FACTORS INFLUENCING CORPORATE ETHICAL VALUES DISCLOSURES: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Authors

  • Corina Joseph 1Faculty of Accountancy, Universiti Teknologi MARA 2Accounting Research Institute, Universiti Teknologi MARA
  • Jennifer Tunga Janang Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA
  • Sharifah Norzehan Syed Yusuf Accounting Research Institute, Universiti Teknologi MARA
  • Mariam Rahmat Faculty of Accountancy, Universiti Teknologi MARA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33736/ijbs.5613.2023

Keywords:

Ethical values, disclosure, corporate governance, systematic literature review

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to review the research patterns that examined factors influencing ethical values and practices disclosures among public listed companies in Malaysia. Through a systematic literature review (SLR) process, the paper reports a step-by-step approach to examining past studies and theories by utilizing the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) method. Past articles were identified through Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar, which cover a period from when the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance (MCCG) was established in 2000 until 2021. The results of our systematic literature review managed to categorize these factors into internal (board commitment, board characteristics, and company characteristics) and external (regulatory framework and international guidelines). While the sub-categories in each factor were mostly driven by compliance with the MCCG 2012 and MCCG 2017, the items on ethical practices and actions require more attention for further research. This paper recommends more studies to be conducted to examine these factors from the perspectives of board commitment, board characteristics, and firm characteristics as moderating variables. Our paper recommends large companies to adopt integrated reporting based on a globally recognised framework in promoting greater transparency and accountability as well as reducing duplication. The recommendations in this regulatory framework may influence the Board of Directors’ commitment to report more reflections of quality, and ethical values voluntarily. This paper is among the first of its kind to present a systematic literature review, which examines factors influencing ethical values and practices on disclosures, specifically in developing countries.

References

Abidin, A. F. Z., Hashim, H. A., & Ariff, A. M. (2017). Ethical commitments and financial performance: Evidence from publicly listed companies in Malaysia. Asian Academy of Management Journal, 22(2), 53-95.

https://doi.org/10.21315/aamj2017.22.2.3

Abidin, A. F. Z., Hasim, H. A., & Ariff, A. M. (2020). Commitment towards ethics: A sustainable corporate agenda by non-financial companies in Malaysia. Journal of Science and Management, 15(7), 164-182.

Abidin, A.F.Z, Hasim, H. A., Salleh, Z., & Devi, S. (2019). Ethical practice disclosure of Malaysian public listed companies. KnE Social Sciences, 3(22), 1168-1201. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v3i22.5119

https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v3i22.5119

Abidin, N. A. Z., & Ahmad, H. (2007). Corporate governance in Malaysia: The effect of corporate reforms and state business relation in Malaysia. Asian Academy of Management Journal, 12(1), 23-34.

Adam, M. A., & Rachman-Moore, D. (2004). The methods used to implement and ethical code of conduct and employee attitudes. Journal of Business Ethics, 54, 225-244.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-004-1774-4

Ah Choi, J. K., & Joseph, C. (2020). A systematic review-determinants of forward-looking information disclosure by Malaysian companies. International Journal of Service Management and Sustainability, 5(2), 13-36.

https://doi.org/10.24191/ijsms.v5i2.11709

Asmuni, A. I. H., Nawawi, A., & Salin, A. S. A. P. (2015). Ownership structure and auditor's ethnicity of Malaysian public listed companies. Pertanika Journal of Social Science and Humanities, 23(3), 603-622.

Bhowmik R., & Wang S. (2020). Stock market volatility and return Analysis: A systematic literature review. Entropy (Basel), 22(5), 522. https://doi.org/10.3390/e22050522

https://doi.org/10.3390/e22050522

Brenner, S. N. (1992). Ethics programs and their dimensions. Journal of Business Ethics, 11, 391-399.

https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00870551

Chalmers, I., & Glasziou, P. (2009). Avoidable waste in the production and reporting of research evidence. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 114(6), 1341-1345. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60329-9

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60329-9

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants [CIMA] (2014). Embedding ethical values: A guide for CIMA partners. https://www.cimaglobal.com/PageFiles/372602958/CIMA%20Embedding%20Ethical%20Values.pdf

Choi, T. H., & Jung, J. (2008). Ethical commitment, financial performance, and valuation: An empirical investigation of Korean companies. Journal of Business Ethics, 81, 447-463. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9506-1

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9506-1

Chong, K. Y. (2018). Aligning malaysian code of corporate governance 2017 towards international standard of governance among Malaysia companies (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). UTAR.

Chonko, L. B., Wotruba, T. R., & Loe, T. W. (2003). Ethics code familiarity and usefulness: Views on idealist and relativist managers under varying conditions of turbulence. Journal of Business Ethics, 42(3), 237-252.

https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022261006692

Clark, W. R., Clark, L. A., Raffo, D. M., & Williams Jr, R. I. (2020). Extending Fisch and Block's (2018) tips for a systematic review in management and business literature. Management Review Quarterly, 71, 215-231.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-020-00184-8

Dah, M. F. M., Zainon, S., Zakaria, N. B., & Omar, N. (2016). Ethical values and competitiveness within concentrated ownership structure in Malaysia. Management & Accounting Review (MAR), 15(2), 57-75.

Driskill, G., Chatham-Carpenter, A., & Mclntyre, K. (2019). The power of a mission: Transformations of a department culture through social constructionist principles. Innovative Higher Education, 44, 69-83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-018-9449-8

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-018-9449-8

Eagly, A. H., & Wood, W. (1994). Using research syntheses to plan future research. The Handbook of Research Synthesis. Russell Sage Foundation.

Etheredge, J. M. (1996). The influence of corporate codes of ethical conduct on ethical standards in Hong Kong companies. Business Research Centre, School of Business, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong.

Gough, D., & Elbourne, D. (2002). Systematic research synthesis to inform policy, practice and democratic debate. Social policy and society, 1(3), 225-236.

https://doi.org/10.1017/S147474640200307X

Hashim, H. A., Abidin, A. F. Z., Salleh, Z., & Devi, S. S. (2020). Panel dataset of ethical commitment disclosures in Malaysia. Data in Brief. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2020.105624

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2020.105624

Ho, M. F. (2010). A critique of corporate ethics codes in Hong Kong construction. Building Research & Information, 38(4), 411-427.

https://doi.org/10.1080/09613211003665125

Ho, P. L., & Taylor, G. (2013). Corporate governance and different types of voluntary: Evidence from Malaysian listed firms. Pacific Accounting Review, 25(1), 4-29.

https://doi.org/10.1108/01140581311318940

Husnin, A. I., Nawawi, A., & Salin, A. S. A. P. (2016). Corporate governance and auditor quality - Malaysian evidence. Asian Review of Accounting, 24(2), 202-230.

https://doi.org/10.1108/ARA-11-2013-0072

Ibrahim, T. A. F. T., Hashim, H. A., & Ariff, A. M. (2020). Ethical values and bank performance: Evidence from financial institutions in Malaysia. Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, 11(1), 233-256. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIABR-11-2016-0139

https://doi.org/10.1108/JIABR-11-2016-0139

Kohut, G. F., & Corriher, S. E. (1994). The relationship of age, gender, experience and awareness of written ethics policies to business decision making. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 59(1), 32-39.

Laouisset, D. E. (2009). Organizational commitment to ethics and international ethical perspectives: United Arab Emirates (UAE) Banks as a case study. Employee Responsibilities Rights Journal, 21, 333-339.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-009-9128-0

Lode, N. A., & Noh, I. M. (2020). Governance disclosures and family firms' performance: The moderating role of CEO choice. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(3), 578-585. doi: 10.31838/jcr.07.03.102

https://doi.org/10.31838/jcr.07.03.102

Mallett, R., Hagen-Zanker, J., Slater, R., & Duvendack, M. (2012). The benefits and challenges of using systematic reviews in international development research. Journal of Development Effectiveness, 4(3), 445-455.

https://doi.org/10.1080/19439342.2012.711342

Mandelbaum, A. (2020). Ethical communication: The basic principles. https://paradoxmarketing.io/capabilities/knowledge-management/insights/ethical-communication-the-basic-principles/

Martín-Martín, A., Orduna-Malea, E., Thelwall, M., & López-Cózar, E. D. (2018). Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus: A systematic comparison of citations in 252 subject categories. Journal of Informetrics, 12(4), 1160-1177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2018.09.002

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2018.09.002

Melé, D., Debeljuh, P., & Arruda, M. C. (2006). Corporate ethical policies in large corporations in Argentina, Brazil and Spain. Journal of Business Ethics, 63, 21-38. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-005-7100-y

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-005-7100-y

Minority Shareholder Watchdog Group [MSWG] (2018). Malaysia-Asean Corporate Governance Report 2017, Kuala Lumpur. https://www.mswg.org.my/sites/default/files/MalaysiaASEAN%20CG%20Report%202017%20%28Website%29.pdf

Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman D G. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement BMJ 2009; 339 :b2535 doi:10.1136/bmj.b2535

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b2535

Nwachukwu, S. L., & Vitell, S. J. (1997). The influence of corporate culture on managerial ethical judgments. Journal of Business Ethics, 16(8), 757-776.

https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017905602017

Othman, R., Ishak, I. F., Ariff, S. M. M., & Aris, N. A. (2014). Influence of audit committee characteristics on voluntary ethics disclosure. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 145, 330-342.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.06.042

Paré, G., Trudel, M. C., Jaana, M., & Kitsiou, S. (2015). Synthesizing information systems knowledge: A typology of literature reviews. Information and Management, 52(2), 183-99.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2014.08.008

Peričić, T. P., & Tanveer, S. (2019). Why Systematic Reviews Matter. A brief History, Overview, and Practical Guide for Author. https://www.elsevier.com/connect/authors-update/why-systematic-reviews-matter

