The integrated report can be considered as the
lead among the organisation’s corporate reports.
Other reports – such as the annual financial
statements or sustainability reports – can be
viewed as supporting reports and will contain
more detailed information than is required in
the integrated report. In describing how the
integrated report fits into the structure of
corporate reporting, the analogy of the octopus
is often used: “The head of the octopus can be
seen as the integrated report. The head is
connected to the multitude of arms with each
arm representing a detailed report or
communication, such as the annual financial
statements, sustainability report, governance
report, remuneration report, regulatory reports
and so on. The integrated report … connects
the different types of information, including the
financial to the non-financial, and in so doing
explains how the company creates value and
how it can continue to create value in the
future.” 6