Tobias Groß

The Term ‘Non-financial Information’ – A Semantic Analysis of a Key Feature of Current and Future Corporate Reporting

ABSTRACT Accounting and corporate reporting can be seen as a language for specific purposes. Such a language requires the use of terms and concepts with a precise and commonly shared meaning to allow effective and efficient communication. We analyze the term ‘non-financial information’, which has become a part of mandatory corporate reporting within the European Union (EU) through recent regulatory actions. Our analysis is based on a survey of the theoretical and empirical literature, on the rational of semantic theory, as well as on a questionnaire survey. The clear finding is that, up to now, neither a common meaning nor a generally accepted definition of ‘non-financial information’ exists. We derive from the applied theoretical concepts that this situation negatively impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of corporate communication. Against this background we discuss several venues that might help to overcome this deficiency like issuing a mandatory guideline or changing the terminology.

Integrated Reporting - Eine Chance zur Steigerung der Entscheidungsnützlichkeit der Lageberichterstattung

Stichwörter: DRS 20 IIRC Integrierter Bericht Integrated Reporting Lagebericht In dem Beitrag werden wesentliche Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede von Lagebericht und Integriertem Bericht untersucht. Darauf aufbauend wird der Frage nachgegangen, inwieweit sich der Lagebericht in einen Integrierten Bericht überführen lässt, der als Einstiegspunkt in die weitere periodische Unternehmensberichterstattung dienen kann.