Open AccessDisclosing Strategies and Business Models in the Integrated Report
Author(s) -
Elisa Truant,
Francesca Culasso,
Daniela Argento
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
symphonya
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1593-0319
pISSN - 1593-0300
DOI - 10.4468/2019.1.09truant.culasso.argento
Subject(s) - content analysis , black box , business , process management , strategic management , business model , knowledge management , computer science , marketing , sociology , social science , artificial intelligence
The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which strategies and business models (BMs) are disclosed in Integrated Reports (IRs). In addition, this paper seeks to understand the reasons for the changes in such disclosures over time. A longitudinal case study focusing on Terna, an Italian listed public utility operating in the electricity sector, is presented. Multiple methods of data collection and analysis were adopted. A content analysis based on the framework of Sukhari and De Villiers (2018) was performed on Terna’s IRs from 2011 to 2017. Interviews were conducted with several managers to integrate the data stemming from the content analysis. The paper opens up the ‘black box’ of corporate strategy disclosures, showing how they can evolve over time. The findings reveal a resistance to fully communicating sensitive corporate information related to strategic goals and their implementatio