bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zacha Technology Corporation: Internal Control Assurance Service Reporting Issues in an e-Commerce Environment
Authors: Ivancevich Susan H. , Joseph Gilbert W.
Published: April 2008

This case focuses on reporting issues faced by you, a CPA, engaged to report on several components of an internal control (IC) system for a company involved in e-commerce. In addition, the client may also decide to go public and wants you to provide nonaudit-related assistance in this process. Specifically, this case highlights issues related to IC reporting requirements and what types of assurances, if any, the CPA may grant given the specific circumstances of e-commerce. In addressing the issues of the case, you will be required to research applicable AICPA Professional Standards and Internet web sites. The case brings to light many of the reporting complexities present in today's ever-changing e-commerce environment.
Using the Team-Learning Model in a Managerial Accounting Class: An Experiment in Cooperative Learning
Authors: Lancaster Kathryn A. S. , Strand Carolyn A.
Published: April 2008

This paper reports on an experiment at one university where the professor changed two lecture-based managerial accounting classes to cooperative learning classes based on the Team-Learning Model advanced by Michaelsen (1998). For the professor who would like to implement cooperative learning, we provide a description of our experience with the Team-Learning Model. In addition, we investigate academic performance and student perceptions regarding the cooperative learning format. Although we do not find academic performance or student attitudes to differ significantly between the two learning environments, we document additional insights on cooperative learning, which extend the literature regarding this pedagogical method in accounting education.
HCS: Designing a Balanced Scorecard in a Knowledge-Based Firm
Authors: Moore Chris , Rowe Beverly J. , Widener Sally K.
Published: April 2008

The purpose of this case is to enable you to design a performance measurement system using a balanced scorecard. This case is based on factual issues and decisions faced by the real-world managers and employees of Holloway Consulting Services (HCS) (names and dollar amounts have been changed). HCS is a service firm that provides its customers with managed business solutions, i.e., integrating outsourcing options with systems design and support. Currently, HCS collects several financial and operational performance measures; however, Sharon Holloway, owner of HCS, is concerned that these measures are not adequate for a firm that competes using intangible assets, especially human capital. Therefore, she plans to implement a balanced scorecard in which performance measures are linked to the firm's strategy. This case provides you with the opportunity to develop a balanced scorecard that incorporates both traditional and nontraditional performance measures within the strategic context of a knowledge-based firm.
Big Customers and Their Suppliers: A Case Examining Changes in Business Relationships and Their Financial Effects
Authors: Gosman Martin L. , Kelly Trish
Published: April 2008

In this case, you will analyze large retailers' increasing clout and its implications for the pricing, inventory, and credit practices of their suppliers. You will use accounting data to explore how changes in these business practices and other phenomena at the firm and industry levels affected retailers' and suppliers' financial performances. In addition, you will examine stock return information to determine how Wall Street responded to the effects of these changes on firms' profitability. As a result, the case will increase your understanding of how to use accounting data to assess the effect of marketing and managerial decisions on financial performance. You will consider these issues for four large retailers (JCPenney, Target, Toys “R” Us, and Wal-Mart) and three manufacturer-suppliers (Garan, Mattel, and National Presto).
Quality of Earnings and Accounting Estimates: A Case of Decisions
Authors: Duncan James R.
Published: April 2008

This case demonstrates the effect of accounting estimate decisions on quality of earnings. Many accounting decisions involve the use of estimates in situations where absolute certainty is not available. The case involves three activities. First, you will read a hypothetical but realistic scenario involving period-end adjustments for the division of a large company. Second, assuming the role of the division controller, you will make the four required decisions and determine division net earnings after adjustment. Finally, you will prepare a detailed communication documenting the rationale for your decisions, which will form the basis for later classroom discussion. Completion of the case will enable you to resolve unstructured problems utilizing judgment and assumptions and to develop logical reasoning for your decisions.
“Quality of Earnings” as a Framing Device and Unifying Theme in Intermediate Financial Accounting
Authors: Amernic Joel H. , Robb Sean W. G.
Published: April 2008

The concept of framing is used to describe how a “Quality of Earnings” theme was constructed and implemented in Intermediate-level Financial Accounting. Specific curriculum tactics, including student-generated definitions of quality of earnings and a variety of cases are described as part of a framing strategy at the start of the course and subsequent reinforcement of such a strategy throughout. The complexity and central importance in accounting and accounting education of quality of earnings make this construct especially valuable in conceptualizing, designing, and implementing accounting curriculum.
The Same Difference? A Transfer-Pricing Case
Authors: Feltham Tammi S. , Phillips Fred , Sheehan Norman T.
Published: April 2008

