Al-Hajaya, K (2014) Factors Affecting Internet Corporate Reporting (ICR) Adoption and Practices in Jordan. Doctoral thesis, Liverpool John Moores University.

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Abstract

Corporate websites open wide avenues for companies to disseminate financial and non-financial information to target audiences in a fast, efficient and widely accessible manner. While website communication became a standard means for companies in developed countries, its utilisation, however, by their counterparts in developing countries is still negligible (Oyelere and Kuruppu, 2012). The current study aims to achieve three objectives. Firstly, to explore the patterns and amount of internet corporate reporting (ICR) practices of listed companies in Jordan. Secondly, to identify the determinants of various ICR practices of these companies. Finally, to investigate the determinants and perceived factors contributing to ICR adoption/non-adoption in Jordan.The key literature focuses mainly on economic-based theories in explaining different ICR practices as a voluntary disclosure channel. The theoretical foundation of this study, on the other hand, integrates several disclosure frameworks with innovation diffusion theories. The resulting framework involves dimensions of technology, management, organisation and environment. This was carried out to obtain a more in-depth interpretation of the ICR adoption phenomenon.Within the premises of the positivistic-deductive paradigm, the study relies mainly on three quantitative methods in collecting the required data. Firstly, a self-designed disclosure index of 109 items was used to survey companies’ websites, identifying levels of different forms of disclosure practices. Secondly, secondary data that include 15 companies’ attributes was gathered, specifying determinants of ICR adoption and practices. Finally, a questionnaire survey was conducted among CEOs and CFOs of companies to determine perceived factors that may further contribute to the adoption of ICR.Results of the survey from websites of 262 listed companies on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) in 2012, indicate that, around 150 companies (57%) had usable websites, while only 69 (26%) companies have engaged in reporting the investor relations information on their websites. Explanatory findings also show that, with varying degrees, ICR adoption and different disclosure practices of a firm are a function of its general characteristics, ownership and corporate governance structure. Based on managers’ evaluation, four factors were further identified as significant contributors of ICR adoption, namely cost-benefit balance, management commitment, internal technology readiness and users’ attention.This study represents an investigation into ICR adoption and practices among the listed companies in Jordan. Therefore, the ability to generalise the results may be limited to this context. Future research may also consider retesting the study model, regarding the perceived factors of ICR adoption, in other contexts. The study contributes in providing managers and regulators with a diagnostic tool, assessing the status quo of ICR as a voluntary disclosure practice in Jordan. The study also presents an assessment framework for ICR adoption and practices, which enable managers to evaluate the current status of the company regarding multiple aspects of readiness for engaging in ICR: organisation, management, technology and environment.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Corporate reporting, Internet corporate reporting, online disclosure, Business reporting
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HG Finance
Divisions:	Liverpool Business School
Date Deposited:	27 Oct 2016 12:59
Last Modified:	03 Sep 2021 23:26
DOI or ID number:	10.24377/LJMU.t.00004341
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/4341

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