Department of Accounting and Finance

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14078/21

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How increased volume of low-stakes testing improved student engagement and performance without additional grading burden
(2023) Saccucci, Frank; Enomoto, Kayoko; Warner, Richard; Nygaard, Claus
In his chapter, Franco (Frank) Saccucci contributes to this book, Enhancing Student Learning Outcomes in Higher Education, by illustrating how an increased volume of low-stakes testing in the classroom improved student engagement and performance without causing additional educator fatigue to either the marking efforts or budget. He relates to the three phases of the central ESLO model of the book in this way: In the DESIGNING phase, he explains why and how he developed the approach incorporating regular low-stakes testing into his teaching approach. He demonstrates how quizzes are carefully planned to strengthen students’ memory and practical use of formulas, while a peermarking system is introduced to reduce the teacher fatigue from grading. In the DOING phase, he describes how he implements low-stakes testing in the classroom setting. Short quizzes are seamlessly integrated into class sessions, and the peer-marking system actively engages students in a less conventional aspect of the learning process. The approach fosters a ‘gamified’ atmosphere that further motivates student engagement and participation while ensuring consistent oversight of the effectiveness of the process across different institutions. In the DIAGNOSING phase, the author evaluated the effectiveness of this teaching approach through student surveys and direct observations of student performance. The survey feedback indicated an increased preference for this testing method and improved readiness for major exams. The observations supported enhanced student engagement, demonstrating the success of the intervention in improving learning and performance. An unexpected outcome was the gamification of the learning process, which further enhanced student motivation.
Chartered professional accountant's competencies: the synergy between accounting education and employers' needs—evidence from Alberta
(2023) Elbarrad, Sherif; Belassi, Walid
This study examines the competencies delineated by the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) in Canada and explores the gap between what universities provide, represented by the students' confidence in the knowledge acquired—and what the accounting profession in Canada requires and deems necessary.
Research recast(ed): S1E7 - A conversation with Dr. Eloisa Perez
(2021) Ekelund, Brittany; Cave, Dylan; Perez-de-Toledo, Eloisa
Today we learn a little about cryptocurrency, a lot about financial literacy, and we talk about how you can, and should, start saving now. Joining us in the studio today we have Dr. Eloisa Perez, an associate professor in the Department of Accounting and Finance at MacEwan University, who received her Ph.D. in entrepreneurship from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Her most recent research involves the creation of online courses, modules and resources aimed at improving the financial literacy of young adults.
Strategies promoting psychological well-being of students: a case study and accounting games
(2023) Khinkanina, Natalia
The article provides a rationale for the importance of students' psychological well-being in the process of acquiring knowledge and the role of teachers in its formation. Proposed practical recommendations for successful and entertaining study of the material at different stages of the accounting course.
The westernization of the East: an opportunity for development or a fallacy?
(2022) Bocatto, Evandro; Perez-de-Toledo, Eloisa
The paper re-conceptualizes the terms West and East, arguing that West is related to development whereas East is in development. From the westernization metaphor, the article asks: Does the East intend to become the West? Content analyses and comparison of cases allow for the interpretation of countries’ intentions regarding economic, political, social, and environmental orientations of governments, institutions, and businesses. The paper concludes that the East is unlikely to find the ‘right’ model of growth by replicating the West because the Western model has mistakenly assumed unlimited resources for growth, among other reasons. To benchmark Western development is a fallacy to the East. Tradeoffs occur as the East chooses the Western economic model as its benchmark. The paper discusses the role of social and technological innovations in business and society as possible, albeit limited, solutions.
A unique challenge: teaching finance and budgeting to your non-finance staff, government finance review
(2021) Saccucci, Frank
How many times have you explained the same accounting, finance, budgeting concept, principle, or cycle to a non-finance colleague—only to have them say, “Oh, you finance people have your own language?” You’re left wondering why your non-finance peers don’t understand. A possible answer is the way in which finance is explained or taught, rather than the content itself. Teaching or explaining content is half art and half science—and learning the art of teaching and training can at times take longer than learning the science.
A psychoanalytical approach to management research: the psychoanalytical problem, its resolution, and derivate research method
(2022) Bocatto, Evandro; Perez-de-Toledo, Eloisa
Karl Popper has locked the reasoning of many researchers on a particular kind of rational thinking, that is, hypotheses stating and testing. For this reason, social sciences started to privilege a specific theory of personality. It is accurate to state that the common-sense knowledge, and resultant human "irrational" action, can be explained and even confronted by testing its assumptions. Nevertheless, Popper's categorization is not the only one possible. It neglects the irrationality of unconscious' intentions, a competing drive that directs human actions. In this paper, we discuss that, in accordance, management research and practice have strict relations with theories of personality that neglect the unconscious. For that reason, it assumes that humans are self-interested organisms like guinea pigs, neglecting this complementary supposition: the unconscious's intentions, structure, and dynamics that also drive human behavior, thinking, feeling, perceiving, and learning. The crucial integration of objective knowledge with the unconscious dynamic supposes the addition of the psychoanalytical problem to Popperian's psychological problem. Thus, the derivate capacity to explain human and social action understood as intention, plan, and act must consider conscious and unconscious intentions. The psychoanalytical approach to management research also provides ingenious methods like the awareness-enhancing interviews we present.