This case requires you to consider the complexities of transfer pricing. The case is based on an actual situation that occurred between a customer sales representative and a client at an auto dealership. In this case, you will be asked to assume several different roles and attempt to resolve transfer-pricing issues for which there are no “clear-cut” solutions. This case includes three sections. First, you will read assigned background material on transfer pricing, read a short introduction to the case, and become familiarized, through class discussion, with how auto dealerships operate with respect to new and used car sales. Second, you will analyze additional information so that you may assume a particular role, such as new car manager or used car manager. Third, you will assume the role of the newly appointed controller of the dealership and attempt to address and resolve the transfer-pricing issues in this case. By completing this case, you will develop an understanding of alternative transfer-pricing policies (market price, acquisition cost, negotiated price) and the impact of transfer-pricing policies on various parties, as well as come to appreciate how bonus structures may influence managerial decision making.
The Tallahassee BeanCounters: A Problem-Based Learning Case in Forensic Auditing
Authors: Durtschi Cindy
Published: April 2008

You are auditing the books of the Tallahassee BeanCounters (TBC), a minor league baseball team in Tallahassee, Florida. During your audit the team's owner, Franklin Kennedy, approaches you and offers an additional fee if you will quietly investigate the possibility of fraud within the firm. Mr. Kennedy reports that he received an anonymous tip and, based on that information, believes that someone within the firm could be perpetrating fraud. Your task is to use the information given here (the financial books and back-up documents) as a starting point for your investigation. From that starting point, use creativity and investigative skills to determine what other information you need. After obtaining requested information, use all the material you have gathered to determine whether fraud was committed. To completely solve a fraud, you must show the following: who committed the fraud, how it was committed, that it was intentional (not error), the economic impact of the fraud, and that it was your suspect who gained financially from the fraud.
eToys Inc.: A Case Examining Pro Forma Financial Reports, Analysts' Forecasts, and Going Concern Disclosures
Authors: Stuart Iris C. , Karan Vijay
Published: April 2008

This case is designed to provide you with the opportunity to examine several reporting issues, in the period between an IPO and bankruptcy filing, for a “dotcom” company that failed. You will consider the information provided to outside users of financial statements in several company reporting mechanisms including the financial disclosures made by the company in its 10-Q and 10-K filings to the SEC, the pro forma earnings reported in press releases, and the information available to the public to evaluate a going concern assumption. Further, you will also examine the impact of analysts' forecasts on management's release of financial information to the public.
Challenges to Audit Education for the 21st Century: A Survey of Curricula, Course Content, and Delivery Methods
Authors:   The 2000–2001 Auditing Section Education Committee American Accounting Association
Published: April 2008

This paper reports the results of a survey of auditing and assurance courses in the U.S. and several other countries conducted during 2000–2001. The survey, commissioned by the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association, yielded data on a total of 285 auditing and assurance courses taught at 188 colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, and several other countries. The syllabi data were analyzed on a number of dimensions and the results compared to two prior surveys of auditing courses (Frakes 1987; Groomer and Heintz 1994).

Our findings document substantial changes in content (e.g., new or expanded coverage of fraud, information technology, and assurance services) and pedagogy (e.g., increased use of team projects, student presentations, cases, and the Internet) in both introductory and advanced auditing courses over the past several years. These changes are discussed in the context of events that significantly impacted auditing education and practice from the late 1980s through the end of the 1990s.
Sun Airlines, Inc.: Financial Reporting of Point and Loyalty Programs
Authors: Gujarathi Mahendra R. , McQuade Ralph J.
Published: April 2008

This case presents a multifaceted, decision-oriented context to assess the appropriateness of accounting policy for ensuring a faithful representation of underlying economic reality. It will enhance your: (1) appreciation for the role of judgment in accounting decision making, (2) identification of the appropriate sources of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and their authoritative status, (3) understanding and application of the technical literature, and (4) evaluation of accounting policy in the context of an entity's business strategy and potential reactions of capital market participants. The case serves as a basis for developing the functional, personal, and broad business perspective competencies identified as desirable by the AICPA (1999) for entry-level professionals.
Garden Patch Foods: Analyzing the Purchasing-through-Payables Process
Authors: Davis Charles E. , Davis Elizabeth B.
Published: April 2008

