André de Waal, Miriam Hermkens‐Janssen and Arco van de Ven
Traditional budgets are seen by practitioners as being incapable of meeting the demands of the competitive environment and are criticized for impeding efficient resource…
Abstract
Purpose
Traditional budgets are seen by practitioners as being incapable of meeting the demands of the competitive environment and are criticized for impeding efficient resource allocation and encouraging dysfunctional behaviour such as myopic decision making and budget games. However, budgeting is still regarded as an organizational imperative and there is little empirical evidence that organizations alter their existing budgeting practices. To understand this paradox, a deeper understanding is needed of the process by which organizations decide on altering and renewing budgeting practices. The purpose of this paper is to present a framework which identifies the factors that play a role in the acceptance of changes to the budgeting process.
Design/methodology/approach
The third author developed a model called the evolutionary adoption framework (EAF), which looks at four aspects that play a role in the process of accepting a management control practice by organisational members, in the sense that they are going to use the adjusted practice: activities in the adoption process, motives of the persons involved, constraints that may influence the activities, and order and interaction of activities. The EAF was applied on four Dutch organizations – two of which were contemplating or already changing the budgeting process and two who were not – to identify which factors are most important when making the decision to accept the changed process. By selecting two organizations that were considering or actually making a change to their budgeting process and two organizations that were not considering or undergoing such a change, it was possible to obtain valuable information about the factors from the mutual comparison.
Findings
The research results confirm there is a paradox of a high degree of criticism on traditional budgeting and a low number of organizations that adopt adjusted practices. It seems that there needs to be a certain level of dissatisfaction within an organization before it starts to examine its current situation and search for alternatives. As such, it seems that some momentum for change needs to exist before changes are considered, rather than that organizations are continuously looking for the best possible alternative to their budgeting process. A lack of a need for change – because the process is considered satisfactorily efficient – is the most important factor why organizations are not considering changes to their budgeting process, followed by cognitive and preconscious constraints.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the accounting literature as it provides evidence on the factors that could influence the acceptance of changes in the budgeting process. Knowing these factors will increase the chance that managers can successfully introduce and implement an adjusted budgeting process.
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Therèse de Groot and Arco van de Ven
The purpose of this paper is to use qualitative research findings to describe and analyze the use of a new teaching approach for a better understanding of earnings management.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to use qualitative research findings to describe and analyze the use of a new teaching approach for a better understanding of earnings management.
Design/methodology/approach
Three classroom workshop designs with finance professionals were performed as an experiment to discuss the underlying assumptions of mainstream earnings management research. The outcome of the experiment is analyzed and serves as a basis for reflection on the new teaching approach.
Findings
The teaching experiment revealed the value to participants in discussing the complexity of the accounting choice process. The workshops provided insights into the wide range of accounting choices that finance professionals are confronted with and into the differences in perception of the participants relating to the accounting choices to be made. These insights contradict the assumptions of a “neutral reporting process” and solely “purposeful interventions” used in mainstream earnings management research. Analyzing the elements of the different workshop settings in relation to the outcome of the discussion identified strengths and weaknesses of each setting and generated ideas for further development of the teaching approach.
Practical implications
This research note adds to the understanding on how qualitative research can be used in teaching and shows that it is also coherent with using teaching as a site for qualitative research.
Originality/value
The discussions relating to the limitations of mainstream accounting research are predominantly of a general nature. This research note takes these discussions into consideration by exploring the subject of earnings management, offering an alternative teaching approach.
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Here is the long‐awaited fourth edition of Ralph De Sola's classic Abbreviations Dictionary. This updated edition of a work first published in 1958 is the largest, most complete…
Abstract
Here is the long‐awaited fourth edition of Ralph De Sola's classic Abbreviations Dictionary. This updated edition of a work first published in 1958 is the largest, most complete compilation of its kind — a reference book far surpassing all others in the field. Mr. De Sola has expanded his work to include more than 130,000 definitions and entries — over 77,000 definitions, over 54,000 entries. The current edition offers abbreviations, acronyms, anonyms, contradictions, initials and nicknames, short forms and slang shortcuts, and signs and symbols covering disciplines which range from the arts to the advanced sciences and embrace all areas of human knowledge and activity.
Patrick Hennelly and Chee Yew Wong
The focus of this paper is to understand the initial formation of inter-firm relationship with the ultimate aim to form a long-term relationship in offshore-wind sector. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The focus of this paper is to understand the initial formation of inter-firm relationship with the ultimate aim to form a long-term relationship in offshore-wind sector. The research question is “How and why new inter-firm relationships are built in nascent industries with highly uncertain business environments?”
