Minga Negash, Andrew Holt and John Hathorn
The debate on whether global accounting standards are appropriate for use within the US regulatory environment has not yet ended. Nearly four years after the release of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The debate on whether global accounting standards are appropriate for use within the US regulatory environment has not yet ended. Nearly four years after the release of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) much awaited report on the issue, the position of the regulator is still unclear, and the US accounting community is uncertain about the potential for accounting change. This paper aims to examine the documented reasons for the absence of direction and clarity on this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the theoretical and empirical contributions of prior research on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), this study explores the potential for US adoption of IFRS by examining the main arguments forwarded by the Office of the Chief Accountant of the SEC and the International Accounting Standards Board’s response to the issues raised and by capturing the opinions of 22 graduate and 32 undergraduate students as surrogates for future practicing accountants. The student data were collected from homework submissions to an essay on US accounting convergence with IFRS.
Findings
From the analysis, the authors make four observations. First, the deliberations over IFRS adoption in the USA are not sufficiently grounded on principles of recognition, measurement and disclosure. Second, the evidence does not support the notion that IFRS is of inferior quality to current US generally accepted accounting principles. Third, the problem areas stem from the apparent divergence of the objectives ascribed to financial statements, the independence and public accountability of the global standard setter and standards that are connected with the regulation of the finance and insurance industries. The final observation is the political process of managing change in the standard setting/adoption process in the USA.
Originality/value
This paper provides a comprehensive appraisal and a change management perspective to the ongoing IFRS debate in the USA by soliciting and documenting the opinions of future practicing accountants.
Charles D. Wrege, Regina A. Greenwood and Sakae Hata
Management history contains many unsolved mysteries. In this paper four categories of mysteries are discussed, along with methodologies that have proved useful in solving such…
Abstract
Management history contains many unsolved mysteries. In this paper four categories of mysteries are discussed, along with methodologies that have proved useful in solving such mysteries. Examples of the successful use of the outlined methodologies are also presented with illustrations of the results achieved.
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Keywords
In September 1985, eight sets of children's books from Australia began an odyssey that will take them into all fifty states and Canada by the end of 1988. The books— and the…
Abstract
In September 1985, eight sets of children's books from Australia began an odyssey that will take them into all fifty states and Canada by the end of 1988. The books— and the resource, reference and display materials that accompany them—were chosen specifically for their value in introducing non‐Australians to Australia and her children's literature. They also provide an ideal starting point for library collection development.
This paper aims to provide a review of discussions and perceptions of librarians' roles in the literature of the last ten years within the context of the impact of the internet on…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide a review of discussions and perceptions of librarians' roles in the literature of the last ten years within the context of the impact of the internet on their working life.
Design/methodology/approach
An analysis of the appropriate literature was carried out, focusing on papers explicitly referring to changing roles of librarians and information professionals.
Findings
The literature review found evidence of contrasting attitudes on the part of librarians towards imposing networked and digital technologies in the information landscape. In the internet age librarians need to come to terms with a working environment that is always more dematerialised, and with their users' new information habits. It is apparent that they should be able to find a correct balance between traditional roles and new roles in order to let their professional category survive and continue to be a crucial and vital part in the information society.
Originality/value
An overview of the major themes and issues afforded by information professional since the spread of networked technologies within their working places is provided. It is neither supposed to raise technological issues nor to make an analysis of the latest services and resources for libraries, but rather to concentrate on the human aspects of this topic: perceptions, attitudes, fears and passions towards the internet in the professional life.
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Razaz Felimban, Christos Floros and Ann-Ngoc Nguyen
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the stock market response to dividend announcements in high growth emerging markets of Gulf countries.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the stock market response to dividend announcements in high growth emerging markets of Gulf countries.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample includes 1,092 dividend announcements from 299 listed firms over the period 2010-2015.
Findings
In the environment where there is an absence of capital gain and income tax, the authors find some evidence for the stock price reaction that partly supports the signaling hypothesis. The findings show that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market is inefficient because of the leakage information before the announcement in bad news, and the delay of share price adjustment in good news. In addition, the authors report significant trading volume (TV) reaction in all the three announcements clusters, where dividends increase, decrease, and are constant, lending support to the hypothesis that the dividend change announcements have an impact on the TV response due to different investors’ preferences.
Originality/value
This is the first empirical paper on market reaction in share price and TV around dividend announcement using data for the majority of GCC countries.
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Kaye Twyford and Deidre Le Fevre
The purpose of this paper is to examine how the actions of leaders influence teachers’ perceptions of risk and sensemaking during professional learning (PL).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how the actions of leaders influence teachers’ perceptions of risk and sensemaking during professional learning (PL).
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative case study primarily involving semi-structured interviews was utilized to collect teacher-perception data. In total, 21 teachers across three New Zealand schools were interviewed as they participated in the first year of a school-wide PL initiative. Data were analyzed using a risk perception lens focused on uncertainty.
Findings
Teachers’ perceptions of risk were influenced by leaders’ actions. Leaders built supportive relationships by knowing the teacher as a learner; showing empathy and respect; providing support; and engendering trust. Teachers reported that the quality of relationships combined with their own state of knowledge influenced their perceptions of risk and learning.
Practical implications
Leaders are reminded that learning is inherently uncertain and uncomfortable and that they have an important role to ensure an environment that is safe and supportive for teacher risk taking and change. A risk lens enables leaders and PL facilitators to consider their influence on teachers’ uncertainty and feelings of vulnerability and take action to reduce these where possible so that both teacher and student learning may be maximized.
Originality/value
This research advances the conceptualization of perceived risk in professional learning, emphasizing the importance of leadership in supporting teacher learning. It adds further detail to our understanding of trust, vulnerability, identity and risk in the development of professional capital and community and their connection to the professional and emotional lives of teachers.