Performance Management using Balanced Scorecards to Improve the Performance of Australian Manufacturing Organizations. The balanced scorecard is a performance management technique that has been promoted to assist managers of Australian manufacturing companies improve the performance of their organizations. However, there is little empirical evidence to support an association between scorecards and enhanced performance and there is much to be discovered about how they promote effective outcomes. ....Performance Management using Balanced Scorecards to Improve the Performance of Australian Manufacturing Organizations. The balanced scorecard is a performance management technique that has been promoted to assist managers of Australian manufacturing companies improve the performance of their organizations. However, there is little empirical evidence to support an association between scorecards and enhanced performance and there is much to be discovered about how they promote effective outcomes. This study provides a significant conceptual advance by proposing that scorecards will enhance performance when they are 'comprehensive' in design. This enhancement in performance occurs as comprehensiveness assists product innovation and aligns manufacturing with strategy. The theoretical and empirical outcomes of the research are significant as the appropriate application of balanced scorecards can assist Australian firms compete effectively in global markets.Read moreRead less
The Balanced Scorecard: A Strategic Management Accounting Tool for Scenario Thinking and Strategic Decision Making. This project examines the use of models based on the balanced scorecard in scenario thinking and strategic decision making. The Balanced Scorecard is a set of financial and non-financial performance measures. Managers can refine their model about the critical cause-effect relations in the firm by scanning balanced scorecard reports. They can use this model for generating scenario ....The Balanced Scorecard: A Strategic Management Accounting Tool for Scenario Thinking and Strategic Decision Making. This project examines the use of models based on the balanced scorecard in scenario thinking and strategic decision making. The Balanced Scorecard is a set of financial and non-financial performance measures. Managers can refine their model about the critical cause-effect relations in the firm by scanning balanced scorecard reports. They can use this model for generating scenarios and making strategic decisions. This proposal responds to calls for focussed research on systems like the Balanced Scorecard that have "the potential to provide planners with a way of expressing and testing a sophisticated model of cause-effect in the organisation." Read moreRead less
Strategizing and Management Accounting Control: Comparing and Contrasting Australian and Japanese Practices. Organisations invest significant resources in the development of formal strategic plans, as well as management accounting control systems (MACS) to facilitate their implementation. Yet we know very little about the practices connecting MACS to the realisation of organisational strategies. This study intends to examine these practices by using field research to compare and contrast pract ....Strategizing and Management Accounting Control: Comparing and Contrasting Australian and Japanese Practices. Organisations invest significant resources in the development of formal strategic plans, as well as management accounting control systems (MACS) to facilitate their implementation. Yet we know very little about the practices connecting MACS to the realisation of organisational strategies. This study intends to examine these practices by using field research to compare and contrast practices in Australian and Japanese organisations. Such research will contribute to the national benefit by highlighting 'best' practice in relation to the use of MACS in achieving strategic goals/change, contributing to an innovative Australian business culture.
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Multi-person judgement in management accounting. Improved managerial judgements can facilitate more efficient/effective resource allocation within organizations, significantly increasing Australian companies' competitiveness. Our project therefore benefits a range of stakeholder groups such as shareholders and employees. Also, by drawing on theories from different disciplines (accounting, social psychology), this project increases our understanding of how accounting information can encourage man ....Multi-person judgement in management accounting. Improved managerial judgements can facilitate more efficient/effective resource allocation within organizations, significantly increasing Australian companies' competitiveness. Our project therefore benefits a range of stakeholder groups such as shareholders and employees. Also, by drawing on theories from different disciplines (accounting, social psychology), this project increases our understanding of how accounting information can encourage managers to behave in a socially desirable manner, such as adopting a conciliatory approach during negotiation. Other benefits include the training of future researchers and raising Australia's profile in accounting research.Read moreRead less
Judgment and decision making using ESG performance information. Organisations face increasing pressure to deliver value aligned with both financial and environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. Yet we know very little about the way in which managers within these organisations use financial and nonfinancial ESG performance information to make decisions that support their ESG goals. This project aims to examine how managers use ESG performance information to make internal business decision ....Judgment and decision making using ESG performance information. Organisations face increasing pressure to deliver value aligned with both financial and environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. Yet we know very little about the way in which managers within these organisations use financial and nonfinancial ESG performance information to make decisions that support their ESG goals. This project aims to examine how managers use ESG performance information to make internal business decisions, and create new knowledge on how an organisation’s performance measurement system influences their decision making processes. Our project outcomes will benefit preparers and users of ESG information within organisations, who by making better ESG-related decisions can create long-term value for all stakeholders.Read moreRead less
