Measuring industry managerial discretion: a comparative study in the UK
Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change
ISSN: 1832-5912
Article publication date: 16 May 2023
Issue publication date: 14 March 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The theory of managerial discretion and the direct insights it provides in the understanding of the varying impact strategic and operational actions have on organizational change and business fortunes is an area of research potential underexplored in the UK. This study aims to establish whether the measurement of managerial discretion is constant between the two similar societal corporate frameworks of the UK and the USA listed markets.
Design/methodology/approach
The extant managerial discretion ranking model, established in the USA, is empirically assessed for its validity and effectiveness across a sample of high- and low-discretion companies from the FTSE 350.
Findings
Using accounting measures, a clear and significant difference is established between UK high and low managerial discretion entities. The results prove to be significant in enabling the differential comparative analysis of the institutional characteristics of corporates.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study of this nature has been conducted previously in the UK context. While the original model developed in the USA is now several decades old, the UK results reflect similar industry rankings as found originally in the USA, subject to some differences considered to be a result of the changing nature of global business since the 1990s. This study opens a new seam of novel research, which has the potential to uncover, at a granular level, the differential mores and character of management ethics, styles and practices in such issues as organizational change, corporate culture, governance and social responsibility.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the editor Professor Zahirul Hoque and the two anonymous reviewers for their valuable constructive critical feedback, that helped us improve the quality of the paper.
Declaration of interest: none.
This research did not receive any grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors
Citation
Iyiola, B. and Trafford, R. (2024), "Measuring industry managerial discretion: a comparative study in the UK", Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 228-247. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAOC-08-2021-0104
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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