Over recent decades, organizations have moved into highly competitive markets that force companies to implement Performance Management Systems (PMSs) to keep monitoring strategy alignment and activities. In this context, this paper provides a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) on the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in PMSs. Relevant and useful papers have been selected for the analysis and the final 60-paper sample has been studied by means of con-tent analysis and descriptive statistics. The relevant findings have been reported across categories (i.e. value drivers, practices and measures, contextual drivers, and critical issues), such as increasing the use of KPIs supporting sustainable de-velopments and a dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative indicators. In particular, authors revealed the need for a KPI strategical formulation and for a cultural factor aimed at ensuring the effective integration of quantitative, qualita-tive and sustainable development indicators. Therefore, a conceptual model was developed in order to guide managers through the criticalities and the recently reported requirements. This review addresses the KPIs' implementation from both a systemic and critical point of view; these aspects made our study really useful for practitioners of all application sectors.
{"title":"The role of Key Performance Indicators as a performance management tool in implementing corporate strategies: A critical review of the literature","authors":"I. Hristov, A. Chirico, Riccardo Camilli","doi":"10.3280/fr2022-001004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3280/fr2022-001004","url":null,"abstract":"Over recent decades, organizations have moved into highly competitive markets that force companies to implement Performance Management Systems (PMSs) to keep monitoring strategy alignment and activities. In this context, this paper provides a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) on the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in PMSs. Relevant and useful papers have been selected for the analysis and the final 60-paper sample has been studied by means of con-tent analysis and descriptive statistics. The relevant findings have been reported across categories (i.e. value drivers, practices and measures, contextual drivers, and critical issues), such as increasing the use of KPIs supporting sustainable de-velopments and a dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative indicators. In particular, authors revealed the need for a KPI strategical formulation and for a cultural factor aimed at ensuring the effective integration of quantitative, qualita-tive and sustainable development indicators. Therefore, a conceptual model was developed in order to guide managers through the criticalities and the recently reported requirements. This review addresses the KPIs' implementation from both a systemic and critical point of view; these aspects made our study really useful for practitioners of all application sectors.","PeriodicalId":42044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Financial Reporting","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84313484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Raffaele Fiume, T. Onesti, Giulia Cordero di Montezemolo, M. Strada
{"title":"Dialogue with standard setters. Climate change and Financial reporting","authors":"Raffaele Fiume, T. Onesti, Giulia Cordero di Montezemolo, M. Strada","doi":"10.3280/fr2022-001005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3280/fr2022-001005","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":42044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Financial Reporting","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80721249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This work reviews accounting research on book-tax conformity (BTC) with specific reference to financial reporting issues. There is an ongoing debate in the accounting literature about the impact of BTC levels (weak/strong) on accounting quality and on tax avoidance. Policymakers have discussed at length the opportunity to reform BTC as well. Proponents of a strong BTC argue that it can deter both financial reporting ma-nipulation and aggressive tax planning by creating contrasting incentives between book earnings maximisation and taxable income minimisation. Further controls on book earnings assured by taxing authorities will reinforce such beneficial ef-fects. Opponents of a strong BTC suggest that financial accounting decisions should not interfere with tax accounting and vice versa, as financial reporting and tax reporting have different purposes. Furthermore, under a strong BTC, managers will tend to smooth earnings to minimise income taxes, thus reducing earnings in-formativeness. Even if a strand of research based on the Tax Reform Act (TRA 86) in the US corroborates the position of opponents, a large body of literature formed in international settings has not yet reached a consensus over the conse-quences of BTC. This circumstance makes BTC a relevant topic to the current de-bate on financial reporting quality.
