Corporate sustainability accounting information systems: a contingency-based approach
Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal
ISSN: 2040-8021
Article publication date: 30 May 2019
Issue publication date: 6 June 2019
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the development of sustainability accounting information systems through lens of contingency theory. In this digital age when companies are confronted with massive sets of data, integration of financial and non-financial data, little empirical evidence exists on how sustainability issues are integrated or linked within internal corporate information systems.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire-based survey, hypothesis testing, principal component methods and hierarchical clustering are used to provide original empirical evidence from major Lithuanian companies.
Findings
The main findings reveal that most companies surveyed include a sustainability strategy in their core strategy, but there is a lack of linkage with measuring and integrating sustainability outcomes within the entirety of corporate financial results. Unexpectedly, the association between stakeholders' involvement and sustainability accounting information system design was not as strong as hypothesized theoretically. Therefore, it deserves further investigation, constituting an important implication for future research. Specifically, three profiles of sustainability accounting information systems were explained, namely, integrated, fragmented and compliance systems.
Research limitations/implications
The limitations of this study relate to the small sample size, as sustainability-related information is still regarded quite confidential.
Practical implications
This result could serve as a specific reference for companies to apply integrated sustainability accounting information systems that might serve as a good practice model for companies, however, fragmented and compliance profiles are the prevailing ones.
Social implications
The findings are important for fostering corporate social responsibility by developing sustainability accounting information systems.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the sustainability accounting and information systems literature by providing empirical evidence linking contingent factors with the development of sustainability accounting information systems.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are pleased to acknowledge comments on earlier version of the paper from reviewers and delegates at EURAM2018, Reykjavik, 2018.
Citation
Dagiliene, L. and Šutiene, K. (2019), "Corporate sustainability accounting information systems: a contingency-based approach", Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 260-289. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMPJ-07-2018-0200
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited