New Approaches in Assessing CSR & Sustainability Disclosure: Insights into the Updateability of Web-based Data

Aim: this paper aims to introduce navel methods assessing longitudinally the performance of firms in CSR & sustainability disclosure that have been published on their websites of 13 major oil companies working in Libya. We develop the methods of the extent of updating Web information in two ways, the significance of CSR-related Website Reconstruction (CSRWR), Updateability Rates (URs) of Web CSR contents. Furthermore, investigate how and why the political change, and its consequences, influence the metrics of updateability of Web CSR & sustainability disclosure in that country with special regard on the contrasts between foreign and local ownerships. Research method: around 2000 CSR data records, related to the period from 2008 to 2015, have been collected by accessing more 6000 web pages on websites of 13 major oil companies working Libya. These data have been uniquely analysed to assess commensurably the awareness and significance of CSR & sustainability disclosure in the studied firms. Findings: the crises time clearly influences the performance of firms in website management from CSR & sustainability disclosure perspective. We have deductively reasoned the longitudinal change of the significance of CSRWR, URs of web contents in respect to different types of CSR & sustainability information and different types of ownerships. Originality: understanding the awareness and significance of CSR & sustainability disclosure deeper by introducing the chronological map of CSRWR using publicly available timing data. Keywords: CSR & sustainability disclosure; updateability; Web data; Website reconstruction; Libya