Analyzing nonstrategic functions has become a major focus in today's business environment. This case presents the facts behind a decision faced by Garden Patch Foods, a prepared foods company that is looking for ways to increase efficiency and to improve the bottom line. As management considers how to increase efficiency of support operations, two major alternatives arise: (1) create a shared-services arrangement for the three divisions or (2) outsource the support functions. The case requires you to assume the role of a staff accountant and analyze the case facts and research issues relevant to shared-services arrangements and outsourcing. You will then communicate your recommendation in a written report to the CFO. Several references are included in the case to facilitate Internet-based research.
The REA Modeling Approach to Teaching Accounting Information Systems
Authors: McCarthy William E.
Published: April 2008

The REA model was first conceptualized in a paper for the 1982 The Accounting Review as a framework for building accounting systems in a shared data environment, both within enterprises and between enterprises. The model's core feature was an object pattern consisting of two mirror-image constellations that represented semantically the input and output components of a business process. The REA acronym derives from that pattern's structure, which consisted of economic Resources, economic Events, and economic Agents.

Simultaneous with its research publication, REA began to be used as a framework for teaching accounting information systems (AIS), originally at Michigan State University and then gradually at other colleges and universities. In its extended form, the REA model integrates the teaching of accounting transaction structures, commitment and business policy specification, business process engineering, and enterprise value chain construction. As of 2003, REA modeling is used in a variety of AIS courses and featured in a variety of AIS textbooks, both in the United States and internationally.
Behind Closed Doors at WorldCom: 2001
Authors: Zekany Kay E. , Braun Lucas W. , Warder Zachary T.
Published: April 2008

WorldCom was a large telecom company that enjoyed an almost meteoric rise during the 1990s but ran into trouble in the early 2000s. 2001 was particularly difficult. This case gives future generations of accountants the opportunity to study the largest accounting scandal in history from an internal financial accounting perspective. To the extent possible, this case uses the actual “voices” of participants to gain an understanding of their viewpoints and motives. We get a chance to see some participants at their best and others at their worst.

While our primary focus throughout this case is on the financial accounting issues, we also briefly touch on some of the safeguards available in preventing accounting fraud: internal controls, internal audit, external audit, and the Audit Committee. Throughout this case, you should ask yourself, “How would I respond if I were the corporate decision maker?”
Sprint Corporation: Ethical Decisions and Tax Avoidance Strategies
Authors: Verreault Daniel A. , Yang Simon , Angel Jack
Published: April 2008

The case focuses on events surrounding Ernst & Young's tax shelter advice to senior executives of Sprint. The principal ethical lens used for analysis is Integrative Social Contracts Theory (ISCT). We believe that this is the first instance of ISCT applied specifically to a situation in accounting and to an ethical problem in a nonglobal context. Additionally, it is one of a small number of tax-oriented cases focusing on ethics. ISCT offers several benefits over the traditional models applied in ethical analysis (Mintz 1997). ISCT integrates implicit and explicit contracts among affected business communities that enable a detailed normative assessment of rich ethical problems in a realistic economic world. The use of ISCT in this particular case provides students, instructors, and practitioners with a model to aid in: (1) understanding the normative justification for business decisions, and (2) assessing the quality of ethical decision making in a complex business setting.
Characteristics of Master's in Accounting Degree Programs
Authors: Frecka Thomas J. , Nichols William D.
Published: April 2008

Using survey data gathered from 42 universities for the period 1998–2001, we provide data on enrollment trends, the input quality of students, and the relation between student input quality and several other variables for master's in accounting programs. In addition, we analyze program designs and content, and profile the curricula of several programs. This study is motivated by concerns about accounting education cited in the Albrecht and Sack (2000) monograph and by a paucity of evidence pertaining to graduate accounting programs.

The enrollment data show that the number of graduate students in accounting has increased in recent years, for both existing programs and for new programs added in response to the 150-hour requirement. However, the average enrollment level of these programs is not large, especially in comparison to M.B.A. programs. The input quality of students is assessed based on GMAT score data. For a sample of 11,255 students over the four-year period 1998–2001, the average GMAT score for students in graduate accounting programs is 586, significantly lower than for students enrolled in highly ranked M.B.A. programs. In addition, average GMAT scores of graduate accounting programs are highly correlated with program rankings and at least one (then) Big 5 firm's hiring ratio. Our analysis of program design and curriculum indicates a great deal of commonality across programs. Most programs, including programs with modest enrollment levels, offer three or four specialty tracks. Most programs require a large number of accounting courses, and there is substantial commonality among the sets of courses. In contrast, the nonaccounting business coursework is not well developed in most programs. Also, while there is an emphasis on course content, we do see evidence of a focus on functional, personal, and broad business competencies as suggested by the AICPA Core Competency Project. As evidence of curriculum innovation, we discuss several examples of specialized or “focused” programs.

