Technology adoption and institutional influences on ESG reporting: an interpretive study of South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPX) listed companies
Sheikh Ali Tanzil, Kishor Chandra MeherPurpose
This study aims to examine how Fijian firms navigate the intersection of global environment, social and governance (ESG) mandates and local institutional constraints. It investigates technology adoption as a symbolic resource rather than a neutral enabler of transparency in small island developing states (SIDS).
Design/methodology/approach
Adopting an interpretive research paradigm and a managerial sensemaking lens, this research utilises a qualitative multi-case study design. Data was gathered through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with senior executives from firms listed on the South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPX) and a critical review of corporate disclosures.
Findings
The results reveal a front-stage and back-stage dichotomy where firms utilise digital infrastructures as a technological veil. In Fiji’s low-enforcement environment, imported coercive pressures from global bodies like the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) drive a legitimacy-first pathway. This leads to digital decoupling, where impressive digital outputs mask manual and resource-constrained operational realities. Furthermore, the study distinguishes between deceptive greenwashing and pragmatic scaling, a sensemaking strategy used to bridge the gap between global expectations and local expertise gaps.
Originality/value
This research extends institutional theory to examine the digital-substantive gap in emerging economies. By introducing digital decoupling, it offers a framework for understanding how technology facilitates symbolic compliance in SIDS, providing insights for regulators at the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) and SPX to move beyond digital facades towards substantive accountability.