bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neural Networks Versus Logit Regression Model For Predicting Financial Distress Response Variables
Authors: Zurada Jozef M. , Foster Benjamin P. , Ward Terry J. , Barker Robert M.
Published: February 2016

Neural networks are designed to detect complex relationships among variables better than traditional statistical methods. Our study examined whether the complexity of the response measure impacts whether logistic regression or a neural network produces the highest classification accuracy for financially distressed firms. We compared results obtained from the two methods for a four state response variable and a dichotomous response variable. Our results suggest that neural networks are not superior to logistic regression models for the traditional dichotomous response variable, but are superior for the more complex financial distress response variable.
Industrial Buying And The Divergence Of Capital Budgeting Theory And Practice: An Exploration
Authors: Hatfield Patricia , Hill Donna , Horvath Philip
Published: February 2016

This exploratory paper suggests that a stage-gate industrial buying model may provide an explanation for the divergence of capital budgeting theory and practice. Not surprisingly, we find that qualitative and quantitative characteristics of projects are perceived to vary in complexity. More importantly, our results indicate that these characteristics vary in importance as they proceed to each subsequent stage, and that the idea of selling projects at each subsequent stage by packaging the projects; emphasizing those aspects deemed important or of appropriate complexity and de-emphasizing others. We relate these results to current theory and practice and suggest further investigation.
Stock And Bond Market Linkage In The Empirical Study Of Interest Rate Sensitivity Of Bank Returns
Authors: Srivastava Suresh C. , Hamid Shahid , Choudhury Askar H.
Published: February 2016

The bank stocks equilibrium pricing relation is the traditional CAPM augmented by a second factor to account for the unexpected changes in the interest rates. This paper examines the methodological issue of constructing an interest rate variable that is orthogonal to the market index. We test a new approach in which the interest rate variable and the market return are treated as the components of a bivariate vector, a suitable vector ARMA model is determined, and then the appropriate whitened residuals are used as the interest rate factor in the two-factor model. Results are compared with the results from other models in which prevailing orthogonalization procedure is used. Our investigation indicates that the robustness of the result depends, to a limited extent, on the procedure employed to orthogonalize the two factors.
The Work Values Of Accounting Students
Authors: Kleinman Gary G. , Farrelly Gail E.
Published: February 2016

Prior research has shown the importance of the work values of Achievement, Security, Civility and Autonomy in examining the accounting profession. This paper provides measures of these four work values in a sample of 502 accounting majors and fifty-three accounting faculty from ten schools. Statistical analysis indicates some significant differences in work value scores of female vs. mail students and faculty vs. students. In addition to discussing the results of the study, we also suggest how the research instrument and data may serve as focal points for discussions, lectures, and research projects by consultants, in-house training personnel and university professors.
An Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach To Assessing The Risk Of Management Fraud
Authors: Deshmukh Ashutosh , Millet Ido
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) can be employed to assess the risk of management fraud. The paper illustrates how the AHP can be used to measure red flags on a scale of varying intensities, to aggregate various red flags, and to derive a single measure of risk of management fraud. The significant red flags identified in past empirical research are used in this study for illustrative purposes and the AHP models are implemented in Expert Choice (1997) software. The AHP allows auditors to customize their approaches in assessing the risk of management fraud for each audit engagement. Auditors can use significant red flags identified in the earlier studies, and also add or delete certain red flags if the engagement warrants it. The AHP can be used as a viable auditing tool in situations where auditors perceive the need to exercise judgment and or to arrive at a group consensus.
Assessing The Fit And Stability Of Alternative Measures Of Service Quality
Authors: Stafford Marla Royne , Prybutok Victor , Wells Brenda P. , Kappelman Leon
Published: February 2016

Despite continued research, no single approach to assessing service quality has emerged as a standard, and reconciliation of the differences among these approaches remains quixotic. This paper focuses on the empirical assessment of different approaches to measuring service quality. Furthermore, this work examines the stability of these approaches by comparing the different measures among three companies within the same industry. Two of these approaches (difference scores and perceptions only) are discussed in the existing literature. The third approach (log of the ratio) is introduced in this work because of its potential quantitative advantage for assessing service quality while preserving the comparison between perceptions and expectations. A fourth approach (ratio) is included for completeness. Despite the proposed advantages of the log of the ratio approach, results suggest that the different score performs the best. Moreover, the five-factor solution originally posited by Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry (1988) provides a better fit than the one-factor solution advanced by Cronin and Taylor (1992). While these findings substantiate Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berrys approach, the strength of the model fit still suggests a need for continued development of measure to effectively assess service quality.
Variable Lifetime Annuities: Can You Live Long Enough To Receive Fair Value?
Authors: Milne Ronald A. , Vent Glenn
Published: February 2016

