Corporate Sustainability Reporting:A Move from Existing Guidelines to Quantitative Measure

Abstract

Content analysis of various corporate sustainability reporting guidelines clearly shows a wide diversity, and lack of proper focus. Instead of focusing on CSR or ESG issues as available in the existing guidelines, stakeholders' engagement and commitment have been brought to focus. Corporate performance in the areas of concern of all stakeholders is considered important for sustainability reflection. The paper suggests a quantitative framework for total performance measure in the areas of concern of five groups of stakeholders, suppliers, customers, employees, shareholders, and the nation as the reflection of corporate sustainability. The framework has been applied in a medium sized manufacturing organization in India to examine its relative total performance over a five-year period. It shows an improving trend with an average of 5% higher than the base year. Such a framework would bring uniformity in corporate sustainability reporting. The periodic measurement of organizational total performance is expected to help corporate managers to adopt suitable strategies to facilitate asset management approach for different stakeholders, which would be the key towards sustainability performance.