Emerald | Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change

Tracking the professional identity changes of an accountancy institute: The New Zealand Experience

Mary Low, Howard Davey, Janet Davey — 2012-01-05 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - This paper explores how a professional accountants’ Institute has projected its changing professional identity through its annual reports. Extensive research has shown that the annual report is one of an organization’s most important documents to communicate with stakeholders. The New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants celebrated its centenary year in 2008. It is therefore timely to explore how this influential professional institute has projected its evolving identity to its stakeholders over 100 years of annual reports.Design/methodology/approach - The paper uses a content analysis of archival records. The type of information and the manner of presentation via textual information and visual images in the Institute’s annual reports are used to track a changing professional identity. Findings - The analysis did not find any definitive statements of professional identity by the professional accountants’ Institute. Early annual reports used a singular visual image to project authenticity. Increasing use and complexity of visual images and mission/vision statements projected an identity of expertise, integrity and global relevance, paralleling the impacts of globalization and advances in technology. The last decade of the Institute’s annual reports reveals a sophisticated use of visual images and printing to enhance textual information. This marked a dramatic turn in the projection of professional identity whilst retaining the communication of a basic reality and professional traits to its members and stakeholders. Research limitations/implications - Originality/value - The paper is valuable as few other research studies have investigated the projection of changing professional identities via identity statements and visual imagery in annual reports.

Strategies for change - Adaptation to new accounting conditions

Eric Dan Carlström — 2012-02-02 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to identify middle managers strategies during changed accounting conditions. Design/methodology/approach - Middle managers from hospitals, primary care and community care were interviewed about their strategies during change processes. Each middle manager selected changes that had played the greatest part in a 10-year period. Findings - Each change was dominated by one strategy that corresponded to the tactics of middle managers during change. They questioned new control models, they experimented with smart budget strategies and they implemented new IT technology. These strategies formed transitions in a continuous circular change model based on Hinings and Malholtra (2008). The study points to two key findings. Firstly, strategies that can be perceived as irrational are organised within a context of plausible explanations and secondly, middle managers in public organisations are likely to adopt innovations supported by management policy voluntarily and to question or even reject those prohibited.Research limitations/implications - Criticism may be directed towards the fact that the theoretical model presented in the analysis has an element of determinism. In the model the managers' control strategies are given limited influence. The theoretical model's strength is that it measures the development in slow-to-change public organizations with long histories and deeply rooted practices.Practical implications - The results can be used to understand the motives of the middle managers' strategies for change. It provides support to management that hesitates between defending a well-established but criticised organisational model, and implement new and untested approaches. Originality/value - Theoretical change models frequently originate from a management perspective or differentiate between "top-down" and "bottom up" change. In this paper, change is regarded as a generalised process where different phenomena are connected. This forms a circular model that moves between stable phases without change and transformative phases of major change.

A Study of Sustainability Verification Practices: The French Case

Claire GILLET — 2012-03-16 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - The growth in social and environmental reports is followed by a growth in reports including an assurance statement done by an outsider to the company. The aim of this paper is to study the implementation by companies of a third party assurance provision to their sustainability reports. Design/methodology/approach - We examined the practices of French companies as far as verification of sustainability information is concerned. The paper opted for an exploratory study It analyses the assurance statement of French CAC 40 listed companies publishing a sustainability report verified by a third party. It also analyses semi-structured interviews conducted with sustainability managers and assurance providers.Findings - The paper provides an insight of how assurance reports are stated and it seems that they lack precision and explanation. The interest for companies to engage in the assurance of their sustainability information is to manage their sustainable development policy and to progress in reporting their sustainability information. Moreover, the aim of sustainability verification is to assure users of the accountability and reliability of the disclosed information. The sustainability assurance engagement is mainly a quest for legitimacy. Originality/value - This paper contributes to the emerging literature about sustainability assurance practices. It could be of interest to managers and to auditors to improve the assurance practices of social and environmental reporting.

Publicly Owned Accounting Firm Consolidators: Executive Benefit Expectations

Mark Edward Pickering — 2012-03-16 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the company related benefits expected by executives of public accounting companies consolidating accounting practices and the implications of these expectations for company performance.Design/methodology/approach - This paper uses a case study approach involving the review of publicly available information and interviews with executives and senior professionals of two Australian publicly owned accounting companies. Analysis of the financial performance of the two companies was performed using data from annual reports.Findings - Executives predominantly expected to achieve revenue growth and efficiency benefits through consolidation and change in ownership form. In one of the cases these benefit expectations emerged over the course of the acquisition program. The paper highlights the difficult in estimating and realising the magnitude, timing and associated costs of consolidation benefits and the consequences of failure to achieve expected benefits. It suggests advantages in a more conservative consolidation approach.Research limitations/implications - Care is required generalising findings to other professions and other geographic jurisdictions. Practical implications - This paper has implications for entrepreneurs and executives consolidating professional service firms, partners considering selling their firms and investors in publicly owned professional service firms.Originality/value - This is the first study to consider the benefits expected be executives of the recently emerged publicly owned accounting companies and costs of implementation. The paper highlights opportunities for researchers provided by the availability of data for publicly owned accounting and other professional service firms.