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The Interplay Between Accounting Professionals And Political Ideologies: The Emergence Of Chinese Accounting Standards From 1978 To 1992, Lina Xu, Corinne L. Cortese, Eagle Zhang

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

This article explores the role of accounting professionals in the emergence of the first set of accounting standards - Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises (ASBE) - in China between 1978 and 1992. Based on a variety of sources drawn from the archives of Chinese language accounting textbooks and highly ranked academic journals, this article reveals how accounting professionals adapted accounting thoughts and practice to fit the demands of the prevailing political ideologies, which facilitated the social conditions essential for the development of ASBE. Drawing on theoretical perspectives on the interplay between accounting and its social context, as pronounced and advocated …

Accounting And Accountability For Disability Benefits: A Foucauldian Study Of The History Of Disability Benefit Protocols In Australia (1909-1961), Mona Nikidehaghani, Michael Ibrahim Mehmet

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

Public welfare payments have played a central role in providing financial-and service-based support for the disabled in Australia since the early part of the twentieth century. This study examines the role that discursive regimes of accounting and accountability have played in these regimes between 1909 and 1961. By examining the Means Test, a key technique and strategy used to qualify or disqualify citizens as disabled, the paper demonstrates the salient role that accounting techniques have played in these governmental programs. Through this demonstration the study reveals the array of implications for the disabled of accounting techniques applied to their identities …

U.S. Corporate Management System And Managerial Accounting: A Brief History Of The Aircraft Industry Company, Aida Sy, Tony Tinker, George Michel Ezzie Mickhail

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

The article investigates the financial statements of the aircraft industry in the USA. Boeing Corporation has a long history of managerial accounting system which makes it unique in the industry. The paper seeks to show the main challenges the company have been facing. We also investigate the regulation aspects of the firm. More research showed that an error with the 787 aircraft battery that is manufactured in Japan jeopardized the finances of Boeing. After financial struggles Boeing was able to turn their revenues around which is seen in their current financial statements from the past years. As a result of …

A Survey Of Cost And Management Accounting Practices In Sri Lanka, Anura De Zoysa, Shyam Bhati, Menik De Zoysa

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

Significant changes occurred in business environment in the last two decades have resulted business organisations to change their cost and management accounting practices to provide more relevant information for managers facing the challenges created by the changes in the business environment. A large number of prior studies have attempted to capture these changes in cost management accounting practices of business organisations in various countries. However, vast majority of these studies have been limited to examine such practices in developed countries, leaving a vacuum in the academic literature in relation to studies on emerging markets. This paper presents an initial analysis …

Financial Accounting Reform: The Need For A 'Back To Basics' Approach For Profit Measurement And Wealth Measurement, John Ryan

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

By recognising the dual purposes of financial accounting, and developing distinct theories to guide the preparation of financial reports, the apparent internal contradictions in accounting theory can be resolved. Property rights and measurement theory provide the basis for explaining transaction-based profit measurement and funds commitment, and for a statement of wealth measured using market prices. Property rights are recognised in The New Institutional Economics. Going beyond accepted accounting conventions, property rights provide the qualitative, empirical property giving meaning to accounting practice for profit measurement through the 1940s to 1960s. Examples of profit and of wealth measurement are included.

Learning And Study Strategies Affecting The Performance Of Undergraduate Management Accounting Students In An Australian University, Anura De Zoysa, Palli Mulla K A Chandrakumara, Kathleen Rudkin

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

This study examines the relationship between the academic performance of second year management accounting students at an Australian 'red brick' university and the respective individual learning and study strategies adopted by them in their studies of management accounting. A sample size of one hundred and eighteen valid responses comprises the data for this study. The respondents completed the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI). The results demonstrate that learning and study strategies of low and high performing groups differed significantly in six out of ten aspects that were examined, namely: anxiety; attitude; information processing; motivation; the ability to select main …

Ecological Modernization And The Role Of Environmental Accounting: A Study Of Chinese Automobile Company, Ying Deng

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

The globalised economy has changed the face of environmentalism and its application in Accounting. The transformation turned the companies to treat the environmental issues from operating problems to business opportunities. While the multinational corporations start to expand to the emerging market, the problems and issues are also coming along with the expansion. In this scenario, Chinese manufacturing industry plays prominent role. The uniqueness of State-owned-Enterprises (SOEs) has greatly transformed the ecological modernization into their practices in terms of mass production and management control. The agencies are considered as the reflexivity to the government using discursive formation to convince the public …

Ideology Diffusion And The Role Of Accounting: A Gramscian Approach To Understanding China's Transition From 1949 To 1957, Lina Xu, Corinne Cortese, Eagle Zhang

