Research Methodology and Timeline for Carbon Accounting Study

This assignment is about developing a research methodology and timeline for a study on carbon accounting. It involves selecting a subject, searching for justification, developing literature, choosing suitable methods, collecting data, evaluating and representing the data, analyzing the findings, drawing conclusions and making recommendations. The timeline for this project includes 9 weeks with specific tasks to be completed each week.

Running head: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
Climate Change and its Consequences for Stakeholders
Name of the University:
Name of the Student:
Authors Note:

1CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
Table of Contents
1. Literature Review............................................................................................................2
1.1. Carbon or Voluntary Disclosure by Companies.......................................................2
1.2. Stakeholder Theory...................................................................................................2
1.3. Carbon Disclosure Determinants Within Corporate Real Estate Companies...........3
2. Conceptual Model............................................................................................................3
3. Hypothesis.......................................................................................................................4
4. Proxy Measures for Theoretical Constructs:...................................................................5
5. Research Method:............................................................................................................6
5.1 Research Approach:...................................................................................................6
5.2 Data Collection Technique:.......................................................................................6
5.3 Sampling and Sample Size:.......................................................................................7
5.4 Data Analysis Technique:..........................................................................................7
References:..........................................................................................................................8
Appendix:..........................................................................................................................11

2CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
1. Literature Review
1.1. Carbon or Voluntary Disclosure by Companies
Chiuand Wang (2015) indicated that CDP works for decreasing greenhouse gas
emissions of the companies with reducing the risk of climate change. These researchers also
indicated that in the year 2015, 822 investors have more than US$95 trillion within assets backed
CDP’s climate change information request. Guenther et al. (2016) had a different opinion
regarding greenhouse gas information gradually disclosed by the organizations of the country
that is listed. This is also carried out by means of two different communication channels like
corporate report and the project of carbon disclosure. From the stakeholder theory perspective, it
is indicated that the greenhouse gas amounts are gradually decreased within the corporate reports
within the CDP (Hartmann, Perego and Young 2013).
1.2. Stakeholder Theory
According to Lee, Park and Klassen (2015) stakeholder theory is indicated as an
organizational management theory as well as voluntary carbon disclosures that is associated with
maintaining morals and values of managing all the company’s stakeholders. These researchers
also indicated that this theory makes sure that an organization’s intention is to develop
stakeholders’ value (Lovell 2010). Due to these causes, a company must take into account its
consumers, suppliers, communities and shareholders. In accordance, Jaggi et al. (2017) stated
that stakeholder engagement is a two-way theory of communication which focuses on
maintaining information exchange concerning the issues related with domestic sustainability. It
is understood to be a dialogue which supports the council in deciding the choices that will be
acceptable to the local community.

3CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
Figure 1: Stakeholder Theory
(Source: Liesen et al.2015)
1.3. Carbon Disclosure Determinants within Corporate Real Estate Companies
Yunus, Elijido-Ten and Abhayawansa (2016) stated that financial market aspect pressure,
social pressures, institutional along with economic pressure are important CDP determinants in
the corporate real estate organizations. In contrast, Li et al. (2016) indicated that taking into
account these aspects the organizations are explaining the climate change effect in the economies
which has an intention to deal with efficient disclosure of corporate carbon emission.
2. Conceptual Model
The conceptual framework is developed below in order to answer the research hypotheses
and question. It also centers on sustainable reporting process and carbon disclosure which has
integrated factors of reporting, planning and sustainability accounting (Kalu, Buang and Aliagha
2016). The strategy of integrated reporting as well as sustainability accounting considers a
comprehensive analysis of the engagement extent and nature within every phrase of accounting

4CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
and reporting process. Recognition of vital shareholders is important in order to understand the
individuals that are contributing to reporting and accounting process as well as determining
salience of stakeholders (Clarkson et al. 2015). The conceptual framework elaborates numerous
proxies related with theories indicated in the figure below as well as their effect on voluntary
carbon disclosure. The framework also signifies the carbon disclosures in the corporate real
estate companies. The theoretical framework will explain the relationship between the
independent and dependent variable such as target of voluntary minimization and stakeholder
power. Implementation of emission reduction targets are highly associated with carbon
disclosure and greatly impacts stakeholder interaction in consideration to asymmetric and
imperfect information.
Figure 2: Conceptual Framework of the Research
(Source: Smith, Morreale and Mariani 2018)
TargetofvoluntaryminimisationStakeholderpower

5CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
3. Hypothesis
The hypotheses those are meant to be tested through accomplishment of this research is
explained under:
H1: There is a positive relationship between stakeholder power and voluntary reduction target
H2: Low powered organizations are deemed to respond properly to pressure of the powerful
stakeholders
H3: Suppliers of powerful organizationstake into accountadoption ofchallenging emissions
targets at the time their customer declares a sustainability commitment
4. Proxy Measures for Theoretical Constructs:
Theoretical
Construct
Proxy measure Dependent variable,
independent, or
Control Variable
Source
Research centres
pertaining to
voluntary
disclosure-
stakeholder theory
The organisations
having limited
power are probable
to act as per the
interests of their
shareholders under
pressure
Target of voluntary
minimisation will be
the dependent variable
here
Disclosure of target within CDP
Moral responsibility
of the organisations
regarding the effects
on stakeholders
If the customers
desire for
commitment in
sustainability, the
Stakeholder power
will be the
independent variable
Data will be attained by assessing
the relative industrial size and
Porter’s five forces framework

6CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
suppliers of
powerful
organisations
would impose
greater emission
targets
here
5. Research Method:
5.1 Research Approach:
Since the researcher will take into quantitative research approach to evaluate the
responses accumulated from the respondents. The positive research approach will be deployed in
evaluating that climate change has large effects on the stakeholders of the corporate
organisations (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault 2015). Along with this, there is direct association
between the analysis of quantitative data and positivism research philosophy. The data
accumulated will be assessed through the previous trends and current models coupled with the
established facts (Mackey and Gass 2015). Thus is the main reason due to which deductive
research approach is considered as the most effective approach to accomplish rightful findings
from the research.
5.2 Data Collection Technique:
In order to assess the effects of climate change on the stakeholders, there will be
employment of primary as well as secondary data (Lewis 2015). The quantitative data denotes
the segment of information, which could be assessed to accumulate information in relation to the
research findings. It is taken into consideration greater amount of data and size of sample for its

7CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
evaluation. Due to this reason, appropriate respondents will be chosen to participate in the
process of survey for achieving suitable findings related to practice of stakeholder theory along
with dealing with the issues of accounting (Flick 2015).
5.3 Sampling and Sample Size:
In order to carry out with the research, the method of simple random sampling will be
used for surveying the corporate professionals. This method is selected primarily because it
provides equivalent opportunities to the participants of being selected in the process of survey
(Vaioleti 2016). For this specific research, 42 organisations will be chosen carrying out its
business operations in UK to interview their shareholders and managers along with assessment
of their responses.
5.4 Data Analysis Technique:
The data accumulated for this specific research to assess the effects of climate change on
the stakeholders of the corporate organisations will necessitate the use of greatly effective data
analysis along with statistical techniques. This is needed for accomplishing appropriate and
reliable findings from this specific research. Along with this, it enables to sustain the analysis
and reliability of the accumulated data (Silverman 2016). Graphs and tables will be used for
representing the quantitative information collected from the corporate professionals. As a result,
it will become easier to interpret the accumulated data in an effective fashion (Wegener et al.
2013). Tools like Microsoft Excel will be utilised to assess the collected data. This will be
beneficial for transferring the participants’ opinion into percent form, which would help in
estimating the overall viewpoint of the participants (Brinkmann 2014).

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References:
Brinkmann, S., 2014. Interview. In Encyclopedia of critical psychology (pp. 1008-1010).
Springer New York.
Chiu, T.K. and Wang, Y.H., 2015. Determinants of social disclosure quality in Taiwan: An
application of stakeholder theory. Journal of business ethics, 129(2), pp.379-398.
Clarkson, P.M., Li, Y., Pinnuck, M. and Richardson, G.D., 2015. The valuation relevance of
greenhouse gas emissions under the European Union carbon emissions trading
scheme. European Accounting Review, 24(3), pp.551-580.
Flick, U., 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
Guenther, E., Guenther, T., Schiemann, F. and Weber, G., 2016. Stakeholder relevance for
reporting: explanatory factors of carbon disclosure. Business & Society, 55(3), pp.361-397.
Hartmann, F., Perego, P. and Young, A., 2013. Carbon accounting: Challenges for research in
management control and performance measurement. Abacus, 49(4), pp.539-563.
Jaggi, B., Allini, A., Macchioni, R. and Zagaria, C., 2017. The factors motivating voluntary
disclosure of carbon information: Evidence based on Italian listed companies. Organization &
Environment, p.1086026617705282.
Kalu, J.U., Buang, A. and Aliagha, G.U., 2016. Determinants of voluntary carbon disclosure in
the corporate real estate sector of Malaysia. Journal of environmental management, 182, pp.519-
524.

9CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
Lee, S.Y., Park, Y.S. and Klassen, R.D., 2015. Market responses to firms' voluntary climate
change information disclosure and carbon communication. Corporate Social Responsibility and
Environmental Management, 22(1), pp.1-12.
Lewis, S., 2015. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five
approaches. Health promotion practice, 16(4), pp.473-475.
Li, D., Huang, M., Ren, S., Chen, X. and Ning, L., 2016. Environmental legitimacy, green
innovation, and corporate carbon disclosure: Evidence from CDP China 100. Journal of Business
Ethics, pp.1-16.
Liesen, A., Hoepner, A.G., Patten, D.M. and Figge, F., 2015. Does stakeholder pressure
influence corporate GHG emissions reporting? Empirical evidence from Europe. Accounting,
Auditing & Accountability Journal, 28(7), pp.1047-1074.
Lovell, H.C., 2010. Governing the carbon offset market. Wiley interdisciplinary reviews: climate
change, 1(3), pp.353-362.
Mackey, A. and Gass, S.M., 2015. Second language research: Methodology and design.
Routledge.
Silverman, D. ed., 2016. Qualitative research. Sage.
Smith, J.A., Morreale, M. and Mariani, M.E., 2018. Climate change disclosure: Moving towards
a brave new world. Capital markets law journal, 3(4), pp.469-485.
Taylor, S.J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M., 2015. Introduction to qualitative research methods: A
guidebook and resource. John Wiley & Sons.

10CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
Vaioleti, T.M., 2016. Talanoa research methodology: A developing position on Pacific
research. Waikato Journal of Education, 12(1).
Wegener, M., Elayan, F.A., Felton, S. and Li, J., 2013. Factors influencing corporate
environmental disclosures. Accounting Perspectives, 12(1), pp.53-73.
Yunus, S., Elijido-Ten, E. and Abhayawansa, S., 2016. Determinants of carbon management
strategy adoption: Evidence from Australia’s top 200 publicly listed firms. Managerial Auditing
Journal, 31(2), pp.156-179.

11CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
Appendix:
Task Week
1
Week
2
Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
7
Week
8
Week
9
Selection of subject
and search for
justification
Developing literature
Choosing suitable
methods
Collection of Data
Data evaluation and
representation
Analysing the
findings
Conclusions and
recommendations
Uploading draft of
the research
Printing and final
submission
Table 1: Timeline of the research
(Source: As created by author)