Alaa A.D. Taha, Waheed Ramo and Haetham H. Kasem Alkhaffaf
This study aims to investigate the impact of external auditor–cloud specialist engagement on cloud auditing challenges from the perspective of auditors from the Association of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the impact of external auditor–cloud specialist engagement on cloud auditing challenges from the perspective of auditors from the Association of Certified Public Accountants in a developing country as an example of Middle East emerging economies.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research design was used to assess the influence of external auditor–cloud specialist engagement on three main cloud auditing challenges (i.e. technology security, regulatory standards and strategy). Data collection was conducted through field and online surveys. A total of 201 (181 male and 20 female) auditors made up a sample of a developing country’s economy. In addition, structural equation modelling was performed to test the proposed hypotheses of the study’s conceptual model.
Findings
The study found a significant effect of external auditor–cloud specialist engagement on overcoming the challenges of cloud auditing. Results showed that using IT specialists helps overcome strategic challenges more than other kinds of challenges, such as technology security and organisational standards.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that efforts to promote cloud auditing in organisations may succeed if the focus is on overcoming cloud auditing challenges and highlighting the external auditor–cloud specialist engagement to enhance job performance.
Originality/value
This study is one of the few studies that analyse the impact of external auditor–cloud specialist engagement on cloud auditing challenges by adopting a quantitative approach from the perspective of auditors from the Iraqi Association of Certified Public Accountants.
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Olfa Belhassine and Amira Ben Bouzid
This paper aims to assess the asymmetric effects of oil price shocks and the impact of oil price volatility on the Eurozone’s supersector returns, with a particular emphasis on…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to assess the asymmetric effects of oil price shocks and the impact of oil price volatility on the Eurozone’s supersector returns, with a particular emphasis on the impact of the subprime crisis and the euro debt crisis (EDC) on this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
Empirical data consist of daily observations of the 19 EURO STOXX supersector indices and the Brent crude oil price index for the period January 2001 to August 2015. This paper uses a non-linear multifactor market model. This model accounts for heteroscedasticity and breakpoints that are identified by the Bai and Perron (1998, 2003) tests.
Findings
The results show that supersector returns are sensitive to oil price shocks. However, in most cases, their responsiveness to oil price volatility is not significant. The relationship between oil price shocks and supersector returns changes through time and depends on the sector. Financial turbulence affects the oil-stock market nexus. In most cases, the subprime crisis has had a positive impact on the oil-stock market relationship, whereas the EDC has had an overall negative effect. Before the subprime crisis, there is an evidence of asymmetric effects for some supersectors. Meanwhile, for most sectors, the asymmetric effects disappear after 2008.
Originality/value
The study improves understanding of the interaction between oil price risk and the Eurozone sector indices returns. Furthermore, it enables global investors to manage the risk inherent to the portfolio managers’ positions.
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Issa Ibrahim Berchin, Vanessa dos Santos Grando, Gabriela Almeida Marcon, Louise Corseuil and José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade Guerra
This paper aims to analyze strategies that promote sustainability in higher education institutions (HEIs), focusing on the case study of a federal institute of higher education in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze strategies that promote sustainability in higher education institutions (HEIs), focusing on the case study of a federal institute of higher education in Brazil.
Design/methodology/approach
The research was based on a scientific literature review on sustainability in HEIs, to identify the recurrent actions for sustainability in these institutions; and a case study of a federal institute of higher education in Brazil, to illustrate how these actions are being implemented by HEIs.
Findings
Concerns about sustainability, prompted by the Brazilian federal legislature, led federal HEI to change its internal processes, infrastructure and organizational culture toward sustainability.
Practical implications
The findings presented in this study, more specifically the sustainability plan of the Federal Institute for Education, Science and Technology of Santa Catarina, aligned with the recommendations proposed, can be used and replicated in other HEIs.
Originality/value
Scientific literature about organizational changes led by sustainability concerns, in HEIs specifically, still needs more attention in the academia. By addressing the case of a Brazilian public institution of higher education, this paper contributes to the literature on sustainability in higher education by reporting the process of implementation of a sustainability plan.
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The purpose of this paper is to address consumers’ post-purchase perceptions toward the brand when it adopts price reduction strategy. The study specifically conceptualizes the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to address consumers’ post-purchase perceptions toward the brand when it adopts price reduction strategy. The study specifically conceptualizes the effect of consumers’ price unfairness perceptions of past purchase (PUPoPP) on customer-based brand equity (CBBE) with a moderating effects of elapsed time since purchase (ETSP) and magnitude of price reduction (MPR) in situations where consumers were aware of the reduction in price of the product that they had purchased earlier.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was conducted among consumers who were aware of the reduction in the price of the computer laptop which they had purchased earlier. A sample size of 214 respondents was utilized for the study. The hypotheses were tested by using partial least squares-structural equations modeling.
Findings
The results of the study show that there is a significant negative impact of PUPoPP on CBBE and the ETSP was found to enhance CBBE and also weaken the negative effect of PUPoPP on CBBE. Furthermore, the MPR was found to strengthen the negative effect of PUPoPP on CBBE.
Originality/value
The findings of this study are unique and contribute to both pricing and branding areas of research. While extant research in these areas has focused on price fairness perceptions in situations where the price of future purchase increases, particularly for frequently purchased non-durable goods, this study explored PUPoPP in situations where the firm reduces the price of a durable good such as a computer laptop.