We conclude by discussing the implications of the results for accounting education and professional practice.
Accounting Majors' Perceptions regarding the 150-Hour Rule
Authors: Bierstaker James L. , Howe Martha , Seol Inshik
Published: April 2008

Most states now require students who sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination to have 150 semester hours of college education. The 150-hour requirement is intended to, among other benefits, improve the preparation of students for the profession, increase their chances of success on the CPA exam, ensure a more wellrounded education for new entrants to the profession, and attract better students to the field of accounting. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether accounting majors' perceptions regarding this requirement match the anticipated benefits of the 150-hour rule, and whether they match the realities of what has occurred in localities where the rule has been in effect. Data were collected from 247 accounting majors via a questionnaire. The results indicate that, in most respects, students' perceptions align fairly well with the intentions and the realities of the 150-hour requirement. For example, most students indicate an interest in obtaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree for their fifth year of education. This would be a more balanced education envisioned by the framers of the requirement. Most students feel that they should receive additional compensation for the added education. In contrast to the reality in most locations, they do not expect accounting firms to increase compensation for those with 150 hours of education. Although students generally were not in favor of the 150-hour rule, a majority indicated they would continue to pursue becoming a CPA despite the 150-hour requirement. Still, a substantial number of students indicated they would pursue the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation rather than pursuing the CPA.
Internal Control Evaluation of a Restaurant: A Teaching Case
Authors: Kiger Jack E. , Rose Anna M.
Published: April 2008

This case provides you with an opportunity to gain an understanding of internal control in a practical setting—a restaurant. The case requires you to (1) obtain a restaurant as a client, (2) develop an understanding of the restaurant's processes for recording sales, (3) identify internal control strengths and weaknesses, and (4) explain the importance of each weakness and state how it may be eliminated. In addition, Version A of the case requires you to prepare a flowchart and write an internal control narrative, while Version B requires you to identify tests of controls. Restaurants must follow procedures to ensure that sales are recorded for all food served; otherwise, the food may be given away. Students must arrange to meet with a manager to inquire about the restaurant's internal control procedures in much the same way an auditor must meet with the management of a client.
Business Simulation to Stage Critical Thinking in Introductory Accounting: Rationale, Design, and Implementation
Authors: Springer Carol W. , Borthick A. Faye
Published: April 2008

This article explains the rationale for, the design of, and the implementation of business simulation episodes for eliciting a developmental shift from knowing to thinking in introductory accounting courses. Using business simulations this way responds to a long-standing need for learning experiences that create opportunities for students to work on developing the higher-order thinking skills required for success in business and the accounting profession. The needed capability can be characterized as critical thinking: the ability to solve problems that cannot be described with a high degree of completeness, cannot be resolved with a high degree of certainty, or elicit disagreement from experts about the best solution. This use of business simulation, illustrated with an episode from the Safe Night Out (SNO) simulation, immerses students in the life of an evolving business for which they develop a continuing stream of business advice based on the application of accounting principles. Emphasizing communication skills, alternative viewpoints, and the effect of assumptions on decisions, the simulation episodes demonstrate the usefulness and importance of accounting to business decision makers. The intent of shifting from well-structured end-of-the-chapter problems to more authentic work, like that in business simulations, is to develop higher-order thinking skills while generating interest in the accounting major and increasing the usefulness of accounting in the minds of nonmajors.
Should Case Materials Precede or Follow Lectures?
Authors: Phillips Fred , Vaidyanathan Ganesh
Published: April 2008

This paper examines a fundamental question faced by all accounting educators who use accounting case analyses alongside lecture-based instruction: Does it matter whether cases precede or follow a lecture? Results from a controlled experiment indicate that students' case analysis performance is initially enhanced when a lecture precedes a case, because the lecture equips students with knowledge to apply to the case and it constrains the number of irrelevant ideas that students apply to the case. However, there is a drawback to positioning a lecture before the first case—it constrains the number of relevant ideas that students generate themselves to apply to the case. In addition, the short-term benefits of positioning a lecture before case analyses disappear when students analyze a second case. Specifically, we find that performance on a second case is significantly better when students have previously learned in an environment that places the first case before the lecture. Our evidence suggests that these case-before-lecture students are more likely to engage their pre-lecture knowledge and the knowledge obtained from the lecture when analyzing the second case. Practical implications for using cases with lectures are discussed.
Interstate Business College: A Case Study in Fraud Examination
Authors: Peterson Bonita K. , Buckhoff Thomas A.
Published: April 2008

