An investigation of TBL report assurance statements: UK and European evidence
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to document a study of European and UK triple bottom line (TBL) report assurance statements.
Design/methodology/approach
In undertaking the research, an international database was constructed from which all known European and UK third‐party assurance statements that accompanied the release of TBL reports were selected for review.
Findings
The results of the analysis indicate that there is much variability and ambiguity inherent within the contents of the third‐party statements.
Research limitations/implications
The UK and European reports included within the database compiled by the researchers provide the basis of the information used to develop this paper. In selecting assurance statements to include within the database, the latest TBL report from each reporting organization was obtained (and it should be appreciated that many organizations do not produce TBL reports on an annual basis). Of the 170 reports available internationally at the time the research was undertaken, 8 are from 2000, 86 from 2001, 65 from 2002, and 11 from 2003. Whilst the database is the most extensive one of its type, given the finite nature of resources available, it is stressed that the database is not exhaustive.
Practical implications
Taken together, the results of this analysis lead us to question the value that such assurance statements provide to the TBL reporting process.
Originality/value
Assesses the ambiguity and questions the value of assurance work on TBL statements as currently being undertaken.
Keywords
Citation
Deegan, C., Cooper, B.J. and Shelly, M. (2006), "An investigation of TBL report assurance statements: UK and European evidence", Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 21 No. 4, pp. 329-371. https://doi.org/10.1108/02686900610661388
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited