Exploring the supply chain agility attributes in fast moving consumer goods industry: A case study in the Middle East

During the 1990s, supply chain management and agility have both received great attention. This is due to the fact that the business market place is characterized by being highly dynamic and complex. This paper aims to explore the need and the attributes of supply chain agility in FMCG business industry working in the Middle East markets. A case study of a multinational company working in the Middle East was chosen, where it faces the challenges of its business environment and its rapid changes in its markets. The findings show the case study supply chain working within such type of industry needs to be agile and that the attributes required for achieving agility within FMCGs supply chain includes: responsiveness; Customer service; flexibility; innovation; speed; quality; efficiency; and responsible people thinking

Differentiating brand assets from goodwill assets: the artefact based approach to the accounting recognition of marketing related assets

This article was submitted to and presented at the Canadian Academic Accounting Association (CAAA) Annual Conference.The International Accounting Standards Board is currently reviewing its conceptual framework and, as regards assets, the epistemological focus is upon revisions to the definition of an asset. The criteria presented in this paper break free from this narrow definitional perspective to offer an alternative view based on the recognition of artefacts and the related notion of separability. The transactions-based initial asset recognition trigger is inappropriate for the recognition of non-transactions-based intangible assets, which we instead address here through the medium of artefact-based asset recognition criteria. As primacy now appears to be given to balance sheet values and to the notion of recording comprehensive income, it may now be time to consider a broader artefact basis for the accounting recognition of assets

An artifact based approach to the accounting recognition of assets, particularly intangible assets

The International Accounting Standards Board is currently reviewing its conceptual framework and, as regards assets, the epistemological focus is upon revisions to the definition of an asset. The asset recognition criteria presented in this paper break free from this narrow definitional perspective to offer an alternative view based on the recognition of artifacts and the related notion of separability

Exploring some standard-setters’ views in respect of asset recognition

In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with four Standards-setters: three International Accounting Standards Board members and a Canadian Accounting Standards Board staff member –who has been working on the IASB’s Conceptual Framework project – in particular, the elements and recognition phase. These interviews were conducted from May to June 2008 and were directed towards seven related themes taken from the litarture: the definition of an asset, the recognition of an asset, asset recognition is a-priori to asset measurement, the resource in respect of intangible assets comprises ‘rights’, entity specific versus market specific events, separability, internally generated intangible assets. As one can observe from their personal views, they were not inclined towards the use of asset recognition criteria preferring instead to rely upon compliance with the definition of an asset and then an asset’s subsequent measurement

Exploring the intellectual capital and financial capital interface: an artefact-based criteria approach to the recognition of ‘organisational’ assets

This article was submitted to and presented at the 32nd European Accounting Association Annual Conference.Design: Normative, conceptually based. Purpose: The paper presents asset recognition criteria based on the idea that an asset should be functional, separable and measurable and that financial recognition should be triggered by the recognition of an artefact. We apply these criteria to four organisational assets, that is, those intangible assets that are unlikely to be reported in the accounting domain. Findings: We do so in order to show how one may expand the basis on which assets can be reported financially to elements of intellectual capital as well as financial capital. Originality: The criteria have never been applied to organisational asset

Revisiting the role of the grounded theory research methodology in the accounting Information systems

The aim of this paper is to explore the role of grounded theory (GT) as a research method in the accounting information systems. The GT research method can able the GT researcher to generate a rigour theory. This research paper seeks to investigate how researchers can use GT in relation to its epistemological perspective, methodological stance and research methods. GT as a research philosophy provides clear understanding of how to generate and develop rigorous theory. GT offers an interpretative perspective based on its epistemological stance. This interpretative perspective can be a foundation for GT researchers in interpretative accounting information systems researches

Asset-based recognition criteria: a comprehensive view

Purpose: This paper aims to present a comprehensive view of the assets recognition criteria by providing a coherent set of pre-measurement themes that should be taken into consideration to be a candidate asset. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is a conceptual review paper. Findings: This synthesis review results in seven themes; the social constructionist nature of the conceptual framework (CF), the nature of assets, the changing nature of asset recognition, asset measurement bases, entity-specific vs market-specific recognition, the economic resource comprising “rights”, and finally, the role of “separability” in asset recognition. Originality/value: With the increasing importance of internally created assets and their implications on the financial position of the business entity, and with coinciding of revisiting the CF for financial reporting (at the time of writing this paper), this paper shows a synthesis and comprehensive themes of asset-based recognition criteria for tangible and intangibles assets