This case is based on an actual fraud that occurred and provides you with an opportunity to develop fraud examination skills, which include document examination, searching public records, financial statement analysis, and communicating the results of your work. Such skills benefit all accounting students regardless of the career path they may choose (e.g., a fraud investigator, an auditor, a consultant, a tax accountant). This case also: (1) exemplifies the complexity often found in fraud cases, and (2) illustrates how fraud examinations differ from financial statement audits. While some of the names of the parties involved have been changed, no facts in the case have been altered. Interstate Business College (IBC), founded in 1912, collapsed in the wake of allegations of top management fraud. The allegations became public when 23 former students filed a lawsuit against the director and owner of IBC, alleging misappropriation of student funds. You will assume the role of the fraud investigator hired by their attorney to determine if there is evidence to support their claim. Upon completion of the case, you will have a sense of the amount of documents, detail, and work involved when resolving fraud allegations.
Pets.com, Inc.: Assessing Financial Performance and Risks in the e-Commerce Industry
Authors: Coulter John M. , Vogel Thomas J.
Published: April 2008

Pets.com, Inc. (Pets) was formed as an Internet retailer of pet supplies in 1999. After experiencing rapid sales growth and hemorrhaging cash in it s first year, an initial public offering (IPO) was scheduled for February 2000. In this instructional case, you will evaluate the ability of this real-world company to continue as a going concern by analyzing the financial information and business risk disclosures included in Pets' Prospectus. The case is ideal for an auditing class as it provides a background to examine how going concern and fraud risks impact the audit reporting decision. A focus on corporate governance issues, financial statement analysis techniques, bankruptcy prediction models, and e-commerce company business models would also make this case useful for financial accounting courses (e.g., accounting theory and/or financial statement analysis).
Dynamic Data: Corporate Governance and Auditors' Evaluation of Accounting Estimates
Authors: Cohen Jeffrey R. , Krishnamoorthy Ganesh , Wright Arnold M.
Published: April 2008

Corporate governance issues have grown more salient in light of alleged corporate accounting scandals and the subsequent enactment of the landmark Sarbanes-Oxley Act (U.S. House of Representatives 2002). However, even in cases where no fraud has occurred and management is completely aboveboard, the role of various players in the corporate governance framework in maintaining a high-quality financial reporting process cannot be overlooked. This case presents facts surrounding the valuation of inventory at Dynamic Data, a high-tech firm. You will be asked to consider, from an auditor's perspective, whether inventory should be carried at cost in light of changing market conditions. Further, you will be asked to consider the role, if any, that the Audit Committee and Board of Directors might play in the financial reporting process. Special consideration will also be given to examining the implications of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the audit process.
Compliance with Title IX at Kingston State University: A Case Study on Cost Allocation and Ethical Decision Making
Authors: Reisch John T. , Seese Larry P.
Published: April 2008

We present a case that focuses on the allocation of costs between men's and women's sports. At issue is whether large portions of indirect costs can or should be allocated to women's sports to keep a university in compliance with Title IX, the federal law promoting gender equity in collegiate athletics. Students are instructed to use an ethical decision-making model when addressing the cost allocation issue and deciding whether it is ethical for accountants to “play” with numbers to achieve certain objectives. The cost allocation alternatives generated by students are appropriate for managerial accounting courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The case also helps students to develop a systematic approach when solving ethical dilemmas. Students are required to identify potential stakeholders of the decision to reallocate costs and to assess the interests of the different stakeholders. After developing potential alternatives and determining how each decision could affect the stakeholders, students must make a cost allocation decision that is consistent with the fundamental qualities of the accounting profession—honesty, competence, objectivity, and integrity. In addition to gaining exposure to cost allocation methods and ethical decision making, students are exposed to several core educational competencies identified in the AICPA Core Competency Framework (AICPA 1999).
An Empirical Test of Cooperative Learning in a Passive Learning Environment
Authors: Hwang Nen-Chen Richard , Lui Gladie , Tong Marian Yew Jen Wu
Published: April 2008

This study examines whether cooperative learning can improve the learning outcomes of students in a passive learning environment. One hundred seventy-two accounting students who were attending a major Hong Kong university participated in this study. Using a 2 × 2 between-subjects experimental design, this study finds that students who were taught using a cooperative learning approach significantly outperformed those who were taught using a traditional lecture format. Moreover, the results of this study indicate that the students in cooperative learning sessions performed significantly better in answering indirect application-type questions than those in traditional lecture sessions. Overall, the results of this experiment suggest that cooperative learning is an effective teaching pedagogy for delivering accounting topics in a passive learning environment. The implications of this study for accounting education and the directions for future research are also discussed.
Distance Education: A Review of the Contemporary Literature
Authors: Bryant Stephanie M. , Kahle Jennifer B. , Schafer Brad A.
Published: April 2008

