The bottom line on triple bottom line reporting
The first question you'll want answered is - what's my research all
about?
Well, I'm investigating triple bottom line reporting - where
organisations use their annual report to account - not just for their
financial performance - but for their triple bottom line performance in other words, their contributions to the broader economy, society and
environment. In particular, I'm interested to see if organisations
learn and change as a result of this process.
So - what do I think makes my research significant?
Well 2 things.
First is the close working relationship I've had with my case study
organisation, Murrumbidgee Irrigation - the high degree of access they
provided helped me get a better understanding of their experiences, and
it also helped me support their efforts to get more out of the
reporting process - a good example of collaboration, I think.
The second thing that makes my research significant is its focus on
process over content. So what do I mean by that? Well, most evaluation
of triple bottom line reports is based on the content of these reports.
What I have focused on is the experiences of the organisation producing
the report, and how it uses the report - in other words, the reporting
process. This focus on process means we can start to identify changes
happening within the organisation that might not be apparent from
looking at the report alone.
And so what have I found out?
Well, I think I have seen some significant changes. It has helped to
further incorporate sustainability issues onto Murrumbidgee
Irrigation's internal agenda, and made them face up to some difficult
and challenging questions - which is all good. As one of my
interviewees commented, once we start questioning what we do, then
we're in effect starting to change what we do.
But as for engaging the broader public in this questioning: well, that
hasn't happened yet. This is partly because the annual report is a
public relations document. Perhaps there are other, more effective
means to collaborate with stakeholders on how to address sustainability
issues facing the industry.
So - my conclusion? What is the bottom line on triple bottom line
reporting?
Well, no matter what you may think of the triple bottom line concept;
no matter what you may think of triple bottom line reports, the bottom
line is that it does help people think beyond the day-to-day towards
the bigger picture. What I have observed at Murrumbidgee Irrigation is
some positive internal changes. So I think the process of triple bottom
line reporting can build a movement of change among those within
organisations - something which should never be under-estimated!