Selected Journals
This study intends to reflect a brief discussion regarding the theory of accounting and the current issues that are prevalent in accounting. In this context, accounting is a process of measure, wherein the higher authorities of an organization focus on determining the organizational profit, loss, expenditure, income, liabilities, asset, debtors, and creditors among others. Thus, based on this process of measuring, an organization focuses on the development of its performance within its market (Tsamenyi, Cullen, & Gonzalez, 2006). On the other hand, certain issues also initiate regarding this process of measuring. Hence, two journals have been selected for the study. This includes “Same play, different actors? Comparing the research-practice gap in management accounting in Australia and Germany” and “On the shoulders of giants: undertaking a structured literature review in accounting”. By analyzing these journals, potential theory related to the accounting and current issues have been recognized.
In order to conduct this study, both journals have been selected based on the accounting along with its issues. The case first journal “Same Play, Different Actors? Comparing the Research-Practice Gap in Management Accounting in Australia and Germany” focuses on management accounting. This type of accounting is considered to be one of the major operational activities within an organization. This is due to the fact that without proper management of accounting, an organization is not able to measure its adequate profit or loss within the market (Wiesel, Modell, & Moll, 2011). At the same time, management of accounting helps an organization to avoid major accounting issues, which are conducted by the organizational individuals. Hence, it can be considered as a first reason behind the selecting afore-mentioned journal. This particular journal majorly focuses on management accounting and its implications within an organization in order to mitigate issues related to the accounting (Broadbent & Guthrie, 2008).
In case of the second journal, “On the Shoulders of Giants: Undertaking a Structured Literature Review in Accounting” has been selected to identify an adequate theoretical review of the accounting as well as its issues. Theory of accounting plays a major role within an organization, as it provides an appropriate path of accountability. In addition, the entire accounting system of an organization is based on the day to day transactions. Hence, the theory of accounting helps the financial experts for segmenting information relating to organizational transactions in a decent manner. By implementing and following the theory of accounting an organization can help in mitigating any difficulties within the operating market. Thus, due to owing to this reason, the aforementioned journal has been selected to develop this study. Appropriate or structured literature research can assist in maintaining internal activities of the organizations in Australia (Brüggen, Vergauwen, & Dao, 2009).
Analysis of Same play, different actors? Comparing the research-practice gap in management accounting in Australia and Germany
Overall, accounting management along with structured research of accounting can aid an organization to achieve market goals. Apart from this, both journals have reflected different outcomes of accounting. At the same time, the journal also focuses on the management of accounting along with the accounting literature. Simultaneously, major factors regarding accounting along with its practice such as auditing, financial diffusion, the traditional accounting system, and its implications have been possible for identifying these journals. Therefore, this afore-mentioned reason can be considered as the third reason behind the selection of these journals for this study (Isik, Dogru & Turk, 2018).
In the case of the first journal, the researcher has implied quantitative research approach. Research has been focusing on the diffusion of innovation. Hence, a survey has been conducted among 33 respondents, wherein certain questionnaires have been asked relating to the Australian and German accounting standards along with bodies. This article thus focuses on the management of accounting, which has been implemented by the Australian and German accounting bodies, which is also the main research question of the study. Based on this research, survey questions have been segmented into four parts, which includes accounting literature, the translation stage, the dissemination stage, and areas of inquiry. The final section of the questionnaire has been used for a personal interview (Migacz, Zou & Petrick, 2018).
In case of the second journal, the authors Maurizio Massaro, John Dumay, and James Guthrie have considered both qualitative as well as a quantitative research method. Through this research, they have identified the structured literature review in accounting or SLR. The key question focuses on the ways through which accounting literatures have been helping organizations to develop accountability. In order to conduct the research, the authors are analyzing various peer-reviewed journals along with books. At the same time, the logic behind the SLR using within an organization also has been developed through the research.
Through the analysis of the first journal, the authors namely Dr. Basil Tucker and Professor Dr. Stefan Schaltegger have taken certain assumptions regarding the accountability gap between Australia and Germany. The finding of this gap has been shown below:
Table1: Existence of Gap
(Source: Massaro, Dumay & Guthrie, 2016)
On the basis of the above Table 1 above, it has been identified that the Australian organizations are observed to be less strongly disagree. On the other hand, Germany disagreed that there are many factors of accounting gap. At the same time, most of the respondents of both Australia and Germany have agreed that there are significant factors of the gap. Through the calculation of minimum and maximum range of each of the factors, mean value of Australia as well as Germany has been identified as 1.4 and 1.8 at a minimum level. On the other hand, max means the value of both Australia and Germany are calculated to be 4.8 and 4.6. The calculation has been shown below in Table 2:
Analysis of On the shoulders of giants: undertaking a structured literature review in accounting
Table 2: Mean Value of Both country in Minimum and Maximum Range
Based on the above Table 2, it can be stated that academic research in the domain of accounting management has been removed from practice. Thus, academic research should be based upon practices and needs to consider the overall findings. Contextually, the findings from the academic research have not strongly affected Germany as compared to Australia. This is due to the fact that the standard error of Germany is 0.4 in comparison with 0.2 in Australia. Based on this observation, it can be stated that the management of accounting has greatly influenced the organization in case of accounting (Tucker & Schaltegger, 2016).
