role in achieving these objectives and must prove themselves to be active actors in promoting sustainable practices. However, the integration of these objectives within their business models turns out to be a complex operation, which requires numerous skills and resources. This paper consists of a systematic literature review on the topic of research on the SDGs in the areas of business, management and accounting with the aim of identifying the barriers facing communities and tools to support companies in this process, as well as possible areas for improvement. Furthermore, it allows us to identify gaps on which future research should focus. To achieve this aim, papers related to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs published in journals indexed in the Scopus database between January 2015 and June 2024 were analysed. The results demonstrated a great heterogeneity within the research area and the emergence of some important concepts, such as the circular economy, artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0, and some recurring themes, such as the role of stakeholders in achieving the SDGs and the financial and non-financial benefits of SDG strategies and practices.

Purpose - This study aims to investigate the quality of disclosure of a cutting-edge reporting tool - integrated reporting () - in terms of its effectiveness to report on COVID-19 pandemic information, its ability to provide forward-looking information and risk impact implications, and its quality determinants in challenging times. Design/methodology/approach - Thanks to a content analysis of 247 for FY20, an integrated reporting disclosure score was developed to assess the disclosure quality provided by the sampled companies. Three research questions were tested through logistic regressions. Findings - Non-financial disclosure activities struggle to provide adequate information in terms of potential future scenarios, risk assessment and forward-looking analyses. However, companies incorporated in "Anglo-Saxon" territories drafted integrated reports of higher quality. More recently, incorporated companies have made a greater effort to measure and report COVID-19 pandemic impacts on environmental, social and governance and business activities, also increasing their risk assessment and mitigation efforts. Concerning the determinants of disclosure quality, leverage, corporate governance structures, country of incorporation and belonging to "high impact" industries all lead to a higher quality of disclosure. Originality/value - Examining in detail corporate social responsibility activities and corporate governance integrity is pivotal to orienting strategy towards sustainable trajectories: to do so, corporate reporting and disclosure practices are essential tools. In this context, corporate governance systems that emphasize board diversity are proven, even in disruptive circumstances, to play a crucial role in providing corporate reports of higher quality. High disclosure quality that goes beyond mere financial results is considered to be necessary to remain competitive strategically, socially and environmentally.