This article presents an analysis of variable lifetime annuities and quantifies the advantages and disadvantages associated with this type of instrument. Given recent long-term rates of return and current low inflation rates, variable annuity contracts provide an effective means of compensating for inflation. An individual only needs to invest a small portion of retirement funds in variable annuities to protest the entire portfolio against the risk of long-term inflation without the risk of having ones entire retirement income based on variable annuities.
Multi-Objective Decision-Making In Supplier Selection: An Application Of Visual Interactive Goal Programming
Authors: Karpak Birsen , Kasuganti Rammahan R. , Kumcu Erdogan
Published: February 2016

Supplier selection by purchasing teams in a supply chain management environment is inherently a multi-objective problem. The authors discuss one of the multiple criteria decision support systems; Visual Interactive Goal Programming (VIG), to assist purchasing teams in their vendor selection decisions. VIG is based on a multi-criteria technique known as Pareto Race. Two examples illustrate the application of VIG in different multi-objective supplier selection environments. The first example demonstrates the allocation of a single product among multiple vendors, while the second example focuses on a multiple-replenishment purchasing problem in selecting supplier and allocating orders among them. The authors conclude with a discussion of VIGs benefits and limitations.
Accounting For Intellectual Capital
Authors: Lilly Martha S. , Reed Ronald O.
Published: February 2016

The authors review accounting standards for recording intellectual capital (research and development) using Amazon.com as a model. An international perspective of the United Kingdom, the Japanese; and the United States indicates similarities and differences among these countries and the International Accounting Standards. The authors discuss the advantages and disadvantages of expensing versus capitalizing these expenditures with specific emphasis on e-tailing. The impact of dual treatment is equally confusing to external as well as internal users of this financial information.
Value Chain Cost Tracing And Cost System Obsolescence: An Exploratory Study Of Small To Medium-Sized Companies
Authors: Hwang Nen-Chen Richard
Published: February 2016

To succeed in todays competitive business environment, corporations need to undertake value chain analysis and select an optimal mix of value chain activities. Based on the data collected from 73 small- to medium-sized companies, this study provides evidence regarding current practices in value chain cost tracing and cost system obsolescence. The research findings indicate that companies do a better job of linking value chain costs to products/product lines than to customers/customer classes. Overall, however, the proportion of each value chain cost attributed to either cost object tends to be low. This indicates that firms management may be rather slow in adopting new management tools. Furthermore, most companies are still using value-based cost allocations, which suggests cost system obsolescence. Implications of this study and future research directions are also discussed.
Survey On The Differential Effects Of Time Deadline Pressure Versus Time Budget Pressure On Auditor Behavior
Authors: Kelly Timothy , Margheim Loren , Pattison Diane
Published: February 2016

The study examines the differential effects of time deadline pressure versus time budget pressure by surveying both senior and staff auditors in public accounting firms. The responding senior auditors reported experiencing time deadline pressure more frequently than time budget pressure over the preceding year and a majority of them indicated they experienced more stress from time deadline pressure than from time budget pressure. However, the responding staff auditors experienced time deadline and time budget pressures about equally over the preceding year and experience3d about equal levels of stress from the two types of time pressure. In contract to the frequency and stress results noted above, the results also indicated that both senior an staff auditors perceived time budget pressure to be more associated with reduced audit quality, reduced job satisfaction, and increased underreporting of chargeable time than time deadline pressure.
A Loophole In Financial Accounting: A Detailed Analysis Of Repo 105
Authors: Chang Chun-Chia (Amy) , Duke Joanne , Hsieh Su-Jane
Published: February 2016

From 2000 to 2008, Lehman used repo transactions to hide billions of dollars on their statements. They alsomisrepresented the repo transactions as secured borrowings even though they actually recorded the transactions as sales. Valukas report in 2010 stimulated an extensive coverage of the repo transactions and spurred an array of studies addressing issues related to the collapse of financial institutions. Since the Repo 105 maneuver of Lehman provides a good example on how regulatory deficiencies can induce companies to obscure financial reporting and the importance of ethics in deterring these abuses, our study intends to examine repo transactions related accounting standards, illustrate how repo transactions can enhance a banks financial statements, and discuss the importance of business ethics in curtailing accounting irregularities.
A New Functional Form For Estimating Lorenz Curves
Authors: Hossain Sharif , Saeki Chikayoshi
Published: February 2016

