This report explores the relationship between system oriented theories, sustainability issues and disclosures made by Orica Limited in their 2013 Sustainability Report (“Orica 2013”). The review is based on the system oriented theories covering Stakeholder Theory, Legitimacy Theory and Institutional Theory. On the basis of this assessment, recommendations are made for future approaches to Orica’s Sustainability Reporting.
The 2013 Sustainability Report by Orica provided benefit to stakeholders. Orica’s key sustainability challenges and opportunities focus on: refining the customer value proposition, developing people capability and competence, driving common systems and processes, developing performance metrics and targets, reviewing manufacturing reliability and integrity, extending the mining service offering and securing low cost and capital efficient supply (Orica 2013). These areas are constantly being enhanced and some current initiatives are the Seven Pillar training program to ensure all employees have an understanding of Orica’s vision, value and strategies, development of stakeholder plans at key sites to provide a consistent approach to management, implementing Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) to identify key environmental risks, controls and impacts, and Project Sustain which identifies initiatives under Orica’s Safety, Health, Environment and Community (SHEC) (Orica 2013).
The disclosures made by Orica can be assessed using system oriented theories. Deegan (2012, p. 109) defines system oriented theories as “theories that explain the role of information and disclosure in managing the relationships between the organisation and the communities with which it interacts.” The system oriented theories discussed are Stakeholder Theory, Legitimacy Theory and Institutional Theory.
Orica 2013 can be justified using Legitimacy Theory. O’Donovan (2002, p.