This paper provides an overview of the distance education literature, including a review of the definitions, theories, and major issues related to distance education. We introduce a research model for distance education constructs, and review the literature outside accounting within each of the model constructs. Finally, in an effort to advance accounting research in this area, we articulate several important research questions within each of the constructs of the model, and provide suggestions for accounting educators interested in pursuing distance education pedagogy.
Learning to Design and Teach an Accounting Capstone
Authors: Jervis Kathryn J. , Hartley Carol A.
Published: April 2008

This paper describes the rationale, implementation issues, and our learning experiences in designing and teaching a senior accounting capstone course. A capstone course is usually a culminating academic experience that ties together all previous courses in an academic discipline and facilitates transition to a chosen career (Henscheid 2000). The rationale for our accounting capstone course is based on institutional and departmental objectives, as well as accounting education change initiatives. We review characteristics of capstone courses in undergraduate education, and discuss similarities to our course. We also address implementation issues with respect to course content, instructional methods, assignment of faculty, class size, and assessment. Finally, we describe course requirements and specific assignments from our accounting capstone course. Appendices include our course syllabus, and a comprehensive list of topics and readings.
BuyGasCo Corporation: The Use of Alternative Costing Methods in a Predatory Pricing Lawsuit
Authors: Barton Thomas L. , MacArthur John B. , Moore Rebecca L.
Published: April 2008

The purpose of the BuyGasCo Corporation (BuyGasCo) case is to introduce and evaluate the use of different costing systems as evidence in a predatory pricing lawsuit. The setting of this case is a major chain of retail motor fuel (gasoline) service centers, which has been accused of selling regular gasoline below cost (as defined under Florida state statutes). The judge accepted the volume-based method used by the plaintiff and issued an injunction disallowing BuyGasCo from selling regular gasoline below cost as concluded in the plaintiff's report. BuyGasCo retained an accounting professor from the local university as an expert witness for the defense to determine if activity-based costing (ABC) analysis would provide grounds for a possible appeal of the judge's ruling.
The Importance of Commitments: A Case Study of a Broken Promise
Authors: Bloom Robert , Cenker William J.
Published: April 2008

The aim of this teaching case is to motivate students to consider the importance of commitments, especially ones made during the recruitment process. The case focuses on a student who has reneged on a previously accepted employment offer from an accounting firm. Most suitable for use in accounting and auditing courses at the undergraduate level, this case would be particularly useful if presented prior to the recruiting season.

In analyzing the case, students are expected to first address the importance of commitments and then to narrow the focus to commitments in employment settings. Students must consider the implications of breaking employment commitments to other individuals involved, the firm, and the university. This case can help students achieve a better understanding of the important relationship between accounting firms and universities as well as a better appreciation for the human resource function in accounting firms.
Reasons Research Papers Are Rejected at Accounting Education Journals
Authors: Stout David E. , Rebele James E. , Howard Thomas P.
Published: April 2008

The authors of this manuscript have served as editors of two major accounting education journals for the decade ending in 2005. During this period, we evaluated approximately 500 research manuscripts submitted to the “Main Section” of Issues in Accounting Education and the Journal of Accounting Education. We performed a content-analysis of the files of research manuscripts that had been rejected to determine both primary and secondary reasons for rejection. We find that, by far, most manuscript rejections occur after a first-round review (i.e., after initial submission). We also find that, for the most part, the reasons accounting education research manuscripts are rejected are consistent over time, journal, and editor. The reasons for rejection are generally manifested early in the life of the project. Primary reasons for rejection are (1) a poorly motivated study, (2) a poorly designed study, and/or (3) an insignificant contribution to the accounting education literature. Poor writing is a common secondary reason for rejecting accounting education research manuscripts. The most common reason a manuscript was rejected after resubmission was the failure of the author to adequately address concerns expressed by reviewers and the editor during previous review rounds. We include an appendix that provides sources of guidance for getting manuscripts published in accounting education journals.
An Examination of Faculty Perceptions of Academic Journal Quality within Five Specialized Areas of Accounting Research
Authors: Lowensohn Suzanne , Samelson Donald P.
Published: April 2008

