The SDGs, firm’s boundaries, and the role of accounting. Mindful ecosystems as the new value generating entity

In this chapter, we argue that, following the SDGs, the boundaries of value-generating entities need to be redefined. We propose the construct of a mindful ecosystem as the relevant value-generating entity and we discuss its implications in terms of decision making and accounting. The decision-making activities in mindful ecosystems do not take place only at the firm level (short-term and local focus) but also at the ecosystem level (long-term and global focus). This evolution of the boundaries of the value-generating entity has relevant implications from an accounting perspective as well and more specifically in terms of the content and form of the report.