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11 – 20 of over 16000A number of Management Accounting (MA) researches have demonstrated the shortcomings of traditional accounting‐based performance measures for today’s uncertain Economic Conditions…
Abstract
A number of Management Accounting (MA) researches have demonstrated the shortcomings of traditional accounting‐based performance measures for today’s uncertain Economic Conditions (EC) in technologically advancement competitive environments. The MA literature suggests the impact of economic pressures on MA practices, though there are different notions regarding the impact of EC on Non‐financial Performance Measurement (NFPM). Some researchers argue that management needs an interactive information system in more volatile and uncertain EC, and accordingly, the mode of the use of financial performance measures is greater in uncertain EC. However, some welldocumented predictions about the relationship of the external environmental, viz a viz uncertain economic environments, with the need of managers’ financial and nonfinancial information. Taking these aspects into account, it is important to consider the effect of EC on MA performance measures and their degree of responsiveness and adaptability to particular circumstances. Thus, this research made an attempt to study the impinge of EC on NFPM in Banks/Financial Institutions (BFI). The multiple case study approach, especially the study of different kinds of BFI in different macro environments, provides an opportunity to examine the effect of NFPM in different environments. The cross‐country studies help to demonstrate the rationale for the impact of EC on NFPM in three countries (Finland, Sweden and Japan). Results of this study anticipate that the uncertainty of EC increase pressures on management to improve and measure financial performance in order to survive in the hostile EC. To the contrary, managers would improve as well as measure non‐financial performance in the organizations.
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Arif Widyatama and I Made Narsa
This study aims to identify the effect of the format of a presentation and the form of information on the decision-making process of non-professional investors in Indonesia…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify the effect of the format of a presentation and the form of information on the decision-making process of non-professional investors in Indonesia. Investor behaviors, including acquisition, evaluation, weighting, judgment, and allocation decisions, are explained explicitly after taking a look at the form of the information and the way it is conveyed in various presentation formats.
Design/methodology/approach
This research used web-based experiments. It used a 2 × 2 between-subjects design. Eighty-nine selected students acted as surrogate investors. They were provided with company performance reports presented in different report formats (integrated versus non-integrated) and different forms of information (visual versus descriptive).
Findings
The results showed that information, when presented visually, is more influential on investment allocation decisions in Indonesia. In addition, the result of the post hoc test indicated that integrated reports are more influential than non-integrated reports.
Research limitations/implications
The results of this study have significant implications for companies that publish financial and non-financial disclosures. The reports are required to be presented in an integrated and visual form in order to increase the investors' level of understanding so they can comprehend a company's performance holistically.
Practical implications
It is necessary for Indonesian policymakers to create regulations regarding the presentation of financial and non-financial information in an integrated and visual way.
Originality/value
This study fills a gap in the literature on integrated reports by showing that the visualization of information in such reports increases the level of understanding that underpins investment decision-making. Furthermore, this study contributes to cognitive load theory by providing evidence that the kind of presentation of information that facilitates people's cognitive ability is not only in the narrative form but visual presentation also works.
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Nor Azrina bt Mohd Yusof @ Ghani, Wee Shu Hui, Ibrahim Kamal Abdul Rahman, Normah Omar Shah Alam and Michael S.C. Tse
Since the 1990s, there has been a growing interest in style of information usage. However, most studies on style of information usage are conducted in developed countries. There…
Abstract
Purpose
Since the 1990s, there has been a growing interest in style of information usage. However, most studies on style of information usage are conducted in developed countries. There is limited research on style of information usage in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap in the existing literature by examining relationships between style of information usage and use of financial and non‐financial information in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors adopted a survey method, for which a written questionnaire was prepared and mailed out to companies in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Terengganu and Pulau Pinang.
Findings
Findings of the study show that diagnostic style of information usage is positively associated with use of financial information, while interactive style of information usage is positively associated with use of non‐financial information. Further analysis on types of non‐financial information used by managers who adopt interactive style of information usage reveals that customer‐related non‐financial information such as quality, customer satisfaction and flexibility play a more important role in their decision‐making processes.
Originality/value
The paper provides insights into relationships between style of information usage on and use of accounting information in developing countries. Findings of the study can be applied to assist management accountants in meeting managers’ information requirements.
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Joanna Krasodomska, Jan Michalak and Katarzyna Świetla
This paper aims to explore accountants’ views on mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting. It focuses on three main factors underpinning their understanding and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore accountants’ views on mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting. It focuses on three main factors underpinning their understanding and attitude towards non-financial disclosures: general understanding of the concept, gender and work experience.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses social identity theory as the theoretical framework. The findings are based on a survey conducted among 73 accountants in 2018. The questionnaire consisted of 86 questions divided into 9 main areas. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to determine if there are any significant differences between the accountants’ attitudes towards non-financial disclosures.
Findings
Study results suggest that the general knowledge of CSR reporting among accounting specialists is insufficient. The attitude towards mandatory CSR disclosures significantly differs between accountants who participated in training related to non-financial reporting and those who did not. Contrary to expectations, there were no significant differences in responses either between female and male accountants or between accountants at the beginning of their career path (with experience shorter than five years) and the more experienced ones. The paper contributes to social theory studies as it refers to the problem of the influence of professional associations, governments and big accounting firms on the transformation of accountants’ social identity. It also discusses the relations between the characteristics influencing personal identity and social identity of accountants in shaping their attitude towards mandatory non-financial disclosures.
Practical implications
The findings could be of interest to the higher education and professional certification institutions which should consider bringing accounting curricula more closely to the realities of the current business environment.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the body of literature mainly because it investigates a diversified sample of accountants in a relatively unexplored institutional setting. It may also serve as a starting point for research that more broadly explores accountants’ engagement in non-financial disclosures on CSR.