In recent years, the research and publishing efforts of accounting academicians have become increasingly more specialized, as evidenced by the popularity of American Accounting Association (AAA) specialized sections and the increase in specialized academic publications (Herron and Hall 2004; Zeff 1996). Despite the trend, there is evidence that specialized areas are under-represented in the academic accounting journals typically regarded as top-tier (Bonner et al. 2006) and minimally considered in journal quality studies (Bean and Bernardi 2005). This study identifies topquality research publication outlets in five specialized areas of accounting research (behavioral, taxation, government and nonprofit, management accounting, and information systems), as perceived by accounting faculty familiar with these areas. We survey members of five AAA sections regarding journal quality and the effect of journal quality on promotion and tenure. We find that there are multiple outlets for high-quality research in specialized fields, but that many of these are relatively new and overlooked in prior studies. Also, the findings demonstrate that accounting academics in at least two specialized areas of accounting research (government and nonprofit, and information systems) may face difficulties substantiating the quality of their research.
Using 10-K Reports Brings Management Accounting to Life
Authors: Bamber E. Michael , Bamber Linda Smith
Published: April 2008

The accounting profession and business community have called for educators to present accounting in more realistic business contexts. Annual reports and 10-Ks provide a wealth of information that brings accounting to life, but use of these reports is typically confined to financial accounting courses. The first objective of this paper is to describe a process by which instructors can use a real companya's 10-K to create a series of mini-cases for cost and management accounting courses. These cases are intended to bridge the gap between typical end-of-chapter problems and full-blown Harvard-style cases. A series of cases based on the same company not only increases student interest, but is also an efficient way to help students understand and start to grapple with the ambiguity and complexity inherent in real-world management accounting (factors absent from most structured textbook problems). Applying a variety of different management accounting tools and techniques to the same company helps students integrate what can appear to be a large set of loosely related topics, and better appreciate the broad role management accounting plays in supporting strategic business decisions.

Our second objective is to provide a specific illustration of a series of 10-K-based cases. We have successfully used these cases in both the undergraduate junior level cost/management accounting course, and in M.B.A. introductory core and elective courses.
Using Cases Published in Issues in Accounting Education: Categories and Topics at a Glance
Authors: Lipe Marlys Gascho
Published: April 2008

To increase accessibility, cases published in Issues in Accounting Education from its inception through November 2006 are categorized by course area. Course categories include accounting information systems, auditing, financial accounting, managerial/cost accounting, and taxation. Specific course topics addressed in each case are identified. Additional tables list cases addressing ethical issues and cases using governmental or not-for-profit entities and firms in the service sector.
On the Structure of Financial Accounting Standards to Support Digital Representation, Storage, and Retrieval
Authors: Fisher Ingrid E.
Published: April 2008

This paper provides a first look at structuring financial accounting standards to support information retrieval where document content is subject to frequent changes. The continual amendment of financial accounting standards results in the distribution of the specification of many accounting rules across multiple documents. Digital representation of financial accounting standards is suggested as an effective means toward improving the access to the standards. XML document type definitions (DTDs) are used to specify the grammar for the structure as well as the content of the financial accounting standards. The design of the DTDs reveals significant deficiencies in the current structure of financial accounting standards that preclude automation of retrieval schemes that incorporate temporal reconstruction. The deficiencies also include the lack of a hierarchical structure and a both consistent and sound arrangement. Suggestions are made for changing the structure and content of financial accounting standards to facilitate the application of digital techniques as well as enhance their understandability. A program for future research focused on the design, meaning, and use of financial accounting standards is proposed. The implications for the profession are outlined.
Explanation Provision in Knowledge-Based Systems: A Theory-Driven Approach for Knowledge Transfer Designs
Authors: Smedley Georgia A. , Sutton Steve G.
Published: April 2008

Knowledge-Based Systems (KBS) have been used in industry to free experts from mundane and routine decision making, to produce comparable and consistent decisions, and to retain the expertise of knowledgeable employees who may, for many reasons, leave a company. KBS are also desired to have the capacity to transfer knowledge to less-expert users of such systems. In this paper, Adaptive Character of Thought-Rational (ACT-R) theory is used as a foundation for the design of KBS explanations for the explicit purpose of facilitating knowledge transfer to the user. ACT-R (Anderson 1993) is a theory of cognitive skill acquisition that suggests a learner must first obtain certain facts about a new learning situation (declarative memory pieces) and then convert a series of facts into a set of rules that will produce accurate problem-solving skills (procedural memory pieces). Prior research has examined pieces of the ACT theory in its earlier forms, but no comprehensive tests examining the simultaneous effect of the multiple components have previously been completed.

