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This study examines empirically the characteristics of the two market indices developed by Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) and their related returns: the equally weighted index (EWI) and the value weighted index (VWI). The monthly‐prices for each index are obtained from ASE for the entire nine‐year period (1992‐2000) to compute market returns for both indices. The study period is divided into seven intervals of different lengths. The results of the test and the nonparametric (Wilcoxon) test indicate that the value weighted market return (VWR) tends to be significantly higher than the equally‐weighted market return (EWR). The variances of the two market returns tend to decrease as the length of the time intervals increases. Inconsistent with prior research findings, the differences between the two market returns variances failed to be significant at the 0.05 level. The study findings may have implications for capital market research that apply the market model in emerging markets, in general, and in ASE in particular.

The paper analyses the current process of government accounting development in Albania using an integrated diffusion‐contingency analytical framework. This framework synthesises elements of contingency theory with theories of diffusion of innovations to provide greater insight into the organisational processes of innovation. The paper observes that the level of innovativeness of the government organisation in Albania appears to be marginally positive and that, at present, developments in government accounting are being clarified as part of the implementation phase of the innovation process.

In the UK, the role of the state in accounting regulation has been ambivalent for some decades. On the one hand, confidence has been openly expressed in the system of private sector accounting regulation1 while accounting standards have been granted legitimacy through recognition in company law2. On the other hand government has introduced some detailed regulation through company law and has always been involved in both the institutions and processes of private sector regulation. This involvement has not necessarily been passive, and has often been covert leading to reports of threats of counter‐action by the government on some specific issues (Robson, 1988). Indeed, it is felt that fear of intervention by the government provides some of the rationale for private sector regulation (Bromwich, 1981, Sharp, 1971, Taylor and Turley, 1986). Providing a sharp contrast to the UK government’s actions towards the standard setting body, the sunshine policy of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in the US, means that governmental influence is overt whether in the area of a single issue or the future of the private sector standard setting (Beresford, 1993).

This paper aims to examine the embedding of sustainability courses in the accounting curriculum by using the Delta Business School in New Zealand as an example. The focus of this paper is an effective learning strategy on sustainability education, which other business schools could follow using this approach.

Each course’s published outline was subjected to an in-depth analysis. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather information from the course controllers and students.

The findings revealed that while some courses are considered stand-alone sustainability courses, others incorporate a technical focus on accounting as required by the professional accounting bodies: Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, certified public accountant (Australia) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

The research is limited to sustainability education content at a single university.

Students at tertiary education institutions, who will be future managers, are dependent on business schools to teach them the importance of sustainability.

Sustainability education in accounting could be instrumental in transforming the nature and role of the accountant in society.

This paper contributes to the discussion required to understand how sustainability education is embedded within the accounting curriculum and the perceptions of lecturers and students with regard to sustainability education.

Compares China‘s financial reporting systems before and after the reforms of 1993, which is seen as a dramatic turning point. Analyses the economic factors driving accounting reforms and examines in more detail the influence of the developing capital market and increasing foreign investment. Tabulates the differences between the format, contents and types of financial statements and disclosures and financial ratios, before and after reform. Gives examples of some remaining problems, summarizes the key features of the new system and urges Chinese accountants and policy makers to adjust Western principles and systems to the unique environment of China.

This paper aims to explore the relationship between external environmental reporting (EER) and internal strategies, processes and activities (ISPA) to understand the role EER plays in embedding sustainability into organisational practices.

The case study considered how carbon measures associated with the carbon emissions management and reporting scheme (CEMARS) embedded sustainability into organisational practices in a family-owned wine company. Evidence collected during semi-structured interviews with informed employees was triangulated with observational data, field notes and documentary evidence.

A dynamic relationship was found between EER and ISPA, which embedded sustainability into organisational practices and promoted the developments of environmental reporting. CEMARS data were embedded into production management, capital expenditure and budget review processes, whereas more frequent EER was required by managers to support their operational activities. The company at times relied on an eco-validation approach to justify sustainability decisions despite their negative impact on short-term profit. EER contributed to the strategic planning, target setting and control functions of the management control systems.

