Segment coverage is introduced to supply users of the fiscal study a better position of the public presentation and chances of peculiar parts of the company alternatively of those of the full group. Harmonizing to the para.1 of the IFRS8, the nucleus rule of section coverage is that “ An entity shall unwrap information to enable users of its fiscal statements to measure the nature and fiscal effects of the concern activities in which it engages and the economic environments in which it operates. ”
Since the old criterion, IAS 14 Segment Reporting, has been pointed out with important drawbacks, it has been replaced by the more acceptable new criterion, IFRS 8 Operating Segment. However, although there is revised criterion, some arguments over the benefits and costs of section coverage still take topographic point. The followers is traveling to turn out benefits of section coverage outweighed the costs of it.
One disadvantage of section coverage is that there is deficiency of clear guideline and ordinances for specific coverage affairs. Since there is no clear criterion, companies may fix the information study harmonizing to the internal determination which may be different from other companies. Companies may besides be inconsistent with respect to the designation of sections and they may take what information can be shown in the study and in what manner the information would be disclosed. This harms the transparence and comparison of fiscal coverage that users may non be able to compare information over clip and with other companies.
However, by utilizing direction attack, information provided from section coverage would be more relevant to the investors or other stakeholders. This is because this attack provides utile information which is stuff to the users and permits users to take a expression at the whole image of the entity. Besides users are able to look at the public presentation in the same manner as the direction, so they can understand the companies better and therefore do more appropriate economic determination.
Second, there is a job that there have been immense costs for fixing the section information. All listed companies have to unwrap metameric net income and loss with excess informations and information that seems to be relevant, such as, external and internal grosss, material non-cash points, and material points of income and disbursal. This may already bring forth high costs. Besides, companies are besides required to supply rapprochement for users to understand the difference between consolidated information and the information provided under section coverage.
However, although this incurred high costs, supplying section information is valuable for the company itself and besides the users of fiscal study. For the company, it can heighten image by supplying better presentation of the entity ‘s general economic public presentation. This better public presentation presentation would turn out there are better coordination and organisation of the concern activities. Therefore such information is utile for users that it reduces uncertainness about the company. The users can see how direction degree makes determination and how the concern is traveling to develop. In other words, it shows consequence of stewardship of direction and avoids losingss of investors who rely on the fiscal information.
Another unfavorable judgment is that section describing provides small protection to the little listed companies. Segment describing requires companies to unwrap of import internal information which may be confidential to a concern. If commercially sensitive information is provided to other rivals, this would damage the result of the concern undertaking and harm the economic growing of such company.
However, it is claimed that the section coverage criterions provide appropriate coverage demands for the little listed company merely because many of the of import internal information would be indispensable to stakeholders. No affair it is a little company or a big company, information required by the users seem the same. Besides it would be fair merely when all viing companies to unwrap same information with the same measure and quality.
Last, section coverage may non be suited in instance the concern activities are extremely inter-related to each other. It may be improper to see the sections separately if the success of a section is relevant and dependent to other concern activities. If users merely view the sections separately they may lose some of import interrelatedness of the concern and do incorrect economic determinations towards the company.
However, section information enables users to place which section is executing better by comparing consequences of each section. For illustration, it shows investors which parts of the company outperform and which parts would be valuable for puting. When reading the fiscal study, looking at single section would assist users to place the over-performed or under-performed sectors, so they would clearly and readily understand which concern activities in fact lead to the group ‘s success.
By the manner, from the European Union study, other supporting is that section coverage does non make jobs associating to corporate administration. It is believed that direction information enhances the transparence of the companies. Besides the head runing determination shaper ( CODM ) is seen as a utile map for accomplishing different corporate administration issues. Segment describing on the other manus is still encouraging company board of managers to move and describe for the best involvement of the stockholders.
The above shows that although there is some statement against section coverage, it can be certain that section information would be better maintained since its benefits both the companies and the stakeholders. Since there are deep value back uping section coverage and its disadvantages are merely of small influence, it is proved that benefits of section coverage outweighed the costs of it.