Petrosino, A., Boruch, R., Soydan, H., & Duggan, L. M. (2001). Meeting the challenges of evidence-based policy: The Campbell collaboration. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 578(1), 14-34.

https://doi.org/10.1177/000271620157800102

Petticrew, M. (2001). Systematic reviews from astronomy to zoology: Myths and misconceptions. BMJ, 322, 98-101.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.322.7278.98

Rahman, R. A., Danbatta, B. L., & Saimi, N. S. (2016). Determinants of ethical identity disclosure in Islamic banks: An analysis of practices in Bahrain and Malaysia. Jurnal Pengurusan, 46, 13-22.

https://doi.org/10.17576/pengurusan-2016-46-02

Rimin, F., Udin, S., Bujang, I., Wong, A. S. C., & Harbi, A. (2019). Malaysian code on corporate governance and risk management committees towards firm's performance in Malaysia. The Business & Management Review, 10(3), 155-160.

Salim, M.R. (2011). Corporate Governance in Malaysia: The Macro and Micro Issues. In Mallin, C.A. (ed.), Handbook on International Corporate Governance: Country Analyses 2nd edn. Edward Elgar

https://doi.org/10.4337/9781849808293.00020

Salin, A. S. A. P., Ismail, Z., Smith, M., & Nawawi, A. (2019). Board ethical commitment and corporate performance: Malaysian evidence. Journal of Financial Crime, 26(4), 1146-1164.

https://doi.org/10.1108/JFC-10-2017-0099

Samsuddin, S. F., Shaffril, H. A. M., & Fauzi, A. (2020). Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, to the rural libraries we go! - a systematic literature review. Library & Information Science Research, 42(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2019.100997

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2019.100997

Schwartz, M. (2004). Effective corporate codes of ethics: Perceptions of code users. Journal of Business Ethics, 55(4), 323-343.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-004-2169-2

Securities Commission. (2017). Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance. https://www.sc.com.my/api/documentms/download.ashx?id=4d1f5610-cf41-455c-9c20-21fa4c310f46

Shaffril, H. A. M., Krauss, S. E., & Samsuddin, S. F. (2018). A systematic review on Asian's farmers' adaptation practices towards climate change. Science of the Total Environment, 644, 683-695.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.349

Shaffril, H. A. M., Samah, A. A., Samsuddin, S. F., & Ali, Z. (2019). Mirror-mirror on the wall, what climate change adaptation strategies are practiced by the Asian's fishermen of all?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 232, 104-117.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.262

Somers, M. J. (2001). Ethical codes of conduct and organizational context: A study of the relationship between codes of conduct, employee behaviour and organizational values. Journal of Business Ethics, 30(2), 185-195.

https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006457810654

Sulaiman, T. I. N. T., & Ahmad, N. S. (2017). Factors that influence the corporate governance failure in Malaysia: Proceedings of the FGIC 1st Conference on Governance & Integrity 2017 (pp. 79-93). Kuantan Malaysia: MyUnitNet.

Tranfield, D., Denyer, D., & Smart, P. (2003). Towards a methodology for developing evidence-informed management knowledge by means of systematic review. British Journal of Management, 14(3), 207-222.

https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.00375

Wahh, W., B., Sek-Khin, E., W., & Abdullah, M. (2020). Corporate risk disclosure in emerging economy: A systematic literature review and future directions. Asian Journal of Asian Perspective, 13(2), 17-39.

https://doi.org/10.22452/AJAP.vol13no2.2

Xiao, Y., & Watson, M. (2019). Guidance on conducting a systematic literature review. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 139(1), 93-112.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X17723971

Younger, P. (2010). Using Google Scholar to conduct a literature search. Nursing Standard, 24(45), 40-46. doi: 10.7748/ns2010.07.24.45.40.c7906.

https://doi.org/10.7748/ns2010.07.24.45.40.c7906

Yusuf, N. R. M., & Joseph, C. (2021). a systematic review on corporate philanthropy disclosure by Malaysian companies. International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting Finance and Management Sciences, 11(3), 523-53.

https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARAFMS/v11-i3/11052

Zaini, S. M., Sharma, U., Samkin, G., & Davey, H. (2019). Impact of ownership structure on the level of voluntary disclosure: A study of listed family-controlled companies in Malaysia. Accounting Forum, 44(1), 1-34. https://doi.org/10.1080/01559982.2019.1605874

https://doi.org/10.1080/01559982.2019.1605874

Downloads

Published

2023-04-07

How to Cite

Corina Joseph, Jennifer Tunga Janang, Sharifah Norzehan Syed Yusuf, & Mariam Rahmat. (2023). FACTORS INFLUENCING CORPORATE ETHICAL VALUES DISCLOSURES: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW. International Journal of Business and Society, 24(1), 219–236. https://doi.org/10.33736/ijbs.5613.2023