Accounting - Research Publications
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ItemWhy did they do that? Variability in routine transactions(EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LIMITED, 2009)Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a frank reflection on the authors' journey in applying social theory to understand the routine use of a transaction‐processing system in a rich field context. Design/methodology/approach Inspired by a perplexing initial observation, the program of research moved quickly from one of more traditional positivist methods (experiments and surveys) to case study research. The case study involved observation and comparative analysis of the routine use of a reservation system across a large franchised accommodation chain. Findings As a reflective essay, the key findings relate to the research process itself. The essence of the findings is that applying social theory is itself a social process. Originality/value The paper finds that insight can come from understanding the routine use of IT as a social artefact, not just from studying crises or latest innovations.
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ItemState Control, Legal Investor Protection, and Ownership Concentration: Evidence from China(WILEY, 2009-03)ABSTRACT Manuscript Type: Empirical Research Question/Issue: To control for the omitted‐variables and aggregation biases problem existing in previous cross‐country studies, our paper investigates the relationship of ownership concentration and legal investor protection across regions and over time in one emerging economy, China, during the period 1992 to 2003. Moreover, this paper examines whether state control affects this relationship. Research Findings/Results: For state‐controlled firms, we cannot find the typical inverse relationship between ownership concentration and legal investor protection documented by La Porta, Lopez‐de‐Silanes, Shleifer, and Vishny (1998), since state per se works as a substitute for formal legal investor protection in protecting property rights by exploiting political power. However, for non‐state‐controlled firms, the inverse relationship does hold. Theoretical Implications: Our findings suggest that the nature of the controlling shareholder should be taken into account when examining the relationship between ownership concentration and legal investor protection. Moreover, our findings give new insights, especially to the study on other emerging economies that share similar characteristics with China in terms of legal development and government control. Finally, the cross‐region study within one country provides a new perspective on the research in this area. Practitioner Implications: First, to provide a level playing field for different types of investors, the state's dual role of controlling shareholder and political power holder should be separated. Second, it is important to build up a good legal system to protect investors in order for a country to develop its capital markets, especially for the development of the non‐state sector.
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ItemQualitative management accounting research: rationale, pitfalls and potential A comment on Vaivio (2008)(EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LTD, 2008)Purpose This paper's purpose is to provide a commentary on “Qualitative management accounting research: rationale, pitfalls and potential,” a paper by Juhani Vaivio. Design/methodology/approach The approach is to draw on alternative research paradigms to expand the definition and discussion of qualitative research in management accounting. Findings The paper endorses many of the prescriptions in Vaivio but expands the definition and discussion of qualitative research in management accounting to recognize the blurred boundaries with field research more generally, and to be more inclusive of qualitative field research from a positivist/functionalist perspective. Similarly, the need for qualitative research to challenge textbook, economics and consulting representations of management accounting is acknowledged, but the range of catalysts is expanded to highlight the potential for qualitative research building on both qualitative and quantitative extant research. This paper also seeks to broaden the discussion of legitimate study design characteristics and data collection methods, and to stress the importance of matching research design with research question. Originality/value The paper stresses the value of pluralism and inclusiveness in both methodological and method choices.
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ItemScale Effects in Capital Markets-Based Accounting Research(WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC, 2009-04-01)Abstract: Based on data simulated using a modified Ohlson (1995) valuation model, we investigate effects on inferences of five potential scale‐related effects: multiplicative and additive omitted scale factors, scale‐varying coefficients, survivorship, and heteroscedasticity. We find that diagnostics identified in prior research are not successful in detecting or distinguishing these scale effects. Thus, we investigate the effectiveness at mitigating scale effects of six specifications of regressions of equity market value on equity book value and earnings: undeflated, share‐deflated, equity book value‐deflated, lagged price‐deflated, returns, and equity market value‐deflated. For each specification, we compare frequency of correct rejection that the coefficients equal zero, coefficient bias and absolute error, and regression explanatory power. We find that share‐deflated and undeflated specifications generally perform the best, regardless of the type of scale effect.