Social inclusion and collective leadership for disadvantaged entrepreneurship: a theoretical perspective
(2022) Pathak, Saurav; Muralidharan, Etayankara
In this conceptual article, we suggest that disadvantaged entrepreneurship is a contextualized phenomenon. Combining individual-level (micro-level) disadvantage theory of entrepreneurship with societal-level (macro-level) theory of diversity and inclusion and culturally endorsed implicit leadership theory, we discuss the influence of societal level social inclusion values and culturally endorsed collective leadership styles (Collective CLT) on disadvantaged individual’s participation in entrepreneurship. We also propose interaction effects between these two antecedents of disadvantaged entrepreneurship. Societal level collective CLT is conceptualized as a shared cultural leadership style that (1) fosters sharing of leadership roles (2) encourages shared decision making, (3) promotes working in teams towards achieving shared goal through common actions, and (4) establishes high performance standards. Societal-level inclusion value would foster disadvantaged individuals’ participation in entrepreneurship through enhancing the effectiveness of collective CLT. A brief description on operationalization and empirical treatment of the two antecedents will also be presented. We also discuss the implications of this study for theory as well as for practice.
Organizational response to goods failure complaints: the role of culture on perceptions of interactional justice and customer satisfaction
(2021) Muralidharan, Etayankara; Guo, Wenxia; Fazel, Hesham; Wei, William Xiaojun
It is well recognized that in a service failure context, cultural value orientations interact with firm responses to service failures to influence perceptions of fairness (justice) and satisfaction. We examine whether this effect is applicable in the case of goods failure complaint context. Using an experimental design with data from Hong Kong and Canada, we investigate how customer evaluations of firm responses are influenced by interplay of consumers’ value orientation and nature of firm responses to the goods failure complaint [whether complaint resolution is initiated by the firm (vs. initiated by the customer), customer is informed about the progress of complaint resolution (vs. not informed about the progress)]. Our findings reveal that the cultural values of collectivism and uncertainty avoidance do interact with the nature of firm’s response to influence perception of interactional justice. Finally, interactional justice positively impacts overall complaint resolution satisfaction.
Does China’s outward direct investment improve the institutional quality of the belt and road countries?
(2020) Pan, Chunyang; Wei, William Xiaojun; Muralidharan, Etayankara; Liao, Jia; Andreosso-O'Callaghan, Bernadette
This article investigates the effects of China’s outward direct investment (ODI) on the institutional quality of the Belt and Road (B&R) countries. Based on a panel data set of 63 B&R countries during the period 2003 to 2016, we find that China’s ODI improves the institutional quality of B&R countries not only in the short run but also in the long run. Further, although China’s ODI exerts no differential impacts on host country institutional dimensions of “control of corruption,” “government effectiveness,” and “political stability” in countries with different natural resource endowments, it improves their institutional dimensions of “regulatory quality” and “rule of law,” implying that China’s ODI may help the host B&R countries minimize the “resource curse”. As one of the most important strategies for China’s opening-up development in the current era, the B&R initiative serves as means to promote sustainable development of B&R countries. The article therefore contributes to existing scholarship on the institutional effects of China’s ODI and sheds light on the mechanisms that drive sustainable development.
Finding hard evidences for the soft rhetoric of the stakeholder theory
(2018) Bocatto, Evandro; Perez-de-Toledo, Eloisa
The hard-science type of rhetoric present in the dominant model in management is put under scrutiny. As a result, the shareholders' profit maximization ideal is understood as just a competing socially constructed rhetoric. We are motivated by: 1. why is it taken for granted that the dominant model of business activity is scientific? and, 2. How the competing stakeholder approach would look like? We present mathematical equations that capture other constructs (e.g. women and employee participation, CSR, CER) and propose a stakeholder index (GOV-Icompr). Results indicate that companies that include other stakeholders have superior market value (measured by Tobin 's q).
