Adoption of sustainable development reporting by universities

Stéphanie Chatelain-Ponroy (stephanie.chatelain@cnam.fr) and Sophie Morin-Delerm (sophie.morin-delerm@universite-paris-saclay.fr)
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Stéphanie Chatelain-Ponroy: LIRSA - Laboratoire interdisciplinaire de recherche en sciences de l'action - Cnam - Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [Cnam]
Sophie Morin-Delerm: RITM - Réseaux Innovation Territoires et Mondialisation - UP11 - Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11

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Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the issuance of sustainable development reports by French universities, based on two dimensions proposed by Ansari et al. (2010): extensiveness and fidelity. Design/methodology/approach – Three complementary data sources were used: an extensive literature review, exploratory interviews with sustainable development (SD) officers from French universities, and the four editions of the Responsible Campus Guide (Guide des Campus Responsables). The empirical data collected were then subjected to a dynamic multi-level analysis drawing on three theoretical frameworks. Findings – Four different profiles of universities appear, suggesting that the many isomorphic pressures exerted on universities influence the characteristics (extensiveness and fidelity) of their SD reports. Research limitations/implications – Further research is required to explore whether these findings are generalisable to business schools and universities in different contexts. Practical implications – This study will be of interest to other higher education institutions seeking to embark on a similar sustainability reporting track. It is also a way to observe the characteristics of SD reports, to analyse what and how first-time reporters communicate. Originality/value – This paper adds to existing research by focusing on a managerial innovation that is still relatively new in French universities. Its second contribution lies in its comparative approach introducing a distinction between early and later adopters of SD reporting. It also contributes to extending the existing theorisation of SD reporting.

Keywords: University; Innovation diffusion theory; Stakeholder theory; Sustainability accounting; Neo-institutional theory; Sustainable development report (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-06
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Published in Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, 2016, 29 (5), pp.887 - 918. ⟨10.1108/AAAJ-06-2014-1720⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01328731

DOI: 10.1108/AAAJ-06-2014-1720

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