A Grounded Theory to Map the Territory of Saudi Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting

This study investigates the practice of corporate social responsibility reporting (hereafter CSRR) in the context of Saudi Arabia. The investigation encompasses a detailed description of corporate social responsibility (hereafter CSR) perception, CSR implementation and CSRR; and an interpretation for reporting practice. The interpretation seeks to provide a grounded theory that is capable of offering a plausible explanation for what shapes this reporting. In addition, the study examines and links the drivers and desired outcomes of CSRR. A primarily interpretive philosophical assumption was employed in the study, utilising the grounded theory methodology and semi-structured interviews as a tool for data collection. The data were collected through three phases of interviews with participants from the Saudi petrochemical and energy industry. The personnel chosen to participate in the research were those with direct CSR involvement who were empowered to make decisions; most of them were leaders or managers. The first two phases were designed to elicit what is understood by CSR within Saudi companies, how it is implemented and how it is then reported. These two phases built the preliminary concepts and categories of the open and axial coding analysis. The third phase of interviews were then used to construct the selective codes and to identify the core concept in order to generate the theory. The use of the grounded theory methodology exactly as instructed is largely absent from the CSR literature. The first part of the findings provides a description of CSR practices. It reveals that despite the uncertainty regarding exactly what CSR means to Saudi companies and what it involves, CSR is perceived as an important concept. A gap between how it is perceived and how it is to be implemented as well as a lack of a systematic CSR strategy and performance measurements were evidenced. CSR is implemented as ‘external’ to business operations and there is a lack of creativity. There is also evidence of a gap between CSR implementation/activities and CSRR. CSRR is arbitrary and inconsistent, lacks a formal mechanism, has many transparency issues, and gains less attention than CSR activities. The second part of the findings- built utilising the first part- presents a grounded theory that is induced to interpret the reporting practices of Saudi companies. The generated theory is illustrated in a textual and diagrammatical model that maps the territory of Saudi CSRR. Based on the managerial perspectives, the map explains what forms and shapes the reporting practices, illustrating and identifying accountability (both tacit and/or explicit) as the core concept/engine of the CSRR mechanism. Accountability in this grounded theory not only reenergises the conventional importance of the concept but also extends its scope. Therefore, accountability is not only society-centred but also organisation-centred. The study concludes by suggesting a number of broad proposals and recommendations for future research and practice, which were developed by considering the challenges faced by companies that were captured during the analysis. It is hoped that the recommendations will improve CSRR

How are British small-medium businesses adjusting to COVID-19?

Every aspect of life has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the global economy has experienced considerable losses. This study aims to provide theoretical insight and relevant information about the current situation of businesses in the case of British small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's), as well as to identify how they are adapting to overcome COVID-19 challenges. The SMEs are a key driver of economic growth and sustainability in the United Kingdom. The study a qualitative approach to identify the most effective adapting strategies by analyzing secondary data. The study's findings revealed that British SME's responded to the pandemic using five long-term strategies; Financial management, government policy, network relationships, digital transformation, and entrepreneur orientation. This study contributes to data analysis, which may be useful for future empirical and strategical research on COVID-19's economic impact

Higher Education Challenges: Accounting and Finance Academia in a Research-led Teaching Universities

Purpose This paper aims to explore problems facing the recruitment of accounting and finance staff in research-led universities. “University accounting and finance (A&F) departments are experiencing difficulty in attracting and retaining suitably qualified staff” (Duff and Monk, 2006, p. 194). The literature identifies a number of reasons for the shortage of A&F phenomenon (Duff and Monk, 2006; Smith and Urquhart, 2018), including, the wide salary gap between academe and industry profession, difficulty in achieving publications in highly rated journal, high workload in teaching and marking due the limited number of A&F staff. Design/methodology/approach The paper provides new insights for the use of the grounded theory and how the theory has been generated from the semi-structured interviews. Findings This study has resulted in eight main challenges emerged, and a final theory has been generated. Implications of this research on business schools are valuable in research-led universities, the A&F staff recruitment strategies and the A&F research strategies in research-led universities. Originality/value The novelty of this research is based on the induction of the challenges that a business school faces, as a case study for a research-intensive teaching-led UK university, in recruiting new A and F appointees and retaining existing members of staff