The current study addresses three questions based on ACT-R theory: (1) Can declarative-knowledge-based explanations improve declarative knowledge transfer? (2) Can declarative-knowledge-based explanations improve procedural knowledge transfer? (3) Can procedural-knowledge-based explanations improve procedural knowledge transfer? An experiment employing eight KBS, differing by types of KBS explanation prompts, which were designed to stimulate declarative and/or procedural knowledge transfer, was conducted with 294 accounting information systems students. An analysis of the results provides some support for the use of declarative-based KBS explanations for declarative knowledge transfer, strong support for the use of declarative-based KBS explanations for procedural knowledge transfer, but a lack of support for the use of procedural-based KBS explanations for procedural knowledge transfer. The results suggest that organizations may be able to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of training programs for knowledge workers through the application of KBS that include declarative knowledge-based explanations.
An XML Architecture for Operational Enterprise Ontologies
Authors: Geerts Guido L.
Published: April 2008

What is an operational enterprise ontology, why would a company embrace it, and how can it be implemented? These are the issues addressed in this paper. An enterprise ontology answers the following question: What kinds of things should we represent in enterprise systems? It becomes operational when its specification is explicitly recorded and actively used by applications at run time. The primary motivation for considering an operational enterprise ontology is its ability to support application reuse across enterprise systems. XML is an emerging technology for recording, processing, and exchanging data. This paper illustrates how XML technologies can be used to implement operational enterprise ontologies.
Merger Premium Predictions Using a Neural Network Approach
Authors: Shawver Tara J.
Published: April 2008

Over 80 percent of mergers fail to achieve projected financial, strategic, and operational synergies (Marks and Mirvis 2001). It is critical for management to find accurate models to price merger premiums. Management has an interest to protect stakeholders by acquiring companies that can add value to their investments at the most favorable price. Published studies in the area of pricing mergers have not attempted to use expert systems in the decision-making process. This paper is the first of its kind that describes the development and testing of neural network models for predicting bank merger premiums accurately. A neural network prediction model provides a tool that can filter through noise and recognize patterns in complicated financial relationships. The results confirm that a neural network approach provides more explanation between the dependent and independent financial variables in the model than a traditional regression model. The higher level of accuracy provided by a neural network approach can provide practitioners with a competitive advantage in pricing merger offers.
An Analysis of Disclosure in the Annual Reports of U.K. and Dutch Companies
Authors: Camfferman Kees , Cooke Terence E.
Published: April 2008

This study adopts a comparative approach to assess the comprehensive-ness of disclosure in the 1996 annual reports of United Kingdom (U.K.) and Dutch corporations. Although the two countries exhibit some similarities, there are important differences in legal systems, capital markets, and corporate governance mechanisms. The disclosure model developed is based on the main headings specified in the Fourth and Seventh European Union Directives. Based on this model, disclosure by U.K. companies is more comprehensive than by Dutch corporations and the difference is significant (5 percent level with two-tailed test). Most of the key areas of disclosure are found to be more comprehensive in the U.K. than in The Netherlands. This is due to more stringent regulation in the U.K. than in The Netherlands where the approach is more flexible. The model is used to establish whether disclosure is related to a number of firm-specific characteristics using regression analysis. The impact of size is the same for both countries, but other firm-specific characteristics have different effects.
Who Is Miss World in Cosmetic Earnings Management? A Cross-National Comparison of Small Upward Rounding of Net Income Numbers among Eighteen Countries
Authors: Kinnunen Juha , Koskela Markku
Published: April 2008

Using a sample of approximately 87,000 earnings observations from almost 22,000 firms in 18 countries for the five-year period 1995–1999, we document firms' tendency to exercise cosmetic earnings management (CEM) worldwide. Following prior studies in the area (Thomas 1989, among others), we define CEM by small upward rounding of reported net income that generates more than expected zeros and less than expected nines as second digit of earnings numbers. We partition our sample into positive and negative earnings to see whether the anomalous frequencies are reversed in negative earnings (losses) relative to positive earnings (profits), as predicted by CEM. In addition, we analyze net sales as a control variable. We find that, due to more ample opportunities to accounting manipulation, upward rounding is much more significant on the bottom line than on the top of an income statement. Consistent with prior studies, we find a reversed pattern of CEM for net losses. In addition, we find evidence for our expectation that CEM covaries with some institutional factors. We report that CEM decreases with spending on auditing, whereas it increases with the latitude of country's GAAP, its cultural values (power distance), and the importance of management bonus schemes. Contrary to our expectation, we do not find significant relationships between CEM and some factors commonly considered in related recent studies, such as the degree of shareholder protection or the alignment of financial and tax accounting.