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Institutional drivers of environmental management accounting adoption in public sector water organisations

Ferdous, M.I.; Adams, C.; Boyce, G.

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Authors

M.I. Ferdous

G. Boyce



Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the influences on the adoption of environmental management accounting (EMA) in corporatised water supply organisations, from an institutional theory perspective, drawing on the concepts of reflexive isomorphism and institutional logics. Design/methodology/approach: The primary research involves case analysis of three companies in the Australian water supply industry, drawing on interviews, internal documents and publicly available documents, including annual reports. Findings: Two key drivers for the adoption and emergence of EMA are: the emergence of a government regulator in the form of the Essential Services Commission (ESC) and community expectations with regard to environmental performance and disclosure. The water organisations were found to be reflexively isomorphic, while seeking to align their commercial logic to “sustainability” and “ensuring community expectations” logics to the legitimate adoption of EMA. Originality/value: The paper contributes to the literature by providing case study evidence of the intentions and motivations of management in adopting EMA, and the nature of that adoption process over an extended period. Further, it provides empirical evidence of the applicability of reflexive isomorphism in the context of EMA and institutional logics.

Citation

Ferdous, M., Adams, C., & Boyce, G. (2019). Institutional drivers of environmental management accounting adoption in public sector water organisations. Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, 32(4), 984-1012. https://doi.org/10.1108/aaaj-09-2017-3145

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 28, 2018
Online Publication Date Jun 20, 2019
Publication Date 2019
Deposit Date Nov 1, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Accounting Auditing and Accountability
Print ISSN 0951-3574
Publisher Emerald
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 32
Issue 4
Pages 984-1012
DOI https://doi.org/10.1108/aaaj-09-2017-3145
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1314899

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Copyright Statement
This article is © Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here (http://dro.dur.ac.uk/26682). Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.





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