Business Commons^™

Accounting, New Public Management And American Politics: Theoretical Insights Into The National Performance Review, Ann Watkins, Cecil Arrington

Ed Arrington

Borrowing from the work of political theorists Sheldon Wolin and William Connolly, this essay seeks to provide additional rationalization for the expansion of accounting within domains like the public sector. We suggest that such an expansion is intimately linked to social and cultural transitions which have led political theorists to not only question modern political theory but to also recognize the political significance of practices like accounting to political theory. We contend that these same transitions also make possible expansions of accounting through NewPublicManagement (NPM) initiatives like the U.S.'s NationalPerformanceReview (NPR). Seen in this way, accounting theory begins to move …

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

Ed Arrington

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 …

Late-Modern Politics And The Ubiquity Of Accounting: The Expansion Of New Public Management Within The Us Public Sector, Ann Watkins, Cecil Arrington

Ed Arrington

No abstract provided.

Accounting In Other Wor(L)Ds: A Feminism Without Reserve, Teri Shearer, Cecil Arrington

Ed Arrington

Sexual identity, like economic identity, is a product of historical systems of discourse and representation: that is, sexual identity is produced culturally and linguistically. In this case, even the body iteself is not pre- or acultural. Instead, it is a socially inscribed "sexed" body, a body often constructed and made meaningful as either phallic (the masculine) or castrated (the feminine). Viewed in this light, sexual identity is not essential or biologistic. Instead, it is an artifact of morphology, produced through disursive effects.

Letting The Chat Out Of The Bag: Deconstruction, Privilege, And Accounting Research, Cecil Arrington, Jere Francis

Ed Arrington

There are signs on the intellectual scene that we are moving out of an era in the social sciences termed modernism - a belief that separating fact form value, truth form falsity, is just a matter of applying the right version of method.

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

Ed Arrington

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 …

The Development Of British Railway Accounting: 1800-1911, John Glynn

John J Glynn

This paper concentrates on accounting aspects arising from the development of the railways. Railways in nineteenth century Britain had a major influence in reshaping some of the legislative procedures in parliament, the development of the capital market, and the economy at large. A background is provided to the first government regulations, introduced in 1840, and all subsequent major developments which led up to the Railway Companies (Accounts and Returns) Act, 1911. Why had it taken over eighty years (since the first commercial railway was established in 1830) to produce a standard presentation of accounts and financial reports?

Accounting For Managers, John Glynn, Michael Murphy, Anne Abraham

John J Glynn

Accounting for Managers is an established introductory survey text that is written to give students on executive or general MBA courses an overview of the role of accounting and finance in business, and is also suitable for undergraduates of business and management studies. The approach taken emphasises the conceptual underpinnings of the subject, and views it from the point of view of managers' need for information. Not least the book emphasises the increasing importance of general managers understanding the role played by their accounting and financial management colleagues. The book gives an appreciation of the three traditional subject divisions of …

Book Review: Public Sector Accounting And Financial Control: D. Henley, C. Holtman, A. Likierman And J. Perrin, John Glynn

John J Glynn

Since the second edition of this book was published in 1986 the rapid pace of development and change in public sector finance, fmancial control and accounting has continued apace. In the field of central government, the financial initiative has matured and there has been progress in developing improved performance indicators, reporting and individual accountability. The phased privatisation of nationalised industries and utilities continues. In local government the plans to replace domestic rates by the community charge, and new capital controls and possible changes in capital accounting pose new problems and challenges for financial managers. In the National Health Service attempts …

Public Sector Financial Control And Accounting, John Glynn

John J Glynn

No abstract provided.

Riding The Accounting Train: From Crisis To Crisis In Eighty Years, Shyam Sunder

Shyam Sunder

No abstract provided.

Helping Hands, Gary Pan

Gary PAN

With economic uncertainty prevailing in recent years, Singapore is being confronted with the challenges of managing growing aging population, acute land and labour constraints and rising business operating costs. If left unchecked, these challenges may threaten Singapore’s economic well-being and consequently its status as a global and financial hub. To address these challenges, many believe productivity-driven growth can deliver sustainable and inclusive economic development and improve Singapore’s standard of living over time. The National Productivity and Continuing Education Council (NPCEC), set up to spur Singapore to step up its efforts to boost skills and enterprise productivity, has identified the accountancy …

Change Management: The People Dimension, Gary Pan

Gary PAN

Many accounting professionals believe it is important to raise productivity in the accounting sector. A recent survey conducted by the Institute of Management Accountants (2011), however, highlighted that raising productivity, while a very important topic, can be a daunting challenge. Therefore, the urgent issue facing the accounting sector is to address the critical concern of how accounting professionals can be more productive?