Design/methodology/approach
Longitudinal case studies of three pairs of new inter-firm relationships based on interviews and other archival data are analysed.
Findings
Not all new inter-firm relationships progressed to expansion stage, largely owing to incompatibility and uncertainty. In some cases incompatibility could be rectified by trust and sharing of information. High trust is required to move the relationship from awareness to exploration stage. Investment in R&D is required to move the relationship from exploration to expansion. Innovation complementarity is the key in OSW sector.
Practical implications
Provide insights into how new inter-firm relationships in OSW sector could fail or be built up. High trust at the beginning helps to lower risk and encourages further investment.
Originality/value
Inform inter-firm relationship theories under high market risk and political uncertainty, especially for OSW sector.
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A key competitive precondition for any organization involved in any of today's multinational businesses is speed and pace in implementing strategies. Although one's organization…
Abstract
A key competitive precondition for any organization involved in any of today's multinational businesses is speed and pace in implementing strategies. Although one's organization may offer superior products or services today, it may quickly lag behind its competitors if it is not adept at implementing critical decisions.
Natália Figueiredo, Lurdes Patrício and Paulo Pinheiro
Organizations often utilize external sources to acquire knowledge, and one such area of interest has been the transfer of knowledge between universities and industry (U-I). This…
Abstract
Purpose
Organizations often utilize external sources to acquire knowledge, and one such area of interest has been the transfer of knowledge between universities and industry (U-I). This topic has gained significant attention in recent years because U-I cooperation brings companies innovation to remain in the market and be competitive. This paper aims to develop and deepens the topic, providing a Bibliometric-Systematic Literature Review (B-SLR) on knowledge transfer (KT), cooperation and U-I, interactions, links and interdependencies of new research streams. This research pretends to summarize the state of the art of the past literature using a rigorous methodological approach.
Design/methodology/approach
A bibliometric analysis was performed using the Web of Science database, specifically employing Bibliographic Coupling analysis.
Findings
The literature systematization enabled the identification of four distinct clusters: (1) Drivers and Motivational Factors, (2) Specificities in the Selection of Knowledge Transfer Channels, (3) Strategic Challenges and (4) Mechanisms and Contexts.
Originality/value
The analysis highlights significant trends and gaps in current research, providing a comprehensive understanding of the field. Based on the literature analyzed, it was possible to outline lines for future investigation, offering valuable insights for academia and industry practitioners to enhance U-I knowledge transfer.
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Raghu Garud, Joel Gehman and Peter Karnøe
At different points in time, energy harnessed from nuclear technology for commercial purposes has been qualified as atoms for peace, too cheap to meter, unsafe, sustainable, and…
Abstract
At different points in time, energy harnessed from nuclear technology for commercial purposes has been qualified as atoms for peace, too cheap to meter, unsafe, sustainable, and emission free. We explore how these associations – between nuclear technology (a category used in a descriptive way) and qualities such as emission free (a category used in an evaluative way) – are materially anchored, institutionally performed, socially relevant, and entrepreneurially negotiated. By considering all these factors, our analysis shows that it is possible to understand how and why categories and their meanings continue to change over time. We flesh out the implications of these observations and suggest avenues for future research.
Paul Schreuder, Marcel Zeelenberg and Tila M. Pronk
Understanding consumer brand relationships from the perspective of the consumer has been a research topic for years. Despite this, there are still various ways in which the…
Abstract
Purpose
Understanding consumer brand relationships from the perspective of the consumer has been a research topic for years. Despite this, there are still various ways in which the construct is interpreted. This paper aims to identify the most typical interpretation of brand relationships by consumers.
Design/methodology/approach
A four-study prototype analysis was conducted, in which a bottom-up approach was applied to identify lay people’s conceptualization of consumer brand relationships.
Findings
The prototype analysis generates a comprehensive list of features of consumer brand relationships that provide a nuanced understanding of the concept. The most typical characteristics of a brand relationship according to consumers are quality, bond, value and joy. Comparing this relationship prototype with existing literature shows that there may be a gap between theory and practice regarding the concept of brand relationship.
Originality/value
The prototypical conceptualization of brand relationships shows which aspects play a role in consumers' most common interpretation of the construct. This provides an opportunity to assess the validity of existing conceptualizations of brand relationships. Knowing which aspects are most relevant for consumers’ brand relationships allows brands to make adjustments as needed and improve at establishing and maintaining relationships with consumers.