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ItemThe Value of Assurance on Voluntary Nonfinancial Disclosure: An Experimental Evaluation(AMER ACCOUNTING ASSOC, 2009-05)SUMMARY: This study examines whether assurance on the voluntary provision of nonfinancial performance indicators affects the stock price estimates of a group of sophisticated financial report users. We conducted an experiment where participants were provided with a case study containing excerpts from a hypothetical company's annual report. Nonfinancial performance and assurance were manipulated in a 2 (positive and negative nonfinancial performance indicators) ×2 (assurance and no assurance) +1 (control condition) between-subjects design. After reading the case materials, the participants indicated whether they believed the company's stock price would increase or decrease based on the information provided. As expected, we found that the nonfinancial performance indicators had a significant effect on stock price estimates. In addition, consistent with attribution theory, an assurance report on the voluntarily disclosed nonfinancial performance indicators only had a significant effect on stock price estimates when the nonfinancial performance indicators were positive, suggesting that the value of assurance is context-specific. Our research contributes to the discussion on the value of expanded assurance services and also on the value of enhanced corporate disclosure.
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ItemAppropriate Audit Support System Use: The Influence of Auditor, Audit Team, and Firm Factors(AMER ACCOUNTING ASSOC, 2009-05)ABSTRACT: I use Adaptive Structuration Theory (DeSanctis and Poole 1994) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen 1991) to model the factors influencing whether auditors use audit support systems appropriately. Understanding the factors that influence appropriate use is important for audit firms to achieve efficient and effective audits from deploying audit support systems. Using a unique data set obtained from 569 auditors, I provide evidence that intention to use the system appropriately and external control increase appropriate use. I find that audit support system restrictiveness and the effectiveness of the audit review process are antecedents of external control. Team and firm consensus on appropriation are antecedents of perceived normative pressure, which, along with an auditor's attitude and self-efficacy, influence an auditor's intention to use the system appropriately. The model is relatively stable across different audit support system designs, but differences are evident across the audit team hierarchy.
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ItemDiagnosing decision quality(ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV, 2008-04)
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ItemDifferent interpretations of a “fixed” concept(Emerald, 2008-03-28)Purpose This paper aims to examine the reasons why introducing a “fixed” management accounting technique, such as Juran's cost of quality technique, results in different, rather than similar outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Actor‐Network Theory (ANT) was used to examine events in a longitudinal case study where Juran's cost of quality technique was introduced into two manufacturing plants of the same organisation. Findings Both plants developed the cost of quality in significantly different ways to Juran's “fixed” cost of quality technique. In addition, significant differences were also found between the plants, despite the intention to replicate the cost of quality from one plant to the other. Research limitations/implications Although the precise circumstances of the plants in the case study are unique, the principles of ANT that describe how the cost of quality was introduced and the differences that were observed, are likely to be relevant to other organisations and techniques. Practical implications The practical implications of this study are that “fixed” techniques – such as Juran's cost of quality – are not fixed and are unlikely to be implemented in “textbook” fashion. To manage the innovation process better, practitioners need to understand the heterogeneity of actors' interests, the variety and complexity of the context and the iterative, recursive nature of the innovation process. Originality/value Although the cost of quality is an important management accounting technique, this is one of the few studies to have empirically examined it.
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ItemPerformance Measurement System Design in Joint Strategy Settings(AMER ACCOUNTING ASSOC, 2008-12)ABSTRACT: This study examines empirically the association between joint strategies and the design of manufacturing performance measurement systems. Drawing on data collected from production managers in 84 industrial firms, the study seeks evidence of links between the implementation of differentiation, low-cost and joint strategies in production, and reliance on efficiency, financial, and customer-focused performance measures. The results indicate the paradoxical situation where virtually all units in the sample pursue competitive advantage in differentiation yet many rely intensely on efficiency and financial measures to measure manufacturing performance. Reliance on efficiency measures is observed to be associated with the pursuit of low-cost and differentiation strategies jointly. Reliance on financial measures, on the other hand, appears to be related to differentiation and not related to the strategic importance of low cost. The findings suggest that financial measures may have a role in monitoring the financial impact of differentiation and curbing excessive differentiation. However, efficiency measures are primarily related to the extent of strategic focus on low cost and may be observed in differentiating units when differentiation is pursued jointly with low cost.