Michael L. Roberts, Bruce R. Neumann and Eric Cauvin
Prior research identified conflicts in implementing performance measurement systems that include both financial and non-financial measures. Attempts to incorporate non-financial…
Abstract
Purpose
Prior research identified conflicts in implementing performance measurement systems that include both financial and non-financial measures. Attempts to incorporate non-financial measures, for example, balanced scorecards (BSCs), have shown short-term success, only to be replaced with systems that rely on financial measures. We develop a theoretical model to explore evaluators’ choice and use of the most important performance measurement criterion among financial and non-financial measures.
Methodology/approach
Our model links participants’ prior evaluation experiences with their attitudes about relative accounting qualities and with their choice of the most important performance measure. This choice subsequently affects their evaluation judgments of managers who perform differentially on financial versus non-financial measures.
Findings
Experimental testing of our structural equation model indicates that it meets the accepted goodness of fit criteria. We conclude that experience has an influence on choice of performance measures and on decision heuristics in making such evaluations. We suggest that an “experience gap” must be considered when deciding which performance metrics to emphasize in scorecards or similar performance reports. We analyzed four accounting qualities, importance, relevance, reliability, and comparability and found that importance, relevance, and reliability have strong effects on how managers prioritize and use accounting measures.
Originality/value
We conducted our study in a controlled, experimental setting, including participants with diverse experiences. We provide direct evidence of participants’ experience and attitudes about the relative accounting qualities of financial and non-financial measures which we link to their choice of the most important performance measure. We link this choice to their performance evaluations.
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The purpose of this paper is to ascertain if it is procedural fairness, or role clarity, or both procedural fairness and role clarity that mediate the relationship between…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to ascertain if it is procedural fairness, or role clarity, or both procedural fairness and role clarity that mediate the relationship between non-financial measures and managerial performance. Role clarity and procedural fairness may mediate the relationship between performance measures and managerial performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey questionnaire was used to collect the required data. The sample was drawn from 149 managers from 103 large manufacturing organisations located in the UK. The data were analysed by structural equation modelling.
Findings
The results indicate that it is role clarity that significantly mediates the relationship between non-financial measures and managerial performance. Surprisingly, procedural fairness has no significant mediating effect on the relationship.
Originality/value
To date, no prior studies have investigated systematically the effects of non-financial measures as well as the mechanism by which non-financial measures influence role clarity, procedural fairness and managerial performance. This study contributes by incorporating both procedural fairness and role clarity within an integrated model. This assists the research to ascertain precisely which variable (procedural fairness or role clarity) mediates the relationship between non-financial measures and managerial performance as well as the relative strengths of the two mediating variables.
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A 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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To study the nature of management accounting performance measures in the Financial Services Industry (FSI). The nature of Performance Measurement (PM), specially non‐financial PM…
Abstract
Purpose
To study the nature of management accounting performance measures in the Financial Services Industry (FSI). The nature of Performance Measurement (PM), specially non‐financial PM in FSI (service “shop”) has not been explored before.
Design/methodology/approach
This exploratory multiple case study consists of survey, interviews with questionnaire, individuals' (senior management and executives) interviews, collecting primary and secondary sources of information as well as literature surveys.
Findings
The results of this study demonstrate that the actual practices of the recent trends of management accounting in non‐financial PM are negligible in the studied financial institutions, and management of studied banks paying more attention to improve and measure financial performance than that to non‐financial performance for different reasons that affect the function/operation of FSI.
Research limitations/implications
The field study is being conducted without a conceptual/theoretical framework. An explanatory case study with particular theoretical framework/model could make possible to discuss the factors that affect non‐financial PM in this particular industry. Moreover, a comparative study with manufacturing industry would make the research results more robust.
Practical implications
A stable economic condition and competition that would increase the need and importance of non‐financial PM in FSI as well as in other services (and even in manufacturing industries).
Originality/value
This paper explores the nature of management accounting PM particularly in FSI.
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This study aims to examine whether chief executive officer (CEO) pay-performance sensitivity to shareholder wealth is related to the use of non-financial performance measures in…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine whether chief executive officer (CEO) pay-performance sensitivity to shareholder wealth is related to the use of non-financial performance measures in incentive contracts.
Design/methodology/approach
Using hand-collected performance measure data in a sample of S&P 500 firms across the period 1994–2010, this study investigates the sensitivity of CEO bonus and cash pay to shareholder wealth of firms that use non-financial performance (NFPM) measures of varying types and contractual weights in their bonus contracts along with financial measures (NFPM firms) in comparison to that of firms using financial measures only (FPM firms).
Findings
This study finds evidence that the pay-performance sensitivity is stronger in NFPM firms than in FPM firms. These results are driven by the use of CEO individual goals and operational efficiency. Furthermore, when using environmental, social and governance factors, the pay-performance sensitivity is stronger in terms of accounting performance only. This study also finds that using NFPM enhances pay-performance sensitivity more as their contractual weights increase and as financial risk increases.
Practical implications
These findings are important to stakeholders, and especially regulators in understanding incentive effects of alternative performance measures. This study also sheds light on what types of non-financial measures are better in helping firms align CEOs’ incentives to shareholders’ interests.
Originality/value
This study contributes to prior research on benefits of non-financial information within the context of executive compensation. This study presents original results about the effects of contractual weights of non-financial measures and financial risk on CEO pay-performance sensitivity. This study also presents new insights regarding how different types of non-financial measures affect CEO pay-performance sensitivity.
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Therese A. Joiner, X. Sarah Yang Spencer and Suzanne Salmon
Against a background of a customization imperative embraced by manufacturing firms in industrialised nations and the concomitant call for more balanced performance measurement…
Abstract
Purpose
Against a background of a customization imperative embraced by manufacturing firms in industrialised nations and the concomitant call for more balanced performance measurement systems (PMS), this study seeks to examine the mediating role of both non‐financial and financial performance measures in the relationship between a firm's strategic orientation of flexible manufacturing and organisational performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A path‐analytical model is adopted using questionnaire data from 84 Australian manufacturing firms.
Findings
The results indicate that, first, firms emphasising a flexible manufacturing strategy utilise non‐financial as well as financial performance measures; second, these performance measures are associated with higher organisational performance; and third, there is a positive association between a firm's strategic emphasis on flexible manufacturing and organisation performance via non‐financial and financial performance measures.
Practical implications
While there is agreement on the beneficial role of non‐financial performance measures in supporting strategic priorities associated with customization strategies, equivocal research results have emerged on the role of financial performance measures in this context. The study underscores the importance of both non‐financial and financial performance measures in this context.
Originality/value
The paper reinstates the value of financial performance measures for firms pursuing customization type strategies and adds to one's knowledge of PMSs by exploring the intervening role of such systems in linking flexible manufacturing strategy to organisation performance.
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The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a survey study on quality performance measurement practices in the Turkish top 500 manufacturing companies. The study…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a survey study on quality performance measurement practices in the Turkish top 500 manufacturing companies. The study evaluates both financial and non‐financial aspects of quality performance measures in Turkish manufacturing companies.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology of the study was a postal questionnaire survey. The survey was conducted with the top 500 industrial enterprises in Turkey specified by the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ICI) for the year 2005. These firms are selected and ranked by ICI according to production‐based sales.
Findings
Two major findings of the study are: Turkish manufacturing companies utilize non‐financial measures more frequently than financial measures; and Turkish managers perceive non‐financial measures to be more effective than financial measures.
Research limitations/implications
The sample is restricted to the top 500 industrial enterprises in Turkey. As the data in this study were collected from the manufacturing companies, the findings should not be generalized to other sectors.
Originality/value
The study is unique in reflecting the general practices and perceptions of manufacturing companies on quality performance measures across Turkey.