The Lorenz curve is a most powerful tool in the analysis of the size distribution of income and wealth. In the past decades, many authors have proposed different functional forms for estimating Lorenz curves from grouped data. Most of the functional forms do not fit the data very well for estimating Lorenz curves. That is why, in this paper we proposed a new functional form for estimating Lorenz curves, which provides very good fits?with compared to other functional forms, see for example, Kakwani's and Podder's (1973, 76), Rasche's et all (1980), Kakwani's (1980), Gupta's (1984), and Ortega's (1991) functional forms.  On the basis of the new functional form, we derived the formulae of the Gini, Kakwani, and Chakravarty inequality indices. Empirical verification of the theoretical construct has been done based on the data set from BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics) publications, "Household Expenditure Survey" corresponding to different years.
Moral Reasoning Of Business, Nursing And Liberal Arts Students
Authors: Lan George P.W. , McMahon Sharon , King Norm , Rieger Fritz
Published: February 2016

This paper presents the results of an analysis of the level of moral reasoning across different majors and between undergraduate and graduate business students at a middle-sized Canadian university. The Defining Issues Test (DIT2), a recent version of the original DIT test, a well-known and widely tested psychometric instrument, is used to measure the level of moral reasoning. The results showed that beginning nursing students scored significantly lower on the DIT2 tests than the upper level liberal arts and business students and that older students scored significantly higher than younger students and that the main variable affecting the level of moral reasoning was the level of formal education of the participants. Even after allowing for the variance caused by age and by the major field of study of the respondents, the level of education by itself is a significant predictor of the P (Principled) score, an output of the DIT2, which is an indicator of the level of moral reasoning. On the other hand, the gender and political views of the respondents did not affect the DIT2 P-scores significantly.
Bidder Experience In Online Auctions: Effects On Bidding Choices And Revenue
Authors: Ward Sidne G. , Clark John M.
Published: February 2016

This paper describes research to determine the effects of bidder experience on performance in online auctions. Choice of bid type, the timing of bids, and the price paid are all examined for very experienced and very inexperienced bidders.  The  study draws on information systems empirical research, traditional auction theory, the results of lab experiments involving "live" auctions not mediated by computers, and existing research on online auctions.  The results indicate that bidder experience is related to timing of bids and choice of bid type, but not to revenue realized. These findings have implications for bidders and researchers.
Effective Pedagogy For Business Schools Post-9/11/01
Authors: Eisner Susan P.
Published: February 2016

In the year since the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks on the United States, many educators have sought ways to respond appropriately and effectively in their classes.  Much has been written to guide elementary and secondary educators; it is largely curricular in nature.  Little has yet been geared toward college educators or pedagogy.  This paper begins to serve that need by presenting pedagogical options business school instructors may find helpful.  The literature review and results of a student survey suggest that active learning may be particularly effective in business school teaching today.
Establishing The Importance Of Japanese Public Infrastructure
Authors: Balkaransingh Radha
Published: February 2016

In an endeavor to get the economy out of its economic slump the Japanese government has proposed several structural reform measures, one of which involves the reduction in public investment spending. We study the soundness of this proposal by investigating both the correlation between public infrastructure and the private sector variables (private output, labour and capital) as well as the causal relationship between public infrastructure and the private variables. Public infrastructure comprises of physical (e.g., roads and ports) and social (e.g., academic institutes) infrastructure. For the first objective we employ the translog production function to determine the nature of the relationship between public infrastructure and the private variables. We find that total public infrastructure (physical plus social) has a positive and significant relationship with private output in the magnitude of 1.03%. Additionally not only do we find that all types of infrastructure impact positively on private sector output but also that social infrastructure had a greater impact on private sector output (0.58% higher).  Regarding the second objective we employ the Granger no-causality test procedure developed by Toda and Yamamoto (1995).  We establish that public infrastructure Granger causes private labour and private capital. While private capital and private labour Granger cause private output. Also there is a bi-causal relationship between social public infrastructure and private capital. There exists reverse causality between public infrastructure and private output. As such public infrastructure affects private output indirectly through its impact on the private inputs.
The Assimilation of Immigrants Who Arrived in the United States as Children
Authors: Sandford Jeremy , Seeborg Michael C.
Published: February 2016

Although there has been much research on the effects of national origin, English speaking ability and educational attainment on the assimilation of immigrants, there has been little work on the effect of age of immigration on assimilation. This paper uses 1990 Census (IPUMS) data to assess the effects of age immigration on the relative earnings performance of 30-year-old immigrant men.  Earnings regressions are run for three cohorts of immigrants defined by their age of arrival and a decomposition analysis is conducted to explain earnings gaps between each of the three immigrant cohorts and a sample of nonimmigrant men. We find that immigrants that arrive in the US before their tenth birthday have higher earnings and higher rates of return to education compared to immigrants who arrive at older age. Late arrivals, on the other hand, have a substantial earnings disadvantage relative to natives and seem to be more adversely effected by low levels of ethnic capital.  We also found that a substantial income gap remained between older immigrants and natives even after estimating what their earnings would have been had they possessed the native human capital characteristics  Age of arrival clearly matters and should be a consideration in designing immigration policy.  
Do Chinese Stock Markets React To The Newspaper Recommendations?
Authors: Cai Francis , Xu Lianzan , Leung C.K. , Cheng Huifang
Published: February 2016

This paper studies how the stock prices in Chinese stock markets react to the stock recommendations from a Chinese business newspaper Zhong Guo Zheng Quan Bao (China Security). Using event study methodology and market model as a benchmark, we calculate abnormal returns to ascertain the impact of published recommendations. We find that there are no statistically significant long-term abnormal returns associated with the published recommendations. However, there are profitable opportunities if investors act prior to the published recommendations. We also find that the recommendations from the newspaper causes a significant short term movement two days after the publication day, suggesting a delayed response from the investors who act on the recommendation. The delayed response shows the gradual dissemination of the information in Chinese stock markets. In summary, these results indicate that press recommendations of Chinese stocks contain no useful economic information for investors who act on the published recommendations. The possible abnormal returns for investors who buy the stocks before the recommendations are made public are evidence of a market that is strong-form inefficient and the delayed response from investors to the newspaper recommendations is most likely the evidence of a market that is semi-strong-form inefficient.
The Attendance Boost Is Over-Rated For Interleague Baseball, And The Big Mac Attack Is A Hit On The Road: All This And More From The Within-Season Demand Model For Major League Baseball
Authors: Bruggink Thomas H. , Roosma Colin
Published: February 2016

The theory of microeconomic demand is seldom estimated with a rich set of data, yet there is no shortage of statistics in professional sports.  Using the sports industry enables economists to extend traditional theory of demand to include products that change daily (the visiting team) as well as the circumstances of their consumption (e.g., the day of the week).  In fact the home games of professional sports are never identical from one game to the next.  This variation allows one to estimate the quantity response to each of a multitude of factors.
Africa In An Age Of Globalization
Authors: Haile Semere
Published: February 2016

The global markets continue to grow in developing countries. Global markets have created new businesses and provided opportunities for global employers and individuals in developing countries. Through globalization of economies, jobs have been created which reduce unemployment rates. However, economic growth rates in Africa have been lagged behind other developing countries. This paper examines the importance of global business to Africa. Also, this study explores how African countries can strengthen their macroeconomic policies and structural reforms in order to achieve globalization of their economies. In addition, this study evaluates the current state and future direction of globalization in Africa.
Online Food Retailing: Is Market Segmentation The Key To Success?
Authors: Shea Timothy P. , Zivic Louis J.
Published: February 2016

The online grocery business was one of many e-commerce opportunities from the late 1990s that was full of promise and resulted in disappointment. Based on a review of current literature and telephone surveys with managers from a number of the top 10 retail grocers in the United States, the importance of market segmentation emerges. Technology is less of an issue than several years ago. The reality of the online grocery business as a niche market has sunk in.  Enormous data warehouses with customer data are now ready to be analyzed. Market segmentation is now both possible and critical for the near future to identify how to define and implement a profitable online grocery presence.
A Generalization Of Lattice Specifications For Currency Options
Authors: Jabbour George M. , Kramin Marat V. , Young Stephen D.
Published: February 2016

This article revisits the topic of two-state pricing of currency options.  It examines the models developed by Cox, Ross, and Rubinstein, Rendleman and Bartter, and Trigeorgis, and presents two alternative binomial models based on the continuous and discrete time Geometric Brownian Motion processes respectively.  This work generalizes the standard binomial approach incorporating the main existing models as particular cases.  The proposed models are straightforward, flexible, accommodate any drift condition and afford additional insights into binomial trees and lattice models in general.  Further, the alternative parameterizations are free of the negative aspects associated with the Cox, Ross, and Rubinstein model.
A New Functional Form For Estimating Lorenz Curves
Authors: Hossain Sharif , Saeki Chikayoshi
Published: February 2016

