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A preliminary study into impression management practices in chairman’s statements in South African annual reports: An attribution theory perspective

An attribution theory perspective

Yaeesh Yasseen
University of the Witwatersrand
Mahdiyyah Moola-Yasseen
University of the Witwatersrand
Nirupa Padia
University of the Witwatersrand
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A preliminary study into impression management practices in chairman’s statements in South African annual reports: An attribution theory perspective. (2022). Communicare: Journal for Communication Studies in Africa, 36(1), 47-66. https://doi.org/10.36615/jcsa.v36i1.1578
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  • Submited: October 12, 2022
  • Published: October 17, 2022

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a systematic difference in the
textual characteristics of information in the chairman’s statement of profitable and unprofitable
companies on the JSE main board. The study replicated research by Clatworthy and Jones
(2006) to determine the existence of impression management within chairman’s statements. The
difference in reporting between profitable and unprofitable companies was analysed in relation to
three pre-determined textual characteristics using an attribution theory perspective.
The primary conclusion drawn is that impression management does exist in the chairman’s
statements of companies listed on the JSE main board. Another finding of the study was that
‘extremely unprofitable’ companies are less likely to employ impression management. The
findings indicate that users of annual reports should be alert to the existence of reporting bias
introduced by management and its impact on the usefulness of management commentary in their
decision-making.

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How to Cite
A preliminary study into impression management practices in chairman’s statements in South African annual reports: An attribution theory perspective. (2022). Communicare: Journal for Communication Studies in Africa, 36(1), 47-66. https://doi.org/10.36615/jcsa.v36i1.1578

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