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

Using Gramsci's concept of hegemony, the aim of this article is to explore the role of ideology diffusion in creating and maintaining Mao's political hegemony during the period 1949 to 1957, and to consider how accounting practices were reflected in this period of transition in China. In particular, we provide an understanding of how accounting systems have changed under the influence of various political ideologies in China, being the New Democracy and the socialist ideology adopted from the Soviet Union, by considering the relationships and struggles between organic and traditional intellectuals that Gramsci has theorized. We find that the diffusion …

Politicisation Of The International Accounting Standard Setting Process: Evidence From The Extractive Industries, Corinne L. Cortese

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed example of the way in which extractive industries constituents participated in the setting of the international accounting standard for the extractive industries, IFRS 6 - Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources. Design/methodology/approach - A cross-section of extractive industries constituents is selected and their participation in the accounting standard setting process is examined via analysis of their comment letters and other interactions with the process. Findings - The paper contributes to our understanding of the politicised nature of accounting standard setting for the extractive industries. In doing so, …

Exploring Hegemonic Change In China: A Case Of Accounting Evolution, Lina Xu, Corinne Cortese, Eagle Zhang

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

Purpose - This paper provides an understanding of how accounting systems have changed across four distinct periods of hegemonic leadership in China.

Design/methodology/approach - Using Gramsci's concept of hegemony, periods of leadership and accounting change throughout Chinese history are examined, including the Confucian tradition, the rise of the socialist system followed by the Cultural Revolution under the Maoist era, and the move towards the socialist-market system in the Dengist era.

Findings - This paper shows how political leaders in these different time periods effectively achieved leadership by destroying an existing hegemony, creating a new ideology, and implanting this into people's …

The Iron Cage Of The Profession: A Critique On Closure In The Australian Accounting Profession, Ronald W. Perrin, Gregory K. Laing

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper seeks to contribute to the literature on the process of closure that occurs within the constructs of professions. The discussion in this paper focuses on the professional accounting bodies in Australia and how they have devolved a form of bureaucratic control over the education process through the credentialing of membership and accreditation of accounting degrees. Weber's theory of bureaucracy in conjunction with Closure theory provide the framework upon which this critique is drawn. Implicit in the regulatory role of the accounting bodies is the justification of the practice of accounting and the status of the members of the …

Race Matters: Whether We Know It, Or Like It, Or Not: Implicit Racial Attitudes And Their Effect On Accounting-Based, Balanced Scorecard Performance Evaluations, David R. Upton, Cecil E. Arrington

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

One of the dominant themes in critical accounting theory over the past two decades has to do with the relation between the construction of human identities and accounting discourse and practices. Though with strong antecedents in Marxist –inspired critique of ideology, genealogical studies (e.g., Miller & O’Leary, 19XX), deconstructive studies (e.g., Shearer & Arrington, 19XX), and critical-rational studies (e.g., Power & Laughlin, 19XX) are examples of different theoretical and methodological ways to probe the constructive force of accounting over human identity and subjectivity. This paper offers a fourth approach grounded in social-cognitive concerns with ways in which implicit attitudes, or …

Red Queen Takes White Knight: The Commercialisation Of Accounting Education In Australia, Edmund W. Watts, Carol J. Mcnair, Graham D. Bowrey

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Purpose - This paper investigates the consequences of the commercialisation of Australian universities. It also provides a theoretical framework which focuses this action. Design / methodology - The Red Queen scenario posits that organisations that are more active than their rivals (they run faster) improve their competitive positions and increase their performance. However, organisations that are more sluggish (they run slower) experience negative performance consequences. This paper examines this process using the new institutional theory against the backdrop of the quest for increased international student numbers, higher international ranking and international accreditation. Findings - Using data from the 2011 Excellence …

Towards Accounting Students Workplace Preparedness: A Unique Internship Approach, Bonnie Amelia Dean, Graham D. Bowrey, Michael D. Clements

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Undergraduate accounting students would benefit from the combined learning approach of simultaneous classroom and workplace experience to better prepare them for the challenges of industry. In the absence of teachers, subjects and assessment, students need to know how to learn by reflecting on their workplace knowledge and skills, both for professional growth and development, and to adapt to an ever-changing workplace environment. This paper presents a unique internship programme for business students, focusing on their learning beyond the classroom. The Commerce Internship Programme (CIP) developed and implemented at the University of Wollongong, Australia, offers a model for enhancing student engagement …

The Spread Of Ict Innovation In Accounting Education, Sam H. Jebeile, Indra Abeysekera

