LIBRI DI PAOLA DEMARTINI

The aim of this research is to investigate the quality and reliability of ESG data provided by companies, as well as the accuracy and objectivity of ESG ratings produced by sustainability rating agencies (SRAs). Since SRAs use companies’ non-financial information as input data when formulating their ESG ratings, these two topics appear to be strictly interconnected. Drawing on the Shanon and Weaver (1949) model of communication, we have addressed these issues by means of a systematic literature review combined with a bibliometric analysis. In our investigation we run: i) the co-citation analysis to de-tect the seminal papers; ii) a keyword co-occurrence analysis to explore how the main features of the academic debate have unfolded in the last five years; iii) a keyword co-occurrence analysis to obtain a network visualisation map to explore how the research broad scope was articulated in different clusters (i.e., themes of research). Among the clusters that emerged from the mapping, we have decided to delve into the streams of research we consider most relevant and deal with: the re-lationships between ESG and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Namely, we deem that AI may allow us to process massive amounts of data that contain crucial information for ESG investing. However, even if computer algorithms are able to analyse all information available efficiently, and in a timely manner, managers and investors should be aware of their opportunities and criticisms, while scholars should list propositions for advancing the research on these topics.

This study concerns a global player company operating within the Aerospace and Defence field which has first developed and then deployed a managerial integrated reporting, which attempts to combine traditional financial metrics with Intellectual Capital (IC) and Sustainability performance indicators. The qualitative research approach underlying our investigation is Interpretivism. More specifically, the study was conducted in the light of action research. Data were gathered from in-depth interviews with managers as well as from group discussions. The assumption underlying the present research is that intangibles are the mediating variables which allow to better understand the link between sustainable management and corporate financial performance.

Il volume analizza l’orientamento alla CSR e alla sostenibilità delle PMI rispetto alle imprese di grandi dimensioni, cercando di tratteggiare un modello di “CSR di territorio”. In tal senso, viene avvalorata l’ipotesi che il radicamento al contesto socio-economico locale, la facile identificazione e la prossimità dell’imprenditore, l’enfasi sulla persona e sulle relazioni, la flessibilità di adattamento ai cambiamenti sociali e ambientali, facilitano nelle PMI “di territorio” la necessaria consonanza tra mission, governance e accountability.

Le imprese e le banche italiane si sono adeguate alle regole di Basilea 2? Per tentare di rispondere a tale interrogativo, il volume studia il rapporto banca-impresa, osservandolo dal punto di vista “soggetto impresa” e “soggetto banca”; si sofferma poi sull’analisi delle convenienze degli attori in gioco; si focalizza infine sul comportamento delle piccole e medie imprese italiane, che costituiscono, a tutt’oggi, gran parte della forza vitale del Paese.

Al fine di rendere fecondo il connubio ICT e informazione economico-finanziaria, è necessario partire dall’analisi delle esigenze conoscitive dei destinatari del sistema informativo, siano essi espressione degli organi di governo aziendali o stakeholder esterni. Il volume analizza il contributo dei nuovi sistemi informativi, con particolare riferimento ai seguenti temi: la gestione del sapere e del capitale intellettuale, il controllo di gestione, la comunicazione agli stakeholder e ai mercati finanziari.