The Lorenz curve is a most powerful tool in the analysis of the size distribution of income and wealth. In the past decades, many authors have proposed different functional forms for estimating Lorenz curves from grouped data. Most of the functional forms do not fit the data very well for estimating Lorenz curves. That is why, in this paper we proposed a new functional form for estimating Lorenz curves, which provides very good fits?with compared to other functional forms, see for example, Kakwani's and Podder's (1973, 76), Rasche's et all (1980), Kakwani's (1980), Gupta's (1984), and Ortega's (1991) functional forms.  On the basis of the new functional form, we derived the formulae of the Gini, Kakwani, and Chakravarty inequality indices. Empirical verification of the theoretical construct has been done based on the data set from BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics) publications, "Household Expenditure Survey" corresponding to different years.
The Hollowing Out Phenomenon In Japan
Authors: Simeon Roblyn , Ikeda Yumi
Published: February 2016

This paper examined the ‘hollowing out’ (de-industrialization) phenomenon in Japan. We collected time series data for twenty years to investigate the home country impact of outward FDI and a weakening manufacturing sector. We used descriptive statistics and econometric techniques to show that de-industrialization is indeed taking place. We also showed that domestic factors such as low inflation, high wage rates and an increasing number of firms were associated with a more dynamic manufacturing sector. However, the persistent unemployment and long recession point to the need for policies that will invigorate domestic industrial activity if Japan is to return to a strong growth path.
Technologies To Improve The Decision-Making Process Of Real Estate Appraisers: XML, Intelligent Agents, Avms, And Web Services
Authors: Greer Timothy H. , Murtaza Mirza B.
Published: February 2016

Pressure to expedite mortgage originations has prompted the need to accelerate the appraisal process for residential real estate.  The appraisal aspect of a mortgage origination is one area where decision support can play a major role in redefining the process. This study presents propositions that incorporate new technologies into the decision-making process of a residential real estate appraiser.  The four propositions deal with intelligent agents, XML, automated valuation models (AVMs), and web services. Intelligent agents have the ability to redefine how appraisal firms create, maintain, and update their databases.  XML offers enhanced data handling capabilities, while automated valuation models offer the ability to drastically reduce the time required to render an estimate of value. These two technologies can be combined with web services to make the real estate appraisal application available anywhere and anytime of the day.
A Comparative Analysis Of Audit Service Supply Using Desk And Working Paper Reviews
Authors: Deis Jr. Donald R. , Rose Anna M.
Published: February 2016

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) performs extensive reviews of audit working papers for selected Texas school district audits to evaluate the quality of audit services rendered by independent accountants. These reviews are referred to as Quality Control Reviews (QCRs). The TEA also conducts desk reviews of all audited financial statements issued by Texas independent school districts. During the desk review process, the TEA performs a limited check of the accuracy of financial statement amounts, completeness of financial disclosures, and existence of proper audit output. Prior research suggests that desk reviews and quality control reviews both measure audit quality (Colbert and O’Keefe 1995; Copley et al. 1994; Deis and Giroux 1992, 1996; Giroux et al. 1995; O’Keefe and Westort 1992; O’Keefe et al. 1994). The purpose of the paper is to determine if desk reviews capture the same audit quality information as quality control reviews. If so, regulators should focus resources on desk reviews since they are more timely and economical than QCRs. The results of the study, however, indicate that desk reviews and quality control reviews do not measure the same constructs. The findings suggest that desk reviews measure the industry specific knowledge of the auditor, which is only one aspect of audit quality. Moreover, it was observed that some audits passing the desk review were graded low in quality by the working paper review. This finding suggests that low audit quality may be more prevalent than generally suspected and that steps to improve audit quality and auditor credibility are warranted.
An Exploratory Approach To e-Commerce Strategy In The 21st Century
Authors: Lawler James , Elkassas Mohamed , Hill Jonathan , Anderson Dennis
Published: February 2016

This exploratory study analyzes the critical success antecedents that contribute to effective e-Commerce consumer sites.  Focused on key firms in selected industry sectors, the study examines factors that have enabled either failure or success in the strategies of the firms to market, sell and service products on the Web.  Important to firms eventually successful in e-Commerce is their integration of leading edge technologies to enhance business factors of site strategies.  The study imputes business model, content and design, brand image, promotion, community, customer service, traffic management, scalability, performance management and partnership as the continued critical success antecedents that enable effective commerce sites.  This study, in its closer examination of the industry sectors of the firms, will be helpful to business managers considering expanded investment in consumer sites in the increasingly improved economy. 
Internet Customer Segmentation Using Web Log Data
Authors: Rho Jae Jeung , Moon Byeong-Joon , Kim Yoon-Jeong , Yang Dong-Hoon
Published: February 2016

