REPORTING CSR DATA – THE BENEFITS AND BARRIERS TO INVOLVEMENT IN THE IDEA OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the issue of benefits and barriers related to reporting CSR data as standalone reports. This work attempts to examine whether the benefits resulting from the fact that companies are perceived as socially responsible are more impactful for entities that issue standalone CSR reports, as well as whether a standalone report can be a better tool for communicating with internal and external stakeholders. In addition, the study seeks to find out whether there is any difference in the perception of the barriers related to obtaining and publishing non-financial data between companies that are developing standalone reports and those that present this type of data in a different way. Methodology: The study employed the subject literature critical review method and a questionnaire survey. The survey was conducted among companies from the RESPECT index portfolio of the Warsaw Stock Exchange as well as among entities listed in various rankings of socially responsible companies. Findings: The respondents belonging to both groups (issuing and not issuing standalone CSR reports) generally pointed to a similar hierarchy of importance of specific benefits resulting from following CSR policies by the business. However, within the group of entities issuing standalone CSR reports, most of the benefits received a high evaluation. Most of the barriers studied received high indications in the group of companies without standalone reports. The results obtained may indicate that companies that are seen as socially responsible but do not publish a standalone report gain fewer benefits resulting from communication with stakeholders. Research limitation: The work may be affected by the inherent weaknesses associated with survey research which examines rather opinions and views than 'hard data'. Originality: The issue of reporting data in a form of standalone reports and the resulting benefits as well as the barriers faced by companies over the course of preparing CSR reporting is very significant, however, it is still insufficiently researched with regard to the emerging markets. The results obtained can be used for comparative studies of the Polish market and other financial markets since the benefits and barriers to reporting non-financial data as standalone reports are also being identified in other countries.