Strategic Archetypes, Knowledge Management Practices and Knowledge Processes in the Provision of Assurance and Consulting Services. The Big 5 accounting firms have restructured fundamentally in the last two decades. They are now multi-product, knowledge-intensive firms that need to match their competitive strategy with their knowledge management practices in order to achieve high levels of firm performance. We know little about these contingent fits. By comparing a sample of the Big 5 account ....Strategic Archetypes, Knowledge Management Practices and Knowledge Processes in the Provision of Assurance and Consulting Services. The Big 5 accounting firms have restructured fundamentally in the last two decades. They are now multi-product, knowledge-intensive firms that need to match their competitive strategy with their knowledge management practices in order to achieve high levels of firm performance. We know little about these contingent fits. By comparing a sample of the Big 5 accounting firms with comparable consulting firms, this project seeks to understand what types of knowledge management practices provide the best fit for particular strategic archetypes. The study therefore shows how ?good? or ?poor? fits between strategy and knowledge management practices impact on project performance.Read moreRead less
Corporate Transparency in the Asia Pacific Region: Factors Explaining Differences in Financial Disclosure Levels. The adequacy of corporate transparency, as evidenced by relevant disclosures and accounting measurement policies, is of concern to investors and regulators worldwide but notably in respect of companies located in the Asia Pacific region following the Asian financial crisis. The aim of this project is to assess financial disclosure levels in major countries in the region against reco ....Corporate Transparency in the Asia Pacific Region: Factors Explaining Differences in Financial Disclosure Levels. The adequacy of corporate transparency, as evidenced by relevant disclosures and accounting measurement policies, is of concern to investors and regulators worldwide but notably in respect of companies located in the Asia Pacific region following the Asian financial crisis. The aim of this project is to assess financial disclosure levels in major countries in the region against recognised benchmarks especially International Accounting Standards and to evaluate the significance of factors associated with differences in disclosure levels. The results of this study will provide valuable insights for Australian standard setters as well as the IASB, IOSCO and the World Bank.Read moreRead less
Global convergence to International Financial Reporting Standards : factors explaining compliance with and impact of changing standards. The major benefit of this research is that it assesses the extent to which Australia's epoch-making switch to International Financial Reporting Standards in 2005 has been successful in practice relative to similar developments in the EU and elsewhere. Further, the research measures the actual quantitative impact of the change in accounting standards to assess w ....Global convergence to International Financial Reporting Standards : factors explaining compliance with and impact of changing standards. The major benefit of this research is that it assesses the extent to which Australia's epoch-making switch to International Financial Reporting Standards in 2005 has been successful in practice relative to similar developments in the EU and elsewhere. Further, the research measures the actual quantitative impact of the change in accounting standards to assess whether or not the change has been significant from the standpoint of making international comparisons of Australian corporate performance. Thus important evidence is provided about the outcomes of Australia's global convergence initiative, how we compare with our major trading partners, and the key change factors involved.Read moreRead less
Ensuring Australia's competitiveness by implementing targeted performance measurement systems across the extended supply chain. This project will develop a framework to guide managers in designing, implementing, and using performance measurement systems across the industry supply chain to maximise the potential benefits of supply chain management. The outcomes enhance organisational competitiveness, supply chain competitiveness and boost Australia's economy.
Corporate Governance and the Market for Audit Services. Corporate governance is essential for the development of efficient and transparent capital markets, which in turn are critical to economic growth and development. The alleged role of auditors in recent corporate collapses brings into focus the question of how auditing contributes to effective corporate governance. More broadly, the way in which the market for audit services functions is critical, especially given the increasingly concentrat ....Corporate Governance and the Market for Audit Services. Corporate governance is essential for the development of efficient and transparent capital markets, which in turn are critical to economic growth and development. The alleged role of auditors in recent corporate collapses brings into focus the question of how auditing contributes to effective corporate governance. More broadly, the way in which the market for audit services functions is critical, especially given the increasingly concentrated nature of this market. This project will provide evidence on whether auditors have a broader contribution than merely 'checking' the financial statements, as well as the extent to which the market for audit services may have become less competitive as the number of large audit firms has declined.Read moreRead less