The objective of this paper is to analyze web transaction log data that reveal customer behavior in the Internet channel, and to provide a useful online customer segmentation scheme. To achieve this, we analyze the relationship between the behavior of customers for online pet shops and revenue. We use the decision-tree method as a data-mining technique, and clustering analysis to segment customers.  We perform the study in two stages. First, we investigate the web transaction data of both the member customers and nonmember customers of a Korean online pet shop. Second, we narrow down the study focus and analyze only the member customers’ demographic data and their web transaction data. As a result, we obtain several meaningful segments based on customers’ transaction behavior and demographic characteristics. We use web log data to analyze customer transaction behavior and log-in information to analyze customer demographic characteristics. We discuss some strategic implications, for online shopping mall marketing, suggested by the acquired market segments.
An Examination Of Occupational Differences In The Returns To Labor Market Experience
Authors: Gabriel Paul E. , Schmitz Susanne
Published: February 2016

This study explores differences in the returns to labor market experience for men across occupational categories in the U.S. labor market.  Our analysis of data from the 2003 Current Population Survey indicates that an additional year of labor market experience has a significant and positive impact on the weekly earnings of white- and blue-collar workers.  However, white-collar workers in general earn higher estimated returns to experience than their blue-collar counterparts, and these differences appear to be statistically significant.
Sustainability Reporting In The Accounting Curriculum
Authors: Vann John W. , White Gwendolen B.
Published: February 2016

Seven class sections of undergraduate students in principles of managerial accounting courses participated in a study to examine the impact of sustainability accounting lectures with Internet assignments or lectures alone influence students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward sustainability reporting. The results of this study show that lectures with Internet assignments and lectures alone were equally effective in causing changes in the dependent measures compared to control groups who received no instruction on sustainability.
Using Artificial Neural Networks To Examine Semiotic Theories Of Accounting Accruals
Authors: Etheridge Harlan L. , Hsu Kathy H. Y.
Published: February 2016

Although the primary purpose of accounting is to communicate information, few studies have investigated the communicative nature of accounting.  This study uses semiotics, a theory of signs and signals, to examine the purpose and usefulness of accounting accruals with a popular tool in forecasting--artificial neural networks.  Two primary theories are proposed by this study.  The Theory of the Functions of Accounting Accruals categories accounting accruals by their basic functions and states that two general types of accounting accruals exist: syntactic accruals and semantic accruals.  Syntactic accounting accruals reflect incomplete transactions under a system of cash receipts and cash disbursements.  Semantic accounting accruals present messages in a different format than their counterparts in a system of cash receipts and cash disbursements.  The Theory of the Pragmatic Information of Accounting Accruals states that accounting accruals contain pragmatic information (value) because of their functions.  The pragmatic information (value) of accounting accruals is examined by comparing the ability of accrual accounting data to forecast future cash flows compared to that of cash-flow accounting data.  Forecasts are made using backpropagation neural networks.  The results indicate that both syntactic  and semantic accounting accruals contain pragmatic information (have value when forecasting future cash flows).  The study provides evidence of the pragmatic information (value) of annual accounting accruals.  However, no evidence was found in support of the pragmatic information (value) of quarterly accounting accruals.  This result implies that annual accrual accounting data is a better predictor of future cash flows than cash-flow data while quarterly accrual accounting data is not.
A Longitudinal Study Involving The Utilization Of A Team-Oriented Structure And An Enterprise Resource Planning Framework In A Medium-Sized Organization
Authors: Simpson Leo R. , Watson John G.
Published: February 2016

The paper provides an analysis of a custom manufacturer facing issues of growth, productivity concerns, changes in technology, competitive threats, financial management, marketing development, and internal human resource responsibilities, and the response to these issues.  The paper traces the changes that took place in this medium-sized organization over a fifteen-year period in order to improve the culture of the company.  The implementation of a team oriented structure utilizing an external change agent, and the reorganization of employee responsibilities in a major restructuring effort are discussed.  A new enterprise resource planning system (ERP) was implemented to operate and coordinate the company.  The authors analyze in detail the evolution that has taken place in the company over the last four years.  The major benefits and learnings of the change are presented.
The Stability Of Virtual Equilibrium
Authors: Selim Tarek H.
Published: February 2016

The impact of information technology (IT) on the stability of market equilibrium is explained from a simple microeconomic standpoint. Attributes of a dynamically stable “virtual” market equilibrium are described assuming consumer rationality, an elastic supply curve, and minimum static market demand. Three conditions are necessary for long-run price stability of such a “virtual” equilibrium: (1) firm-specific strategic effects have to be completely offset by aggregate demand growth effects, (2) market equilibrium must arise under the constraint of demand sustainability, and (3) consumer indirect utility gains from information availability must exceed their respective disutility from locational search costs. Those conditions stem from more elastic supply together with less elastic demand compared to when IT is not utilized. 
An Imbalance Of Power: The Readability Of Internet Privacy Policies
Authors: Cadogan Rochelle A.
Published: February 2016