On the other hand, four aspects of management of accounting have been identified through the research, which includes discovery, dissemination, change, and translation. In this case, reasonable changes and similarities have been observed. At the same time, the barriers of diffusion have also been observed through the research. Identified factors have shown below Table 3.
Table 3: Barriers of Diffusion in Management Accounting of Australia and Germany
Based on the above Table 3, it can be observed discovery and change are calculated to be 0.59(S.D), 3.46(Mean) and 0.47(S.D), 3.95(Mean) respectively. On the other hand, translation and dissemination have been calculated as 0.51(S.D) and 4.26 (Mean) for Australia. On a similar note, 0.39(S.D) 4.48 (Mean) in Australia. Simultaneously, Germany has calculated as (S.D) 0.59, 0.46, 0.63, and 0.49 as well as (Mean) 4.21, 4.39, 3.23, and 3.27 respectively. On the basis of these observations, it can be stated that the discovery has a reasonable impact on the management of accounting, whereas the other three aspects have a high impact upon an organization regarding acceptability (Vendrzyk, 2018). Based upon the above situation, the mean value of all the calculated variable has been calculated in the below Table 4. This table will help to identify the impact of accountability in the Australian firms. The calculation has reflected below Table 4:
Table 4: German and Australian Authorities overcoming Research-Practice Gap
From the above Table 4, it has been identified that the Australian firms are performing better in respect to German firms. Hence, the management of accounting is playing an effective role in Australian firms along with their business operation (Tucker & Schaltegger, 2016). Thus, with respect to the second journal, the authors namely Maurizio Massaro, John Dumay, and James Guthrie have conducted a structured literature review, whereas they have examined various books as well as journals through the research (Tsamenyi, Cullen & Gonzalez, 2006). At the same time, a basic protocol of SLR within an organization has been elaborated. This protocol has been depicted in the below Figure 1:
Issues in Accounting
Figure 1: structured Literature Review’s Protocol
Through an overview of the above Figure 1, it has been identified that the there are ten basic steps, which lead the entire protocol of the SLR. Fundamentally, this process of SLR is acquiring each aspect of research such as journal, articles, Coder Triangulation, Code papers (QDAS and NVivo), and scope. Hence, through the process of SLR, an organization can be made aware regarding the potential issues relating to accounting (De Villiers & Dumay, 2013). Based on the entire research, certain issues of accounting include improper budgeting, lack of auditing, unskilled financial employees, and whistleblowing before the time among others. These can affect the operations of the organization reasonably. Thus, due to these reasons, SLR is helping to overcome the issues in a decent manner. By implementing appropriate SLR technique, an organization can easily develop its financial efficiency and effectiveness. Apart from this, the research also reflects different scenario relating to accountability changes through SLR (Flower, 2015).
Table 5: Auditors and Client Conflict Resolution Changes
Source: (Massaro, Dumay & Guthrie, 2016)
Based on the above Table 5, it has been identified that 296 conflicts between clients and auditors were observed in 2001, which has been reduced to 14 in 2012. Hence, approximately 95% of conflicts have been reduced over the time period from 2001 to 2012. Only SLR is responsible for this type of development within the Australian firms. Through the qualitative research of the study, it has been identified that the SLR is reflecting in a different way. In addition, SLR is developing and creating knowledge ground, whereas the organization is developing its financial implications. At the same time, researchers have stated that SLR has been establishing a new journey for an organization. Through this, an organization is resolving internal issues related to the accountability (Chenhall & Smith, 2011).
Conclusion
From the study, it has been identified that the financial theories and its implication plays a major role within the Australian organizations. Thus, it can further be inferred that the process SLR and accounting management along with organization are facing issues and internal problems regarding the accountability and its implications within the Australian firms.
References
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Vendrzyk, V.P., 2018, Self-reflective insights: Announcement of a Forthcoming special issue of issues in accounting education, Issues in Accounting Education, vol. 33, no. 1, pp.1-1.
Wiesel, F, Modell, S. & Moll, J. 2011, ‘Customer orientation and management control in the public sector: A garbage can analysis’, European Accounting Review, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 551-581.