Accounting Change: Integrated Reporting Through the Lenses of Institutional Theory

Institutional theory has been largely adopted in accounting studies to frame research. The chapter explores Management Accounting Change as a lens to observe how the isomorphic and intra organizational dynamics interact, driving towards the adoption of the Integrated Reporting. More specifically, drawing on various Institutional theory strands such as New Institutional theory and Old Institutional Economics, complementary with change management theories, a complete theoretical framework is formulated. This approach intends to grasp—through a deep understanding of institutions, routines and change, both planned and unplanned and to what extent accounting change is related to the adoption of Integrated Reporting. For these reasons the case study presented in the last chapter is intended to analyse the process started in a public sector organization towards the adoption of the Integrated Reporting, by showing the undergoing management accounting change process.