Reporting standards in socially responsible enterprises
Reporting standards in socially responsible enterprises

Summary/Abstract: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports are compiled in line with a variety of principles and guidelines, which obstructs comparability across enterprises, fails to assure transparency and prevents evaluation of CSR performance. It should also be noted that reporting is perceived as a major source of information used in decision-making processes. Standardisation of non-financial reporting is therefore an important scientific issue from the viewpoint of enterprise management. This paper aims to analyse and verify applicable rules of CSR reporting by enterprises with regard to standards in place on the basis of the authors’ research among a group of enterprises in Poland. The subject appears topical and requires solutions by indicating principles of CSR reporting that could become universal models of global applicability. Both literature and empirical research have helped to verify the following hypotheses: (H1) – CSR reports are important sources of information used in enterprise management. This is affirmed by queries into literature, where effect of non-financial disclosures on financial performance of enterprises is described, and the authors’ own research shows that approximately 60% (59% in 2015 and 62% in 2014) of enterprises have implemented the idea of the CSR, thus perceiving a need to improve their situation by disclosing non-financial information. (H2) – Enterprises take advantage of international standards in their CSR reporting. This is affirmed by the authors’ research, which implies enterprises under examination compile their CSR reports based mainly on ISO standards, though primarily for the purposes of certification. Therefore, the absence of reporting duties causes non-financial disclosures to follow various standards and guidelines, which impedes comparability.

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