Chapter 03 · Reporting & strategyReporting, Disclosure & Frameworks
Integrated reporting
Definition
Integrated reporting is an approach to corporate reporting that connects financial and non-financial information to explain how an organisation creates, preserves or erodes value over time.
References
This reference provides supporting context for how “Integrated reporting” is defined and used.
Overview
What it means in practice
Integrated reporting should be used with care because reporting terms often connect technical definitions to governance, assurance and public communication. The practical question is what decision the term helps a reader make.
In practice, users should state the boundary, method, evidence and intended audience. That keeps integrated reporting from becoming a loose label that hides important assumptions.
Why it matters
Integrated reporting sits in reporting and disclosure language, where the same phrase can affect scope, assurance, investor interpretation and regulatory presentation.
Common misconception
A common error is to treat Integrated reporting as self-explanatory. The stronger approach is to state the framework, reporting boundary, audience and evidence that give the term meaning.
Review questions
What framework or method is being used? What evidence supports the term? What would a reader reasonably assume if the boundary is not stated?
How it is used
In professional practice, “Integrated reporting” helps standard setters, scheme owners, certification bodies, auditors and organisations seeking assurance describe or assess an approach to corporate reporting that connects financial and non-financial information to explain how an organisation creates, preserves or erodes value over time.
It is commonly encountered in standards, certification, conformity assessment, audits, controls and assurance engagements. A credible application identifies the named standard or scheme, version, scope, criteria, assurance level and competent decision-maker.