The gap is growing. While collection techniques by today’s business marketing professionals are becoming increasingly sophisticated, there is also an alarming lack of knowledge by Internet sur-fers about how companies track their online movements and use the information. The privacy policy is the document that provides the information regarding how the organization handles the dataflow in their organizations. The policy should answer the consumer’s question, “What is being done with the information that I provide when I am on the Internet?” But how understandable are these policies? This research project is a multiple case study in which the privacy policies of three organizations are evaluated in terms of their readability and their user-friendliness. The three online organizations selected include PrivacyAlliance.org, Dell.com, and Amazon.com.
Publishing In The Accounting Journals: Is There A Gender Bias?
Authors: Kimery Kathryn M. , Mellon Mark J. , Rinehart Shelley M.
Published: February 2016

To publish or not to publish?… that is the question (adapted from William Shakespeare).  In the world of academe, the answer is short and sweet… publish or get out.  This rule holds true for both male and female faculty members, yet it is sometimes postulated that there may be some inconsistencies on how this rule applies across the genders.  This study focuses on whether male and female accounting academics have distinctive patterns of representation as authors in top ranked accounting journals. Archival data, consisting of author information and article information was collected for two journals, The Accounting Review and Journal Accounting Research.  Consistent with previous research findings, preliminary results suggest that females represent a disproportionately small minority of authors in both of these two top accounting journals.
Business Decisions In A Cooperative Environment
Authors: Jessup Eric , Casavant Ken , Monson Jason , Duft Ken
Published: February 2016

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">The trend for cooperative consolidation in the grain industry continues to be common throughout the United States.  In the state of Washington, for example, the total number of agribusiness cooperatives has decreased by nearly 40% over the past 3 decades.  Grain cooperatives in eastern Washington have diminished by 30% over this same period, and by 60% over the past 55 years (Monson, 2003).  The bulk of this reduction in numbers may be attributed to mergers and consolidations, but a few liquidations are also evident.  While many factors have contributed towards this long-standing trend, most would argue that a persistence of “economies of size” appears as a dominant force encouraging industry restructuring at almost every level.  The incentive and motivation to lower long-run average total costs by increasing size, capacity and volume is present for both types of grain agribusinesses (cooperatives and private (or publicly) owned businesses) while the implicit objective function for these different business forms is slightly different.  The primary objective for privately owned businesses is to maximize profit, subject to a constraint on technology which may be influenced by the private firm’s access to capital and management expertise.  
The Determination Of Optimal Reservation Price Setting For Homeowners
Authors: Boronico Jess S. , Nag Raja
Published: February 2016

This paper considers the problem of determining the optimal reservation price for a seller of real estate.  Although there exists much literature regarding the appraisal of real estate and property valuation, little research has focused on the process through which the seller may set a minimum price that he is willing to accept when bids are received over time.  An exploratory and preliminary model is developed from which an optimal reservation price is determined as a function of pertinent cash flows and an ex-ante declared cumulative distribution of bids.  Bids arrive according to a Poisson process and are a function of the listing price.  A numerical example is provided to illustrate the results.
The Effects Of Improvements In Information Technology On Growth Of Cities: A Model With Multiple Activities
Authors: Panayides Alexandros
Published: February 2016

This paper extends my previous research in this field by developing a model where the economic agents are no longer engaged in the same productive activity. In this paper I develop a model where individuals involved in a relationship use two modes of interaction, face-to-face interactions and electronic communications. Specifically the model tries to answer the following question: If there is improvement in electronic communications, under what conditions will more activities choose city locations?
Student Attitudes Towards Computers Before And After Taking An Introductory AIS Course
Authors: Morris Philip W. , Daigle Ronald J.
Published: February 2016

Computer attitudes are measured before students take an introductory AIS course. Attitudes are positive, regardless of gender or traditional vs. non-traditional student status. No difference is noted by gender, but non-traditional students have more positive attitudes. Prior computer experience appears to explain these findings. Attitudes are measured again at semester end. Attitudes either remain the same or slightly improve for respective subgroups studied. Little if any gender difference exists, but the gap by student status is slightly greater. Impact of findings on AIS education is discussed.
Should The CEO Also Be Chairman Of The Board?
Authors: Fosberg Richard H.
Published: February 2016

