Establishing the reporting process

Reporting may seem like a simple exercise in transparency but it is more than that. In fact, it gives management an additional opportunity for improvement, through readers’ reactions, criticisms and suggestions. Considering stakeholder views also helps to shape strategy, goals and objectives. All the inputs from direct stakeholders should be carefully reviewed as part of a management learning process to adapt and fine-tune the company’s sustainable development objectives.

The reporting process comprises five main steps:

• Defining the reporting objectives
• Planning the report
• Constructing the report
• Distributing the report
• Collecting and analyzing feedback

At each of these steps, several questions should be considered and the reporting organization should develop its own answers.