Sustainability research should simultaneously address EER and ISPA. The interplay between the two dimensions determines whether sustainability is embedded in organisations and whether organisations will act in a sustainable manner.

The practical implication of the research is that organisations need to integrate EER information into ISPA if they want managers to establish patterns of behaviour that simultaneously consider the financial and environmental impacts of decisions. An EER such as CEMARS can provide coherence and focus for sustainability initiatives.

This research reveals that sustainability is embedded into organisations through the interactions between EER and ISPA, thus contributing to the understanding of internal organisational change. It identifies an eco-validation approach to decision-making that complements the eco-efficiency approach and shows that EER need not operate independent of internal processes and can be integrated into management control systems.

By observations of what managers do with the balanced scorecard (BSC), the purpose of the paper is to discuss how further empirical research may be advanced, which differentiates more clearly what we study when exploring BSC work.

The paper is based on a discussion of observations of seasoned managers working with the BSC as part of their executive education program. It offers a discussion of how insights from interaction with these managers can develop our understanding of how management concepts are constituted and can be explored.

The ways in which managers (dis‐)connect the BSC objects and concept are everything but benign. Much more could be known about the BSC, by studying both how these relationships are crafted in practice, and how the relationships crafted are influenced by the texts by which the BSC is known.

The paper offers a new way of framing research of popular management conceptualizations, by separating them in terms of conceptual ideas and representational objects. It offers a starting point for researching, what managers do with the BSC, and for researching what it is that works for the balanced scorecard.

The paper frames a quadrant approach. It distinguishes the BSC in terms of its conceptual narrative, its artefact object representation, users’ conceptual expectations and object mobilization. These four dimensions can assist researchers in finding ways to assess the impact of popular management concepts.

The aim of this paper is to debate various critical issues in the implementation and use of the balanced scorecard (BSC) as a management control tool. Because there is no self‐evident solution to these critical issues, they are termed dilemmas.

The paper contributes to the BSC debate by collecting insights from empirical findings, as well as exploring various theoretical aspects.

After presenting four perceived dilemmas and how they affect the implementation and use of the BSC in various settings, the paper concludes that there is a need for further debate and research on these dilemmas.

The paper is primarily a contribution to the debate concerning the balanced scorecard and its range of application as a management control model.

The paper is motivated by an overall high rate of implementation failure in various practical settings.

Some of the problems described have been debated before, whereas others are new. However, there has been hardly any discussion of the dilemmas in conjunction with one another. The paper is an attempt to generate important new questions about the future implementation and use of the BSC.

This paper aims to develop a framework to examine corporate water reporting (CWR) that considers the context in emerging economies and determine if and how companies are addressing the distinct water-related challenges and opportunities that they face in any given location.

This study combines a concise profile of the context of water resources management in Peru with a review of CWR guidelines and thematic content analysis of water information in sustainability reports for 34 companies operating in Peru. These data are then used to inform the development of a CWR typology via the use of a cluster analysis complemented by within-case and cross-case qualitative analysis of companies.

This study highlights the incomplete nature of most CWR practices of companies in Peru, with an emphasis on internal firm operations. Where companies do provide information on water risk and stakeholder engagement, there is insufficient detail to provide a clear picture of contributions to sustainable water management at the local level. The main drivers for CWR in Peru appear to be pressure from international markets, regulation and other normative issues.

The findings indicate that companies need to place more emphasis on the local context when reporting on water risks and activities, which could be achieved through the use of CWR frameworks that integrate both international and sectoral CWR guidelines, along with indicators related to good water governance, water, sanitation and hygiene service delivery and the sustainable development goals, as together they provide a more comprehensive reflection of the broader challenges and opportunities related to corporate water management.

This paper presents the first framework specifically developed to evaluate CWR practices with consideration of the context of an emerging economy.