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper conveys the findings of a study conducted to evaluate the initiation of an interactive online computer-assisted learning module, called WEBLEARN, in an undergraduate introductory accounting course at an Australian university. The purpose was to aid students in the preparation of cash flow statements, a topic that from the student perspective is usually considered fairly difficult. Following the pilot of the module, student responses were collected via questionnaire in order to evaluate their perceptions regarding the WEBLEARN module. Diffusion of innovations theory was utilized as a framework for assessing student responses and to guide further development of modules in …

Investigating Iternational Accounting Standard Setting: The Black Box Of Ifrs 6, Corinne L. Cortese, Helen J. Irvine

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper examines the role of powerful entities and coalitions in shaping international accounting standards. Specifically, the focus is on the process by which the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) developed IFRS 6, Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources. In its Issues Paper, the IASB recommended that the successful efforts method be mandated for pre-production costs, eliminating the choice previously available between full cost and successful efforts methods. In spite of the endorsement of this view by a majority of the constituents who responded to the Issues Paper, the final outcome changed nothing, with choice being retained. A compelling …

On Knowing Accounting And The Methodological Position Of Geertz, Hasri Mustafa, Michael J. Gaffikin

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Since the calls to view accounting as a cultural defined discipline Geertz’s work yields significant debate from accounting scholars. This review paper argues that Geertz á la interpretive anthropology has been inaccurately discerned by many accounting methodologists. They overlook the theoretical anchoring Geertzian conception of culture schemes - “by isolating its elements”, “internal relationships”, and “in some general way” - that illustrate accounting as a kind of being of knowing – the form of what accounting comes to. The paper traces the implications of this on fundamental consequences for accounting research methodology and establishes direction to critic with a position …

What Is (Accounting) History?, Michael J. Gaffikin

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

I am grateful for the invitation to present this paper to you today. I have had a long association with Victoria University and as an undergraduate here I was introduced to the fathers of history - Herodotus and Thucydides. Unfortunately, although I had to read their main works, at the time I remained oblivious to their full significance, namely, that they represent two extremes of historiography that have remained throughout the history of history - two approaches to how history is created and written. These themes are the background for this paper. However, before I go any further I want …

Assessing Underlying Realities Of Accounting's Duality Check By The Accounting Equation : A Search For An Augmented Framework, Sudhir C. Lodh, Michael J. Gaffikin

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper explores a general validity of the prevalent Accounting Equation in determining the real wealth and accountability discharge through contemporary financial reporting. In so doing, an augmented accounting framework is developed in order to indicate the gaps that may arise in the accounting equation; which is inherent in the system if compared among different layers – sign to alleged to referent (Buarillard 1983, 1994; MacIntosh 2000, Ijiri 1986, and Mattessich 2003). We argue that this augmented framework will help in enhancing our understanding, at least at the level of pedagogy and for corporate governance and discharging social responsibility, about …

Fair Value Accounting In China: Neoliberalisation And Accounting Change, Ying Zhang, Jane L. Andrew, Kathleen M. Rudkin

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper explores the tension between neoliberal theory and practice by using China as an example. This paper investigates the implementation of Fair Value Accounting (FVA) in China and argues that market share prices are not ‘fair values’ of companies’ financial position as theories of FVA assume, rather, they project only the distorted share price movements caused by the strong intervention of the Chinese government with its multiple and often competing agendas. By positioning this regional event in a broad neoliberal context, this paper argues that the accounting term ‘fair value’ is imbued with assumptions about the state and the …

Learning Outside The Textbook: Accounting Students' Reflections In An Internship Programme, Bonnie Amelia Dean, Graham D. Bowrey, Michael D. Clements

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The opportunity to gain professional industry experience for accounting students whilst undertaking their undergraduate degree provides them with both a competitive edge in the marketplace and an opportunity to experience the activities undertaken in their chosen profession. Structured experiential learning programmes enables students the practical opportunity to apply their knowledge in an industry context and to reflect on their personal learning journey. This paper presents an innovative and flexible internship programme which based upon an e-learning framework fosters learning through reflection based assessments. Through a preliminary investigation, it is revealed that accounting students after undertaking this programme, reveal learning pertaining …

Form Over Substance, The Politics Of International Accounting Setting, Hajar Roudaki, Kathleen A. Cooper, Lee C. Moerman

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper lays the foundation of the move towards international standards and an international body being dependent upon the involvement of politics. Callon's translation model is adapted to develop the concept that the underling purposes and objectives that international bodies have been established by would not be achieved as a result of powerful players. According to Robson (1991, p.552) the "process of translation is common to many instances of accounting problematisation and accounting change"

Accounting For Emission Rights: An Environmental Ethics Approach, Emma Zhang-Debreceny, Mary A. Kaidonis, Lee Moerman

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

We argue that the International Accounting Standard Board's difficulty in arriving at a standard for accounting for emission rights, which is central to Emission Trading Schemes, is an opportunity to re-examine the issues from an environmental ethics approach. We critically evaluate the IASB approach which privileges profits, and views emission rights as tradeable entitlements to pollute. We consider social ecology, an example of an environmental ethical perspective which holds that humans' survival and the environment's sustainability are inextricably linked. We conclude that social ecology can inform accounting standard setters about the accounting treatment of emissions rights.