Deviant scrutiny methodology: applications in the war against inequality
(2020) Bocatto, Evandro; Perez-de-Toledo, Eloisa
We argue that research methodologies in management sciences often neglect the negative impact businesses may have on societies. To mitigate this problem, we suggest a deliberate integration of adjacent effects in the data collection of any topics under study. We call this approach to data sampling and collection, deviant scrutiny methodology. Deviant scrutiny can be defined as research methodology that emphasizes an integrative data collection that actively incorporates a variety of externalities into the dataset. The methodology shares three characteristics with Thomas Kuhn’s view: 1. an identified conception, metaphysics and values, viz., the approach includes externalities (i.e., sense of purpose); 2. an historical consideration focusing on emerging topics, or social facts, that affects society and organizations (i.e., sense of context); and, 3. the compulsory, by protocol, integration of evidences that challenge taken for granted assumptions and theories, and confronts the biases affecting scientific communities-of-practice (i.e., sense of awareness).
How do manufacturing enterprises construct e-commerce platforms for sustainable development? A case study of resource orchestration
(2020) Hu, Jingbo; Ouyang, Taohua; Wei, William Xiaojun; Cai, Jiawei
The existing literatures mainly focus on the pricing, strategic significance and sustainable development characteristics of the e-commerce platform, and lack deep research on mechanisms in the process of construction like main structure of recourses and driving force. This paper takes Haier as a Chinese example and explores how manufacturing enterprises create and develop the sustainable e-commerce platform. The research findings show that: (1) An e-commerce platform respectively carries the functions of sales channels, service differences and innovation incubation in different stages of the manufacturing enterprises’ sustainable development; (2) For managing e-commerce platform of manufacturing enterprises’ sustainable development, resource orchestration can effectively realize the integration of value creation and resource; (3) Finally, it further reveals that the driving power which resource orchestration continuously promotes for the sustainable e-commerce platforms to construct is from the co-creation value of manufacturers and users. This paper discusses the structure of e-commerce platforms based on the main characteristics of each resource, and systematically explores the mechanism and evolutionary driving force of resource orchestration to promote the construction of e-commerce platforms for the sustainable development. It complements and enriches the innovation ecosystem and resource orchestration theory, providing significant practical guidance to the sustainable development of manufacturing enterprises.
A two-staged approach to technology entrepreneurship: differential effects of intellectual property rights
(2020) Pathak, Saurav; Muralidharan, Etayankara
In this article we examine how the strength of the intellectual property rights (IPR) regime drives technology entrepreneurship innovation (TEI). The latter is comprised of novel unfamiliar technological products and new business models, which in turn lead to new product-market combinations. We consider TEI to be a two-stage process that involves access to and use of new technologies and technological resources by entrepreneurs. While stronger IPR may constrain easy availability of new technologies and technological resources for entrepreneurs, using technology itself helps lead to TEI. We suggest that stronger IPR regimes could lead to TEI. The positive effect of TEI is felt through easier accessibility to the latest technologies and technology resources by entrepreneurs. Our model contributes to understanding the effect of strong IPR regimes on different stages of the innovation process.
Using statistical analysis to investigate the relevance of accounting information in emerging financial markets: an empirical study
(2020) Belassi, Walid; Elbarrad, Sherif
Despite extensive literature and numerous published work on the area of value relevance of accounting information, a major part of the studies have been conducted on large and developed capital markets. While there are a number of published articles in the area of value relevance of accounting information in developing markets, there is still a need to investigate more developing markets to see if there are similarities or different attributes of each market that could shed more light on the importance and usefulness of accounting relevance in developing markets. To study further the gap of accounting relevance in developing markets, this study investigates the relationship between the accounting information – represented in the financial ratios, F-Score, M-Score, in addition to market-related measures – and stock price represented in the ratio of Price to Book Value (PBV) per share and Price-Earnings (PE) Ratio. In order to shed light on the significant variables that affect the stock price in emerging markets, this study examines the cement sector in Saudi Arabia. The results of the study indicate that F-score, inventory turnover, current ratio, debt-to-equity ratio, return on assets, and average trading are significant determinants of PBV. Combined, they explain 75.1% of the variations in PBV. The study also shows that F-score and inventory turnover are significant determinants of PE. Combined, they explain 23.1% of the variations in PE.
Knowledge acquisition and meaning‑making in the participatory budgeting of local governments
(2020) Bocatto, Evandro; Perez-de-Toledo, Eloisa
The participatory budgeting of Brazilian municipalities is one of the most publicized examples of democracy‑in‑action that fosters citizenship knowledge acquisition in local government. This research adds two new perspectives to the participatory process. The first one demonstrates how knowledge is acquired and shared, and which are the new contextual conditions for this acquisition to happen, which we call, the knowledge acquisition process. At second, we explain the meaning‑making process as a subjective way to acquire knowledge about oneself, the others, and the democratic systems. Citizens, public servants, policy‑makers, and politicians acquire new meanings for the role they play in local government and become reengaged on democracy through the ontological change from representative to participatory and deliberative democracy. In this qualitative research, our methodological bricolage relies on the triangulation of methods (i.e. documentation review and observations of behaviors and procedures; in‑depth‑interviews; and, focus groups) and sources (i.e. comparison of cases, and stakeholders). The bricolage deconstructs these social actions on their constituents, vis‑a‑vis hidden intentions; instruments; and, implementation. Among the several Brazilian cases, this longitudinal study (i.e. 12 years) concentrates on five of them. Our findings suggest that the participation in the process allows for a change on individuals’ understanding of democracy, enhances citizenship knowledge acquisition, reframes the meaning of citizenship, and improves the quality of relationships among the stakeholders involved. In the participatory budgeting, citizens learn, what critical theory calls “to emancipate”. They act as if they were members of an ideal kingdom of ends in which they were both subjects and sovereigns at the same time, which guarantees citizenship engagement, learning and development.
