Performance appraisal and premature sign-offs and underreporting of chargeable time of external auditors – internal benchmarking of experience and gender
Benchmarking: An International Journal
ISSN: 1463-5771
Article publication date: 1 December 2020
Issue publication date: 23 April 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The research paper investigates auditors' dysfunctional behaviors in relation to performance appraisals. It explores the dysfunctional audit behavior (DAB) differences among experienced/inexperienced and male/female auditors when expecting performance appraisals, how their perception of DAB changes and how their reactive-outcomes vary.
Design/methodology/approach
The survey comprises statements pulled from performance appraisal templates used by the Big Four audit firms in the UK. The sample has been tested during two different periods to highlight variations in the perception of DAB.
Findings
Experienced auditors become more tolerant of DAB compared to their perception when they were inexperienced. Inexperienced male auditors are generally more accepting of DAB compared to their inexperienced female counterparts. Experienced female respondents continue to be less accepting of DAB.
Originality/value
The study associates performance appraisal procedures with DAB. The analysis examines the perception of dysfunctional behavior according to the level of experience auditors (males and females) accumulate over time.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Editor Professor Angappa Gunasekaran and the anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback throughout the review process.
Citation
Nehme, R., Michael, A. and Kozah, A.E. (2021), "Performance appraisal and premature sign-offs and underreporting of chargeable time of external auditors – internal benchmarking of experience and gender", Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. 28 No. 4, pp. 1319-1334. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-10-2019-0467
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited