A substantive model of the annual financial reporting exercise in a non‐market corporate

Abstract

Purpose – Although it is acknowledged that the dissemination of financial information to stakeholders is a communications process, the main focus of prior research has been on the documents themselves rather than the context in which the information is generated, selected and disseminated. This paper remedies this deficiency by drawing on communication theory to construct a substantive model of the annual financial reporting exercise. Design/methodology/approach – A longitudinal study employing grounded theory was conducted in a non‐market corporate in the U.K. This involved documentary analysis, non‐participant observation and in depth interviews. Findings – The research identified three distinct functions of financial reporting which are formed through the inter‐action of four major determinants: producers' objectives, stakeholders' objectives, the political determinant, the environmental determinant. The level of satisfaction of producers and stakeholders with the perceived function of the annual corporate report leads to an aftermath. This may be either a reinforcement aftermath or it may be a destabilizer aftermath that will necessitate changes in the four determinants. Research limitations/implications – The study was conducted in a non‐market corporate in the UK and caution should be used in attempting to generalize to market corporates. Originality/value – The substantive model offers a diagnostic framework to further explore the nature and dynamics of the annual financial reporting exercise with the evidence of an aftermath being a key finding from the research.

Citation

Hussey, R. and Ong, A. (2005), "A substantive model of the annual financial reporting exercise in a non‐market corporate", Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management, Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 152-170. https://doi.org/10.1108/11766090510635424