{"title":"Financial reporting and book-tax conformity: A review of the issues","authors":"Luca Menicacci","doi":"10.3280/fr2022-001002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3280/fr2022-001002","url":null,"abstract":"This work reviews accounting research on book-tax conformity (BTC) with specific reference to financial reporting issues. There is an ongoing debate in the accounting literature about the impact of BTC levels (weak/strong) on accounting quality and on tax avoidance. Policymakers have discussed at length the opportunity to reform BTC as well. Proponents of a strong BTC argue that it can deter both financial reporting ma-nipulation and aggressive tax planning by creating contrasting incentives between book earnings maximisation and taxable income minimisation. Further controls on book earnings assured by taxing authorities will reinforce such beneficial ef-fects. Opponents of a strong BTC suggest that financial accounting decisions should not interfere with tax accounting and vice versa, as financial reporting and tax reporting have different purposes. Furthermore, under a strong BTC, managers will tend to smooth earnings to minimise income taxes, thus reducing earnings in-formativeness. Even if a strand of research based on the Tax Reform Act (TRA 86) in the US corroborates the position of opponents, a large body of literature formed in international settings has not yet reached a consensus over the conse-quences of BTC. This circumstance makes BTC a relevant topic to the current de-bate on financial reporting quality.","PeriodicalId":42044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Financial Reporting","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84480414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Most business valuation formulas are designed for profitable firms experiencing constant growth, even though in practice firms tend to transition from loss-making, high-growth startups to mature, stable enterprises. This paper introduces a life-cycle valuation model that accommodates this evolution in growth and profitability by treating investment expenditures and revenues as a function of firm age. The model’s predictions regarding the time dynamics of common valuation multiples and financial ratios align well with observed financial data. The life cycle model can be estimated at the firm level from a few basic accounting variables and delivers estimates both of firm value and of the firm’s cost of capital. Firm value estimates show a log-correlation with observed stock market values of more than 90 percent.
{"title":"A Life Cycle Model of Firm Value","authors":"Moritz Hiemann","doi":"10.2308/jfr-2019-504","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/jfr-2019-504","url":null,"abstract":"Most business valuation formulas are designed for profitable firms experiencing constant growth, even though in practice firms tend to transition from loss-making, high-growth startups to mature, stable enterprises. This paper introduces a life-cycle valuation model that accommodates this evolution in growth and profitability by treating investment expenditures and revenues as a function of firm age. The model’s predictions regarding the time dynamics of common valuation multiples and financial ratios align well with observed financial data. The life cycle model can be estimated at the firm level from a few basic accounting variables and delivers estimates both of firm value and of the firm’s cost of capital. Firm value estimates show a log-correlation with observed stock market values of more than 90 percent.","PeriodicalId":42044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Financial Reporting","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91358344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
John L. Campbell, Stephen P. Baginski, James R. Moon, James D. Warren
We investigate whether common compensation features can encourage managers to reveal more of their private information. We use management forecast accuracy to proxy for the extent to which managers reveal their private information and offer two main findings. First, both the amount of severance pay a manager receives and the convexity of their stock option portfolio (i.e., vega) are positively associated with that manager’s forecast accuracy. This suggests that if shareholders compensate managers in ways that reduce concerns over firm volatility, they are more forthcoming with their private information. Second, these contracting incentives are more strongly associated with forecast accuracy when short-term pressure to conceal private information is higher. Overall, our results suggest compensation can encourage managers to provide more accurate disclosures, a clear benefit to capital market participants.
{"title":"The Role of Executive Risk-Taking Incentives in Voluntary Disclosure Accuracy","authors":"John L. Campbell, Stephen P. Baginski, James R. Moon, James D. Warren","doi":"10.2308/jfr-2020-015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/jfr-2020-015","url":null,"abstract":"We investigate whether common compensation features can encourage managers to reveal more of their private information. We use management forecast accuracy to proxy for the extent to which managers reveal their private information and offer two main findings. First, both the amount of severance pay a manager receives and the convexity of their stock option portfolio (i.e., vega) are positively associated with that manager’s forecast accuracy. This suggests that if shareholders compensate managers in ways that reduce concerns over firm volatility, they are more forthcoming with their private information. Second, these contracting incentives are more strongly associated with forecast accuracy when short-term pressure to conceal private information is higher. Overall, our results suggest compensation can encourage managers to provide more accurate disclosures, a clear benefit to capital market participants.","PeriodicalId":42044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Financial Reporting","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87861711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We discuss some pitfalls associated with using residuals as dependent variables in accounting research. We provide basic intuition for why the typical implementation of this procedure generates biased coefficients and standard errors that can lead to incorrect inferences with both type I and type II errors. We illustrate model specification issues associated with estimating regressions in two steps versus one and discuss possible over-specification and the use of fixed effects. We provide Stata code and sample data to help illustrate and understand this bias and conclude with concrete guidance for researchers and reviewers of archival research.