International Harmonisation Of Accounting Standards And The Rhetoric Of Globalisation, Kellie M. Mccombie

Kellie McCombie

This paper looks at the growing trend of calls for reform, under the guise of globalisation. Such calls are/have been made by the current Australian Federal Government (AFG) in their national policy setting role. What is relevant to this paper is the AFG’s involvement in accounting standard setting, and their push for International Harmonisation (IH) of Australian Accounting Standards (AAS), through full adoption of international accounting standards set by an international standard setting body. A chronology of Australia’s IH program will be explored, with particular emphasis on the AFG’s involvement. The intensity of their involvement will be shown to emerge …

Implementation Of An Integrated Accounting And Cost Management System Using Sap System: A Field Study, Sudhir C. Lodh, Michael J. Gaffikin

Michael Gaffikin

Not only are in-depth (theoretically informed) longitudinal (reflexive) field studies few and far between, it has been argued in those studies that little is known about the design and implementation of accounting and information systems that operate in today's world-class organizations. Using such an approach this study seeks to illustrate and analyse the implementation processes of an integrated accounting and cost management system using the SAP system at a major steel producer in Australia. It is demonstrated that the technical design of the system is only a part of the implementation process. Keeping 'actor-networks' in line and managing change including …

Essential Concepts Of Business For Lawyers, Robert Rhee

Robert Rhee

Accounting and finance cannot be taught through the dense text and format typical of legal casebooks. Mirroring textbooks used at business schools with significant quantities of visuals, Essential Concepts of Business for Lawyers uses many graphical elements, including pictures, charts, diagrams, and tables. Engaging hypotheticals are fun and engaging, but they also illustrate the application of important concepts in business situations. At the end of every chapter, there are three forms of review and summary: Essential Terms, Key Concepts, and Review Questions. The text uses many examples, specially set in example boxes, to illustrate and reinforce difficult concepts. Completely up …

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

Mary Kaidonis

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.

Commentary: Reflections On The Critical Accounting Movement: The Reflections Of A Cultural Conservative, Mary A. Kaidonis

Mary Kaidonis

The editors described this as provocative and I was eager to be informed and challenged. O'Regan's claim to be sympathetic to Critical Accounting and his promise to "articulate in sober terms" gave way to O'Regan's frustration, distain and ultimately to reveal his confusion. If previous authoritive writers have failed to inform or enlighten, what contribution could I make? Do I respond the emotive phrases used. Do I sensor me responses? Or should I be amused and have some fun too? I have decided to do all three by offering two commentaries; one which takes O'Regans's paper seriously and I also …

Towards Improving Learning Outcomes For International Students: The Master Of Professional Accounting Embedded Literacy Project, A. Abraham, M. Kaidonis

Mary Kaidonis

This paper presents the University of Wollongong’s collaborative project to embed English literacy in key accounting subjects of the Master of Professional Accounting (MPA). The project will develop a curriculum prototype for embedding literacy which enhances learning in general as well as English literacy at an academic/professional level. Embedding both situated and transported literacies will also assist students in understanding discipline related material and enable critical evaluation of issues within the subject. The overall aim of the project is to improve the teaching and learning of MPA students who are predominantly international and not proficient in English, so that both …

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

Corinne Cortese

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 …

"Fractured Tales For Teaching Accounting: A Journey Through Three Worlds?", Kathleen A. Cooper, Kellie M. Mccombie, Kathy M. Rudkin

Kellie McCombie

This paper discusses the present educational trends in the Western World, and in particular Australia, that endanger the prospect of critical thought in accounting education. Such trends include the commodification of the student and education, reductions in government funding, and the emergence of Online education. We believe that economic pressure brought to bear on what accounting, and how accounting is taught, should be resisted to preserve the integrity of learning outcomes for students. This then leads us to reveal our struggle to learn/teach in a critical sense. The paper evaluates various pedagogical approaches, and their consequences for teaching and learning …

Schizophrenia – The Costs, Ciorstan J. Smark

Ciorstan Smark

By looking at a particular subset of mental illness in Australia, (schizophrenia), this article reflects on the way in which direct costs falling within the parametres of the health budget are privileged (inscribed) above indirect costs which fall outside this boundary (and thus fail to be appropriately inscribed). This article concludes that, from a social accounting point of view, this boundary is arbitrary and an example of poor accounting.