The Power Of History: Accounting Standard Setting And The Extractive Industries In Australia, C. L. Cortese

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The application of accounting standards assists in the production of financial information that is used as the basis for decision making by a wide variety of stakeholders. Viewed in this way, the process of setting accounting standards is critical because it will ultimately generate information that will shape people’s behaviour. Accounting standard setting processes have been analysed, applauded, and critiqued by many scholars in recent decades. Lobbying efforts of constituents have been scrutinised, the standard setting processes in different geographic regions have been analysed and compared, and the economic consequences of proposed accounting alternatives have been identified and debated.

Preferred Learning Methods: Comparisons Between International And Domestic Accounting Students, Indra Abeysekera

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study provides a comparison between the preferred learning modes (traditional, interactive, group case-based lectures) of international and domestic students undertaking a new undergraduate accounting topic at an Australian university. A Likert-scale survey questionnaire was used to determine the differences and similarities between the two groups. When the results are analysed using the Hofstede model of societal cultural dimensions, they indicate significant differences between the two groups of students with regard to their preferences for formal versus interactive and group case-based lectures. The paper provides a discussion of the implications of these findings for teaching methods, assessment and curriculum development.

The Convergence Of Ifrs In China: A View On The Influence Of Political Ideology On Chinese Accounting Profession, Y. Zhang, J. Andrew, H. W. Collier

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

A historical perspective lens may be useful to help people understand the world of accounting and accounting research. Some believe that the role that accounting plays in current society could be better understood by reviewing its historical association with the institutionalization development within which it operates. Accounting as it is practiced in capitalist system has been predominately viewed as a technical and context-free activity. However, if a meta-level concern addressing broad structural and institutional environment from which accounting emanated is absent, there must be doubt that the conventional accounting can claim to be comprehensible and to contain true information. This …

Student-Centred Teaching Of Accounting To Engineering Students: Comparing Blended Learning And Traditional Approaches, A. Abraham

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Blended learning is growing in popularity, but there is conflicting empirical evidence in relation to how it affects students’ exam marks and final grades. This paper compares a blended learning approach to the traditional delivery of an accounting subject to engineering students. Data was collected from two cohorts of students over two semesters and analysed to determine whether the students who were exposed to the blended environment displayed increased participation in a non-compulsory learning task and higher marks in both in-session and final examinations. Results indicated significant improvements in every area, supplying valuable evidence that the adoption of a blended …

The Relationship Between Accounting Profit And Economic Income, John Ryan

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

The reliance on economic concepts, most notably economic income, for the measurement of profit in financial accounting is misplaced. This paper explores the concept of economic income, contrasting it with the concept of profit in the conventional accounting model. The concept of individual economic income cannot be used for measurement of profit for a past period as the concept is based on the capitalisation of expectations and excludes "separate but correlated" concepts of profit and capital needed for capital maintenance.

The Effects Of Employment On Academic Performance Of Australian Accounting Students, Anura De Zoysa, Kathleen M. Rudkin

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study examines factors that impact students engaged in paid employment while studying in a tertiary accounting program in a regional Australian university. It examines the differences in experience of domestic and international students. No direct significant relationship was found between paid employment and academic performance for the overall study sample. There was a positive relationship found between paid employment and academic performance with respect to domestic students. However, in the case of international students a negative relationship between paid employment and academic performance was observed. A significant positive relationship between a shift work pattern of paid employment and academic …

A Prolegomenon To The Relation Between Accounting, Language And Ethics, Cecil E. Arrington

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This essay outlines the preliminary structure of a moral ontology of accounting understood as discourse. To speak of an ontology of accounting is to speak of the most general features of accounting, those features of its existence that are present irrespective of variations in observed “accountings,” of ways in which accounting manifests itself in lived experience. To speak of a moral ontology is to construe those general features as products of human choices and actions which follow from axiological (value-based) commitments to pursue the good and just life, however that life might be understood, and indeed understood differently by different …