{"title":"On the Use of Residuals as Dependent Variables","authors":"Wei Chen, P. Hribar, Sam Melessa","doi":"10.2308/jfr-2021-008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/jfr-2021-008","url":null,"abstract":"We discuss some pitfalls associated with using residuals as dependent variables in accounting research. We provide basic intuition for why the typical implementation of this procedure generates biased coefficients and standard errors that can lead to incorrect inferences with both type I and type II errors. We illustrate model specification issues associated with estimating regressions in two steps versus one and discuss possible over-specification and the use of fixed effects. We provide Stata code and sample data to help illustrate and understand this bias and conclude with concrete guidance for researchers and reviewers of archival research.","PeriodicalId":42044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Financial Reporting","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88810686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kristian D. Allee, Devon K. Erickson, Adam M. Esplin, Stephannie A. Larocque
We provide new evidence on individual analysts' differential abilities to forecast firm value. We find that independent analysts' target prices perform well in predicting future price relative to investment-bank analysts. Our evidence suggests that, 12 months after their issuance, independent analysts' target prices are more likely to be met than those issued by investment-bank analysts in general and are more accurate than the target prices of affiliated investment-bank analysts, controlling for analyst characteristics. We also find that independent analysts' target prices are more likely to be met for firms with higher stock price momentum. In contrast, we find that the association between realized returns and the returns predicted by target prices does not differ for independent vs. investment-bank analysts. Moreover, independent analysts' target prices are less likely to be met and are less accurate for firms with higher volatility. Our evidence contrasts with prior literature which generally concludes that independent analysts' research is of lower quality. Yet, the market appears to react relatively less strongly to independent analysts' target price revisions. Our findings suggest that investors and researchers can benefit from understanding the properties of independent analysts' target prices, particularly for certain types of firms.
{"title":"Independent and Investment-Bank Analysts' Target Prices","authors":"Kristian D. Allee, Devon K. Erickson, Adam M. Esplin, Stephannie A. Larocque","doi":"10.2308/jfr-2019-0020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/jfr-2019-0020","url":null,"abstract":"We provide new evidence on individual analysts' differential abilities to forecast firm value. We find that independent analysts' target prices perform well in predicting future price relative to investment-bank analysts. Our evidence suggests that, 12 months after their issuance, independent analysts' target prices are more likely to be met than those issued by investment-bank analysts in general and are more accurate than the target prices of affiliated investment-bank analysts, controlling for analyst characteristics. We also find that independent analysts' target prices are more likely to be met for firms with higher stock price momentum. In contrast, we find that the association between realized returns and the returns predicted by target prices does not differ for independent vs. investment-bank analysts. Moreover, independent analysts' target prices are less likely to be met and are less accurate for firms with higher volatility. Our evidence contrasts with prior literature which generally concludes that independent analysts' research is of lower quality. Yet, the market appears to react relatively less strongly to independent analysts' target price revisions. Our findings suggest that investors and researchers can benefit from understanding the properties of independent analysts' target prices, particularly for certain types of firms.","PeriodicalId":42044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Financial Reporting","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2021-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82738350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The present study investigates the effects of women on companies' boards on the quality of non-financial information, and the influence that a mandatory ap-proach has on this relationship. Previous studies have dealt with analysing the ef-fects of female presence on CSR or ESG information, but few pieces of research have taken into account other strands of non-financial information and have re-sorted to an index to measure its quality. Therefore, this study aims to contribute by extending the analysis to any type of non-financial information communicated by a company. Moreover, the present research contributes to the strand of litera-ture investigating the role of women on companies' boards. In fact, the results of the OLS regression analysis demonstrated that the presence of women with an ex-ecutive role positively influences the quality of disclosure in Italy, and this rela-tionship is not influenced by the advanced stage of application of the regulation on gender quotas. Moreover, disclosure quality is significantly higher for firms that disclose a non-financial statement. Nevertheless, the study suffers from some limi-tations with respect to the sample size and the analysis of the trend in reporting af-ter the introduction of Directive 2014/95/EU.