Social And Historical Power Plays: A Foucauldian Gaze On Mental Institutions, Ciorstan J. Smark, Hemant Deo

Ciorstan Smark

ABSTRACT: This research focuses on New South Wales’ process of deinstitutionalisation using a Foucauldian lens. By using this filtering process, this research aims to highlight the interchange between the concepts of power and knowledge as two vital and interrelated forces. These forces are seen as dominant forces within the process of deinstitutionalisation in New South Wales. The introduction of the policy of deinstitutionalisation is found to have highlighted the need for accounting and financial information to be distanced from the economic rationalist calculus in order that better policy decisions are made. The case study further explores some of the societal …

Reit White Paper, Frederic Juillet

Frederic Juillet

Subject: Resulting from the recent financial crisis, this white paper discusses how to better defend shareholders’ investments in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) for the long-term and how to reduce volatility in the REITs market.

Improving Internal Control Over Financial Reporting: Coso’S Guidance Not Just For Public Companies Anymore, Jeffrey E. Michelman, Bobby E. Waldrup

Jeffrey E Michelman

When the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) released itsInternal Control—Integrated Framework (ICFR) in 1992, the event went largely unnoticed. The importance of this framework changed dramatically with the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). Because SOX required all covered entities to base their assessment of internal control on a recognized framework, COSO was readily embraced. Unfortunately, smaller public and nonpublic companies have found the 1992 framework complicated to apply and to understand.

Threats Escalate: Corporate Information Technology Governance Under Fire, Lawrence J. Trautman

Lawrence J. Trautman Sr.

In a previous publication The Board’s Responsibility for Information Technology Governance, (with Kara Altenbaumer-Price) we examined: The IT Governance Institute’s Executive Summary and Framework for Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology 4.1 (COBIT®); reviewed the Weill and Ross Corporate and Key Asset Governance Framework; and observed “that in a survey of audit executives and board members, 58 percent believed that their corporate employees had little to no understanding of how to assess risk.” We further described the new SEC rules on risk management; Congressional action on cyber security; legal basis for director’s duties and responsibilities relative to IT governance; …

Sub S Valuation: To Tax Effect, Or Not To Tax Effect, Is Not Really The Question, Glen M. Vogel

Glen M Vogel

There were approximately 4 million Subchapter S corporations in 2008, with around 7 million shareholders. Because these companies are not publicly traded, their valuation in estate tax matters, divorces, shareholder disputes and other cases can present difficult issues for courts. In particular, the impact on the valuation of these companies of their “pass-through” tax status has been controversial since 1999, with different courts adopting different solutions. This article explains the nature of the issue, and presents a financial model for understanding the differential impact of taxes on the values of S and C corporations. The paper analyzes key court decisions …

Executive Mba Libguide, Mary Wilson

Mary Wilson

Welcome!

This guide is created for Executive MBA students, faculty, and staff and is useful for various learning activities such as finding information on companies, searching for articles on a specific topic, reading comment letters sent to the SEC and accounting standards issued by FASB and IASB, and accessing stock market information. It compiles databases and websites useful for effective research on various business topics. If you have any questions please feel free to contact the Horace W. Sturgis Library. We will be happy to help you with planning your research and identifying the most relevant sources of information.

Accounting Research Guide, Mary Wilson

Mary Wilson

This guide provides access to useful resources for accounting students. It provides information on such topics as finding information on companies, searching for articles on a specific topic, reading comment letters sent to the SEC and accounting standards issued by FASB and IASB, and accessing stock market information. It compiles databases and websites useful for effective research on accounting topics.

Doctor Of Business Administration (Dba) Libguide, Mary Wilson

Mary Wilson

This guide is created for KSU's DBA students and is useful for research and information. I hope it will be useful for providing help in locating scholarly research. The library has excellent electronic resources, as well as traditional print materials available in the library.