• Semester 1 (Day)

Synopsis

This  unit  explores  a number of issues associated  with  social  and
environmental  accounting and accountability. The unit  stresses  that
organisational  performance  can  be  considered  from  a  number   of
perspectives  and that the success of an organisation  should  not  be
considered  solely in terms of its financial performance but  also  in
terms   of   other  factors  such  as  its  social  and  environmental
performance.  Evidence will be presented to show that many  Australian
corporations  are  now providing social and environmental  performance
information   within  their  annual  reports  and  within  stand-alone
documents.  Further, the practice is increasing across time.

The  unit explores, from various theoretical perspectives issues  such
as:  what motivates organisations to disclose social and environmental
performance   information;  how  and  why  social  and   environmental
performance  information  is  utilised;  the  alternative  social  and
environmental  reporting frameworks; and international differences  in
social and environmental reporting practices.

Issues associated with the accountability of business (to whom and for
what);  user  demands for, and market responses to the  disclosure  of
social  and environmental performance information; the limitations  of
conventional  financial  accounting  (specifically,  its  failure   to
acknowledge   social  costs);  the  possibilities   of   incorporating
sustainability  within  accounting;  and  the  practice   of   ethical
investment will also be considered.