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Volume 7 - Number 2 | July 2023

Impression management tactics in Covid-19 related disclosures: a study on the annual reports of Bangladeshi listed insurance companies

Dewan Mahboob Hossain, Md. Saiful Alam, and Mohammed Mehadi Masud Mazumder

12/07/2023 103 7 0
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Covid-19 Impression management Insurance companies Bangladesh

Abstract:

Purpose
The purpose of this article is to explore the impression management practices in Covid-19 related discourses in the annual reports of the insurance companies in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach
To fulfil this objective, the authors have conducted a discourse analysis of the Covid-19 related corporate narratives in the latest annual reports of listed insurance companies. The findings are then interpreted through the lens of impression management theory, following the impression management strategies identified by Caliskan et al. (2021).

Findings
It is found that companies tried to manage the impression of the stakeholders through the strategic use of language. There is evidence that the companies used assertive and performance-oriented tactics to impress their stakeholders. In few cases, defensive strategies were applied.

Practical implications
This study will facilitate improving the understanding of corporate communication during the Covid-19 crisis. Policymakers will be able to understand the current status of Covid-19 related disclosures and consider the necessity to provide guidance that may lead to better accountability during the crisis.

Originality/value
This study will contribute to the limited literature on Covid-19 related disclosure from the context of developing economies. This research is methodologically novel as it applies discourse analysis and interprets the findings through the lens of impression management.

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