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Abdul Waheed and Qaisar Ali Malik
The purpose of this paper is to extend the understanding and application of interactive ties creating value through board characteristics, ownership concentration and firms’…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to extend the understanding and application of interactive ties creating value through board characteristics, ownership concentration and firms’ performance by using a contingent theoretical-based framework based on the amalgamation of resource dependence theory, stakeholder theory, agency theory, stewardship theory and institutional theory in a country with weak political environment.
Design/methodology/approach
This study includes a sample of an unbalanced panel of 309 non-financial sector firms listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) from 2005 to 2016. In order to address the issue of unobserved heterogeneity, simultaneous and dynamic endogeneity, the current study employed the technique Arellano–Bond dynamic panel data estimation under assumptions of GMM (Arellano–Bond, 1991).
Findings
The empirical results suggest that the presence of concentrated ownership moderates and helps to overcome the agency problems through different governance mechanisms (such as board size, independent directors and CEO duality). The larger boards are found to be beneficial whereas the higher representation of independent directors in the board is found to be detrimental for Pakistani firms.
Research limitations/implications
Limitations of the study are, first the current study has analyzed public-listed firms from the non-financial sector, and second the study has only focused on the financial aspect of the performance. The future research could include other proxies of corporate governance and ownership structure such as board diversity and meetings, audit committee and managerial ownership, etc.
Practical implications
The research also helps Pakistani policy makers in numerous ways. First, the current study confirms the monitoring and expropriation effect of ownership concentration in corporate governance and performance mechanism. Thus, the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) should make such policies which protect the corporate board against the influence of concentrated ownership so that the interests of the minority shareholders are protected. Second, SECP should ensure that all the listed firms declare a comprehensive profile of their directors (such as academic qualification, age and experience) in their annual reports for the better understanding of the governance−performance mechanism.
Originality/value
The current study augments the emerging body of literature on corporate governance and firm performance mechanism through the amalgamation and testing of existing theories in an emerging economy like Pakistan by using wider and newer data set.
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Karen Ramos, Onesimo Cuamea and Jorge Alfonso Galván-León
In Mexico, wine tourism has become a relevant issue in the past 20 years. Research in this region is in a nascent stage and largely focused on the supply side. Nevertheless…
Abstract
Purpose
In Mexico, wine tourism has become a relevant issue in the past 20 years. Research in this region is in a nascent stage and largely focused on the supply side. Nevertheless, consumer behavior research on wine tourists of the region is needed to improve the wine region positioning. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to find out the predictors for revisit intention (RI) to the Valle de Guadalupe wine route.
Design/methodology/approach
The information was obtained by applying an exit poll survey to a sample of 422 wine tourists at the micro, small and medium wineries in Ensenada, Mexico. The spatial-temporal model was used to predict the wine tourist RI. Three dimensions were used: pre-visit, in situ experience and travel to/from. Multiple linear regressions were carried out to assess the relation between the three dimensions and RI.
Findings
The results obtained show that the pre-visit and in situ dimensions have an effect on RI to the wine route.
Research limitations/implications
The generalization of the results may be limited due to fact that only the repeated visitors of the autumn season are included; therefore, it is not applicable to summer (high season of wine tourism) and first-time visitors.
Practical implications
The results provide implications for the owners of the micro, small and medium wineries seeking to improve the experience and increasing the tourist RI to the wine route.
Originality/value
The theoretical added value of this paper is its contribution to the body of knowledge about the wine tourism spatial-temporal model, evaluating the complete wine tourism experience to predict RI.
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Syed Tehseen Jawaid and Abdul Waheed
The purpose of the study is to develop a macroeconometric model for evaluation of trade policies and forecasting of trade performance of Pakistan with different regions or group…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to develop a macroeconometric model for evaluation of trade policies and forecasting of trade performance of Pakistan with different regions or group of countries.
Design/methodology/approach
These regions or group of countries are Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and the rest of the world. A macroeconometric model containing 15 behavioral equations and eight identities.
Findings
Cointegration results suggest that there exist long-run relationships among variables of all behavioral equations. Additionally, results of different policy shocks based on unit value of export (export price), unit value of import (import price), exchange rate, foreign direct investment, interest rate and foreign exchange reserve suggest that the model is useful for economic planning to sustain growth performance of Pakistan.
Originality/value
In this study, the authors develop for the first time ever a macroeconometric model for the evaluation and forecasting of regional trade policy and performance for Pakistan.
Petek Tosun and A. Selçuk Köylüoğlu
Consumers’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) expectations have increased in the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, while many financial institutions have supported society…
Abstract
Purpose
Consumers’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) expectations have increased in the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, while many financial institutions have supported society with their health-related CSR actions. This study examines the impact of CSR actions and brand origin on consumer attitudes, CSR perceptions, customer-based brand equity (CBBE) and supportive communication intent in retail banking during the crisis from signaling and stakeholder theory perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach
A 2 (foreign vs. local brand) x 2 (COVID-19-related vs. another CSR action) between-subjects factorial design was used to analyze consumer data.
Findings
CSR actions of local brands created more positive attitudes, CSR perceptions and greater CBBE and supportive communication intent than foreign banks. However, CSR action (COVID-19-related vs. another) did not significantly influence consumer attitudes, CSR perceptions, CBBE and supportive communication intent.
Originality/value
This research has shown the significant impact of brand origin on consumer perceptions in response to CSR actions during the pandemic. It has suggested an original conceptual framework and presented timely empirical findings for retail banking in the pandemic period, which can exemplify a crisis period shaped by uncertainty. Besides, it extended the previous literature by focusing on the interaction between brand origin and CSR actions in shaping consumers’ CSR and brand perceptions. It is among the first studies examining brand origin’s impact on supportive communication intent.