{"title":"Non-financial disclosure and women on board: Is a mandatory approach on gender quotas effective to increase communication quality?","authors":"Rebecca Miccini","doi":"10.3280/fr2021-002002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3280/fr2021-002002","url":null,"abstract":"The present study investigates the effects of women on companies' boards on the quality of non-financial information, and the influence that a mandatory ap-proach has on this relationship. Previous studies have dealt with analysing the ef-fects of female presence on CSR or ESG information, but few pieces of research have taken into account other strands of non-financial information and have re-sorted to an index to measure its quality. Therefore, this study aims to contribute by extending the analysis to any type of non-financial information communicated by a company. Moreover, the present research contributes to the strand of litera-ture investigating the role of women on companies' boards. In fact, the results of the OLS regression analysis demonstrated that the presence of women with an ex-ecutive role positively influences the quality of disclosure in Italy, and this rela-tionship is not influenced by the advanced stage of application of the regulation on gender quotas. Moreover, disclosure quality is significantly higher for firms that disclose a non-financial statement. Nevertheless, the study suffers from some limi-tations with respect to the sample size and the analysis of the trend in reporting af-ter the introduction of Directive 2014/95/EU.","PeriodicalId":42044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Financial Reporting","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2021-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80195299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michele Guidi, M. Giuliani, Maria Serena Chiucchi, S. Marasca
Various studies argue that non-financial information is particularly relevant for business stakeholders. To reduce the risks related to information asymmetries and "window dressing" practices and to enhance the credibility of non-financial information, the need for assurance has arisen. In recent years, scientific and professional interest in the issues related to the assurance of non-financial information has increased. Up to now, there have been very few studies on the evolution of non-financial disclosure (NFD) assurance, nor have scholars addressed the possible gaps and future research perspectives in this field. A systematic review is developed with the following aims: first, to explore the evolution of the NFD assurance literature by systematising academic studies (i.e., papers published in scientific journals) and professional contributions (i.e., papers published in non-scientific sources) from the auditing field, and second, to understand whether theory and practice have influenced each other in the field of NFD assurance, i.e., whether a bridge between theory and practice can be identified within this discourse. The main findings are the following: firstly, four stages can be identified in the evolution of the study of NFD assurance, and secondly, there is virtually no interaction between theory and practice, as practically no scientific papers are mentioned in professional papers, while academic scholars consider professional publications only as empirical data sources.
{"title":"The assurance of non-financial disclosure: A longitudinal analysis of the academic and professional literature","authors":"Michele Guidi, M. Giuliani, Maria Serena Chiucchi, S. Marasca","doi":"10.3280/fr2021-002001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3280/fr2021-002001","url":null,"abstract":"Various studies argue that non-financial information is particularly relevant for business stakeholders. To reduce the risks related to information asymmetries and \"window dressing\" practices and to enhance the credibility of non-financial information, the need for assurance has arisen. In recent years, scientific and professional interest in the issues related to the assurance of non-financial information has increased. Up to now, there have been very few studies on the evolution of non-financial disclosure (NFD) assurance, nor have scholars addressed the possible gaps and future research perspectives in this field. A systematic review is developed with the following aims: first, to explore the evolution of the NFD assurance literature by systematising academic studies (i.e., papers published in scientific journals) and professional contributions (i.e., papers published in non-scientific sources) from the auditing field, and second, to understand whether theory and practice have influenced each other in the field of NFD assurance, i.e., whether a bridge between theory and practice can be identified within this discourse. The main findings are the following: firstly, four stages can be identified in the evolution of the study of NFD assurance, and secondly, there is virtually no interaction between theory and practice, as practically no scientific papers are mentioned in professional papers, while academic scholars consider professional publications only as empirical data sources.","PeriodicalId":42044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Financial Reporting","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2021-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86498483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In this short paper we summarize and promote randomization inference for accounting researchers. We discuss applications of randomization inference in both small sample and large sample settings, and we include several examples from our own work. We also provide guidance and sample code to researchers looking to implement randomization inference, as well as caveats to consider.
{"title":"Randomization Inference for Accounting Researchers","authors":"Roger M. White, Matthew D. Webb","doi":"10.2308/jfr-2021-006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/jfr-2021-006","url":null,"abstract":"In this short paper we summarize and promote randomization inference for accounting researchers. We discuss applications of randomization inference in both small sample and large sample settings, and we include several examples from our own work. We also provide guidance and sample code to researchers looking to implement randomization inference, as well as caveats to consider.","PeriodicalId":42044,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Financial Reporting","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84859577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}