For some time, practitioners and academics have been trying to determine whether it is better for a company's shareholders to allow the CEO of the company to also be Chairman of the Board (a unitary leadership structure) or whether another person (an independent director) should hold the board Chair position (a dual leadership structure)   Not surprisingly, most executives believe one person should hold both positions while academics hold mixed views on the subject.  The empirical results presented in this study suggest that a dual leadership structure is superior for most firms because it allows the board to better control the opportunistic behavior of the firm's managers.  Specifically, as agency theory predicts, dual leadership firms pay lower compensation to their CEOs, have lower selling, general, and administrative expenses, use more debt in their capital structures, pay out more of their free cash flows to investors, and are more profitable than unitary leadership firms.  Each of these results indicates less opportunistic behavior by the managers of dual leadership firms.
Tax Cuts And Interest Rate Cuts: An Empirical Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of Fiscal And Monetary Policy
Authors: Snyder Tricia Coxwell , Bruce Donald
Published: February 2016

Can expansionary fiscal or monetary policy stimulate the U.S. economy in light of recent events?  Using an Error-Correction-Vectorautoregression, we examine the relative effectiveness of both types of governmental stabilization policy. Unlike previous studies, we use a more general error correction vectorautoregression (ECM) approach.  Our focus is on determining the relative explanatory power of measures of monetary policy (M2 and the Federal Funds Rate) and fiscal policy (marginal income tax rates and government spending) in explaining movements in consumption, investment, and output.  Results suggest that monetary policy is relatively more powerful than fiscal policy.
Deferred Taxes Revisited
Authors: Colley Ron , Rue Joseph , Volkan Ara
Published: February 2016

The study examines the deferred tax accounting theory and procedures required by the FASB in the context of the unit problem. The unit problem involves the selection of the appropriate perspective (either individual or aggregate) for applying measurement and recognition conventions to phenomena of interest. From an individual event perspective, the FASB's conclusions regarding liability recognition are inconsistent with the definition of liabilities found in the Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts No. 6. In addition, the use of inconsistent perspectives by S109 creates disagreements with the FASB’s position, where both the individual and aggregate perspectives are used simultaneously as the basis of the FASB's decisions. The study argues that the income tax accounting issue should be viewed from an aggregate perspective and concludes that the flow-through method of accounting for income taxes should be adopted. The impact of eliminating deferred taxes and adjusting the liability and stockholders equity balances on the debt-to-equity (DTE) ratio is computed for the entire COMPUSTAT database (20 years). For the 817 firms that persist throughout the 20-year period, each year, the net deferred tax balance for each company is compared to the balance in the previous year, with increases (53%) outnumbering decreases (32%), and the remainder (15%) showing no change. In addition, the average annual net deferred tax balances of entire sample show increases for the 15 of the 20 years examined and the balances for persisting firms show increases for 17 of the 20 years examined. Finally, the relative size of the net deferred tax balances as a percentage of total assets and total liabilities for both the overall sample and the persisting firms range from 4.1% to 5.8% of total assets and from 7.9% to 11.8% of total liabilities. Statistical results show that the decreases in the DTE ratio are significant for each year, with an overall average decrease of 19%. Thus, the flow-through method results in significant changes in a key ratio that is used in the financial evaluation of most companies. Conversely, the DTE ratios currently used in the financial evaluation of companies are flawed because the net deferred tax balances are included in liabilities, when it is clear that these accounts do not meet the liability criteria specified in accounting theory.
Raising The Bar In Troubled Times: Business Goals Of Our Future Leaders
Authors: Betts Stephen C. , Taylor Virginia
Published: February 2016

In times of international terrorism, corporate corruption and economic uneasiness, it is easy to become cynical and jaded regarding the ethical, legal and social responsibilities of American business.  A survey of management students however provides cause for optimism.   According to the survey they perceive responsibilities towards employees and society, respecting ethical norms and staying within the law to be ‘moderately’ to ‘very’ important goals to the typical American business person and consider these same goals ‘very’ to ‘of utmost’ importance to themselves. Over the period of the study ‘personal wealth’ and ‘honor, face, reputation’ have decreased in importance while ‘patriotism and national pride’ has increased.  This indicates that despite world events our future business leaders intend to raise the bar regarding issues of corporate performance and social responsibility.
Teens Surfing The Net: How Do They Learn To Protect Their Privacy?
Authors: Moscardelli Deborah M. , Liston-Heyes Catherine
Published: February 2016

This study invokes the consumer socialization process to investigate how teens develop knowledge of ‘privacy concern’ as it relates to protecting their privacy when using the Internet.  The data in this study show a correlation between teens that are raised in homes where parents practice concept-oriented family communication and the development of privacy concern.  The data also show a correlation between parental co-viewing of the Internet and the development of privacy concern.  Finally, the date link peer communication with the development of privacy concern.  Overall the date appear to show that discussion with parents and friends about Internet use is key to the development of adopting concern for protecting teens privacy when they use the Internet. 