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The purpose of the paper is to analyse how the intensive use of non-financial performance measures and the lack of an economic reality among Danish farmers have contributed to a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to analyse how the intensive use of non-financial performance measures and the lack of an economic reality among Danish farmers have contributed to a low economic performance despite high productivity. The research ambition of the paper is to contribute to a better understanding of the managerial decision-making made by family business managers, in this case farmers, and how these decisions may impact financial performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on a case study including farmers, agricultural consultants and bankers. The analysis uses pragmatic constructivism to analyse the economic reality of the farmers included and the business topos among Danish farmers.
Findings
The main finding of the paper is that the dominating non-financial performance management techniques and a historically based strong emotional emphasis on size and production volume as the main success criteria for being a good farmer have led to a neglect of economic rationality. In addition, this practice has made the farmers blind to alternative possibilities for taking advantage of the resources available. The result has been an un-economic utopian reality.
Originality/value
The paper shows how the use of non-financial performance measures can lead to prolonging of a certain reality perception that may not be economically sustainable. Small family businesses such as family farms are likely to be more exposed to such risk because such businesses are run by a set of values that include more objectives that are more dominating than the profit objective. The paper concludes that family business managers must be open towards inputs from the society around the business, because family businesses may have a tendency to create their own reality that at some point may come in conflict with society of which the family business has to co-exist within.
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Wagdy M. Abdallah and Majbour Alnamri
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of financial and non-financial performance measurement practices, including the use of the balanced scorecard (BSC) and the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of financial and non-financial performance measurement practices, including the use of the balanced scorecard (BSC) and the impact of the cultural values on the use of performance measurement systems (PMSs), in multinational companies (MNCs) operating in the Middle East with a special attention to the Saudi Arabian subsidiaries.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected using a survey mailed to 180 randomly selected Saudi manufacturing subsidiaries in different industrial cities to collect data on their PMSs including the use of the BSC.
Findings
Financial measures are more widely used by most of the companies included in the sample due to the fact they are common, well known, and the most familiar performance measures in the business practice and they are more standardized measures which can be easily understood, implemented, and quantified. Moreover, the use of the non-financial measures was at a very low rate compared with the use of financial measures. The reasons were the difficulty in finding objective measures of the effect of social factors and the avoidance of any disclosure of social problems that are existed in the society.
Research limitations/implications
Several variables were not included in this study such as corporate culture, use of information technology, the use of mass number of expatriates in the KSA with completely different cultural values, and several other environmental factors, which might have a significant impact on the choice of multiple performance measures.
Practical implications
From a practical standpoint, this study demonstrates that increasing levels of external environmental factors and exposure to American best practices could act as forces to adapt more updated and sophisticated PMSs in the Middle East. Moreover, it will contribute to the knowledge of PMSs in the emerging countries, particularly in Middle East countries.
Social implications
Social variables have significant impact on the productivity of employees and they should be incorporated into the performance indictors in objective and practical models.
Originality/value
This study illustrates how MNCs in the Middle East are adapting and applying the PMS and the effect of culture on the use of non-financial measures.
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Mostaque Hussain, A. Gunasekaran and Mazhar M. Islam
The inadequacies of traditional management accounting (MA) information indicate a need for management to find proper measuring tools for emerging non‐financial performance (NFP…
Abstract
The inadequacies of traditional management accounting (MA) information indicate a need for management to find proper measuring tools for emerging non‐financial performance (NFP) in the highly competitive financial services, as well as in the manufacturing industry. Thus, the role of MA in measuring the performances of emerging NFP has been receiving increased emphasis in the increasingly important service industries. Considering the shortcomings of the traditional MA information system, particularly the measurement of new emerging NFPs, this empirical research is an attempt to investigate the role of MA in non‐financial as well as financial performance measurement (PM) in selected banks and financial institutions (BFIs) in Finland. The study demonstrates that the role of MA in non‐financial PM is insignificant. However, management is paying more attention to its measurement. This study identifies three different aspects of NFP: profit‐driven NFP; NFP for long‐term competitive advantage; and independent NFP (those not linked with the profitability of an organisation).