Abstract
This chapter is an attempt at presenting some reliable factors that have a significant impact on the creation, development, and practice of social accounting and reporting. A part of the research is devoted to presenting the problem of the emergence of the views of social accounting and reporting and their development over time. Attention has been provided to the most influential generators of social accounting and reporting that shape the state of the art to the fullest extent. The text seeks to highlight the driving forces that impact the development of social accounting and reporting. The essay cannot be exhaustive enough as the vast variety of social reports that exist cannot be covered in detail. The study, without seeking full comprehensiveness, tries to systematize some key drivers of social accounting and accountability. It seeks to provide a practical and simple coordinate system in which those who wish to conduct social accounting and reporting should be guided by the diverse sources of social accountability models.
TopMain Focus Of The Chapter
The study explores the most striking features of the author's concepts, circumstances and organizations that have shaped the contemporary diversity of social accounting. The main focus is on the underlying idea of social accounting and accountability and the major Influencers in its development - scientists and universities, professional accountancy companies, rating agencies, public service research centers, governmental, non-governmental and international organizations.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A company’s positive impact on and amelioration of negative impacts against society and the environment through its operations, products, or services and through its interaction with key stakeholders such as employees, customers, investors, communities, and suppliers.
Luca Pacioli: Fra Luca Bartolomeo de Pacioli (n.d. 1445- 19.06.1517) was a mathematician, monk of the Order of the Franciscans, author of “Summa de arithmetica, geometria, proporciones et proporcionità” published in Venice, 1494. One of the founders of modern accounting science.
Social Accounting: Accounting systems, which records, measures, and analyzes the impact of organizations on the environment and society.
Social Report: An accounting report that reflects organizations' relationships with stakeholders in all material respects.
Social Indicators: Quantitative measures usually presented as indices, and qualitative indicators for measuring and tracking the status and changes of welfare of people and societies.
Standards for Social Accounting and Reporting: Adopted principles and procedures for registration and measurement of the impact of organizations' activities on the environment and society.
Environmental Accounting and Reporting: A new stage in the development of accounting and reporting, based on the principle of traditional accounting and reporting, but recording, analyzing and reporting environmental costs and benefits for companies. A part of social accounting and reporting.