The impact of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards on the value of cash holdings: evidence from Canadian firms
(2018) Perez-de-Toledo, Eloisa; Bocatto, Evandro
Investments in environmental and social initiatives by companies have increased considerably in recent years, as a response to an increasingly complex and demanding socioeconomic environment. However, a question that still needs to be answered is whether these investments provide a positive return or contribute to value creation. This paper aims to contribute at filling this gap by investigating the relationship between Corporate Social Performance (CSP) as measured by investments in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices and firm value by comparing the market value of an extra dollar of cash for firms with high and low ESG ratings. Our results show that an extra dollar of cash is valued at a premium of $0.13 (or 13%) for high CSP firms as compared to low CSP firms. We find evidence to support the stakeholders theory and the resource based view by showing that managers who invest in ESG practices that receive the support of key stakeholders are acquiring unique resources and creating a sustainable competitive advantage, which positively affects value. We also show evidence that financial slack has value in the presence of future investment opportunities and when the cost and availability of capital is uncertain.
How does home government influence the internationalization of emerging market firms? The mediating role of strategic intents to internationalize
(2019) Angulo-Ruiz, Fernando; Pergelova, Albena; Wei, William Xiaojun
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the differential impact of government promotional measures and government ownership on two internationalization variables: location and speed of internationalization of emerging market multinationals (EMNEs). Central to the authors’ study is the mediating role of strategic intents to internationalize. In particular, we study how government impacts the resource-seeking, market-seeking and technology-seeking motives to internationalize. The empirical setting for the paper is Chinese companies that have internationalized via an equity based entry mode. The authors employ 672 firm responses collected by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. The empirical results demonstrate that different home government measures have differential impact on internationalization outcomes. Government promotional measures (such as direct incentives and bilateral agreements to support internationalization) have only an indirect effect on international location and speed through the effect they have on the strategic motives to internationalize; while government ownership in the company has a direct impact on international location. The study highlights that home governments are shaping EMNEs strategic intent. Home government can influence EMNEs internationalization choices by providing resource flows through financial resources and state ownership or through asset-accumulation mechanisms via promotional measures .Policy makers in emerging markets need to develop policies focused on the specific motivations that firms have when internationalizing. EMNEs are suggested to take advantage of government policies more intentionally. The theoretical contribution centers on identifying important mediating mechanisms pointing to the interplay between government policies and international location and speed of firms. The authors contribute to the growing stream of research on internationalization of emerging market firms by building a sound theoretical model and examining empirically the role of home government in the internationalization of EMNEs.
Valuation of ESG factors: the moderating effect of cash holdings
(2019) Perez-de-Toledo, Eloisa; Bocatto, Evandro
In this paper, we examine the value effects of investments in ESG practices by focusing on the valuation of a specific asset class, namely cash holdings. The main idea is that shareholders would value one dollar of cash at a premium when this dollar is invested in companies that follow a more stringent ESG strategy than in companies that do not. We argue that ESG initiatives can be value-enhancing investments if they enable companies to acquire resources that are valuable, unique, and inimitable (Barney 1991), and if they receive the support of key stakeholders (Freeman 1984). Therefore, by internalizing these resources companies create a sustainable competitive advantage that ultimately increases firm value.
The human resources management of a democratic action: intentionality, elements and functioning
(2018) Bocatto, Evandro; Perez-de-Toledo, Eloisa
In reaction to the issue of citizens’ distrust, apathy and disengagement from representative democracy, we investigate democratic actions in which participation, deliberation, and political engagement take place: the participatory budgeting (PB) of municipalities. By integrating two epistemologies, historical-hermeneutic and empirical-analytical, we interpret the intentions to commit, and analyze the enabling conditions of its implementation, viz., PB’s human resources management. Content analysis methodology converts pieces of narratives into units of meaning, we provide evidences of the reasons why this reality is socially created, and capture its functioning. Findings from five cities show that the PB starts with the local government’s intention to respond to historical demands of civil society regarding direct participation in government. As a mean to this goal, we explain the human resources practices of attracting, developing, and retaining participants. We provide a practical benchmark for local authorities’ policy development, and for the literature of participatory management in municipalities.

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