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Kohei Arai, Hirotsugu Kitada and Keisuke Oura
This study aims to investigate the relative weight of financial and non-financial performance measures used to evaluate production managers (such as shop floor managers or…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the relative weight of financial and non-financial performance measures used to evaluate production managers (such as shop floor managers or foremen) in a modern manufacturing setting.
Design/methodology/approach
Using survey data from Japanese factories, the paper examines the association between the choice of profit, cost, and non-financial performance measures with two characteristics of manufacturing systems: interdependence and multi-tasking.
Findings
The results indicate that interdependence has a significant and positive association with the importance of profit information, while multi-tasking is associated negatively with the importance of profit information, and positively with non-financial information for performance evaluation.
Originality/value
In recent years, a significant shift has been observed in Japanese production management with many companies now focusing on profit information instead of cost information. For example, the past studies show that large Japanese manufacturing companies are now using micro-profit centres and include profit information when evaluating factories. However, little empirical evidence is available on performance measurement at the shop floor foreman level, and even less is known about the importance of profit information in the evaluation of these lower level managers.
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Ewelina Zarzycka and Joanna Krasodomska
The paper aims to examine if corporate characteristics, general contextual factors and the internal context differentiate the quality and quantity of the disclosed non-financial…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to examine if corporate characteristics, general contextual factors and the internal context differentiate the quality and quantity of the disclosed non-financial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on content analysis of the disclosures provided by large public interest entities operating in Poland after the introduction of the Directive 2014/95/EU. The quality of the KPIs disclosures is measured with the disclosure index. Regression analysis and selected statistical tests are used to examine the influence of the selected factors on the differences in the index value and corporate disclosure choices as regards the KPIs.
Findings
The study findings indicate that the sample companies provide a variety of non-financial KPIs in a manner that makes their effective comparison difficult. The research confirms that mainly industry, ecologists and the reporting standard determine the significant differences in the quality of the KPIs disclosures and the quantity of presented KPIs.
Research limitations/implications
The paper adds to the understanding of the differences in the quality of KPIs presentation and the choice of disclosed KPIs.
Practical implications
The paper includes suggestions on how to change corporate practice with regard to the non-financial KPIs disclosures.
Originality/value
We shed additional light on the importance of internal contextual factors such as the reporting standard and the reporters' experience in providing non-financial KPIs disclosures.
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Carlos F. Gomes, Mahmoud M. Yasin and João V. Lisboa
The utilization of financial and non‐financial measures in the evaluation of manufacturing organizations' performance is studied for a sample of 79 Portuguese financial analysts…
Abstract
The utilization of financial and non‐financial measures in the evaluation of manufacturing organizations' performance is studied for a sample of 79 Portuguese financial analysts. Cluster analysis and multiple regression analysis are used to study the extent of use, importance and availability of information for 63 financial and non‐financial measures. The results derived from this study point to the increasing importance of non‐financial measures in the evaluation of manufacturing performance. Organizational and managerial implications of the findings are discussed, and a framework for future research is presented.
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Ericka Costa, Caterina Pesci, Michele Andreaus and Emanuele Taufer
This paper aims to investigate the application of the Italian Banking Association (ABI) industry-specific reporting standard in microfinance institutions by determining whether or…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the application of the Italian Banking Association (ABI) industry-specific reporting standard in microfinance institutions by determining whether or not a banking sector reporting standard can enhance non-financial reporting (NFR) quality and volume to meet stakeholders’ information needs in the specific setting investigated.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper develops an analysis of available ABI documents from 2006 to 2013 to conduct a content analysis of the quality and volume of the NFR of 98 Italian cooperative banks (CBs) during the 2008–2009 ABI implementation year. These data are analysed using two regression models to investigate the quality and volume of NFR disclosures.
Findings
The findings suggest that for CBs in the Italian banking sector, the information provided in the non-financial reports in adherence to the ABI sector reporting standard is relevant in terms of both volume and quality. However, when investigating specific categories of disclosure such as the community, the relevance of the ABI reporting standard is fairly low. The authors question the “one-size-fits-all” approach favouring a more sector-tailored approach to ensure that the NFR covers key sectoral concerns.
Practical implications
The high heterogeneity in the sector could negatively affect the capability of sector-specific standards to truly foster reliable, complete and extensive NFR. Therefore, NFR standard-setters, such as the International Sustainability Standards Board, should consider these heterogeneities.
Social implications
Reporting standardisation should be multi-voiced and include different – even contrasting – perspectives to promote expert and non-expert engagements.
Originality/value
This paper focuses on hybrid organisations and shows how the theoretical approach of dialogic accountability can improve the quality of sector-specific reporting standards.
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Jonathan Low and Tony Siesfeld
Top management routinely accuses the investment community of being too “short‐term, bottom‐line‐oriented” in its assessments of share value. The difficulty of making strategic…
Abstract
Top management routinely accuses the investment community of being too “short‐term, bottom‐line‐oriented” in its assessments of share value. The difficulty of making strategic investments in such an environment is widely bemoaned. A new study by the Ernst & Young Center for Business Innovation, however, yields a surprising finding: major investors' decisions are in fact significantly influenced by non‐financial performance information. It turns out that over a third of the typical investor's allocation decision is attributable not to the Financials but to other information on performance areas perceived to be leading indicators of future profitability. These include perceptions of a company's strategic vision and the company's ability to execute against it, the credibility of management, the prospects of innovations in the pipeline, the ability to attract talented people, and so on.