Discovering the Connectivity of Information in Integrating Reporting: An Exploratory Data Analysis

This work focuses on so-called Integrated Reporting (IIRC, 2013a). In brief, Integrated Reporting () presents and iscusses a specific process aimed at communicating an organization’s results through the use of an annual integrated report. At the same time, aims to provide all the needed principles and guidelines to assist companies in developing an integrated reporting process and being able to convey a holistic view of their organizations in terms of operations, risks, opportunities, and drivers generating value in the short, medium and long term. The aim of this research can be stated as follows: Focusing on the concept of integration, this study aims to explore how the “principle of connectivity” in Integrated Reporting is operationalized in practice, through an exploratory analysis conducted on a sample of Integrated Reports extracted from the IIRC Integrated Reporting Examples Database. More specifically, the study investigates 103 documents contained within the IIRC Integrated Reporting Examples Database. Notably, the existence of a specific section on integration/connectivity is considered the starting point for the analysis. Subsequently, several statistical analyses (based on the Principal Component Analysis) are provided on the results of text mining (Feldman and Sanger, 2006) on the reports included in the sample mentioned above.