Measuring Internet Financial Reporing (IFR) disclosure strategy

There is a significant development in the accounting practices and communication due to the rapid growth of internet technology. Nonetheless, until today, financial reporting through the internet still has no legally structured standard compared to the formal international financial reporting standard (IFRS) that firms need to adhere. Yet, firms must still consider stakeholders’ decision making based on internet accounting disclosures. Since the 1990s studies on Internet Financial Reporting (IFR) apply various indexes to measure disclosure practices. However existing indexes mainly focus only on the level and quality of IFR disclosure. Our study develops a new checklist – IFR disclosure strategy checklist – to measure IFR disclosure strategy based on a taxonomy proposed by Williams (2008) which has not yet been empirically tested until today. However, the taxonomy only outlines the characteristics of each proposed strategy. Our study takes the challenge to interpret the taxonomy by developing a checklist for each characteristic that were describe in the taxonomy. Utilizing content analysis, detailed consideration was made about items in the checklist based on prior studies, available regulations in several countries as well as current practices by reporting entities. Results from reliability test indicate that our checklist is a valid and reliable instrument with regards to our sample of study. It is expected that our checklist will be referred to by reporting entities in order to assist stakeholders’ decision making. Eventually we hope that with the knowledge about the disclosure strategy, stakeholders might reduce their time and effort in searching for the best business entities when deciding upon their investment portfolio

Internet Financial Reporting (IFR) disclosure position and firm value

Nowadays, Internet Financial Reporting (IFR) disclosure is the global way to display firm performance to investors and stakeholders. Hence, it is imperative that firms properly manage their IFR disclosure to ensure their existence is conspicuous to the world in order to foster their firm value. We believe that in order to manage IFR disclosure, firms would probably behave either ritualistically or opportunistically in terms of their IFR disclosure position. In this study, we propose a quantitative measurement for the IFR disclosure position, i.e. utilizing IFR presentation score, taking into consideration latest IFR rules and regulations worldwide as well as relevant extant empirical studies. Based on a sample of 320 Malaysian listed firms in year 2012, our regression analysis shows that our quantitative measurement for the IFR disclosure position variable has a positive association with firm value. We found that 87 firms, categorized as poor performing seems to manage their IFR disclosure position ritualistically. While 233 firms, categorized as well performing manage their IFR disclosure position opportunistically. Hence, our study provide circumstantial evidence that firms’ financial performance has a relationship with IFR disclosure position. In further analysis, our findings show that stakeholders seem to perceive ritualistic IFR disclosure’s position is empirically valid to value poor performing firms. However, stakeholders seem to negate the opportunistic IFR disclosure position in valuing well performing firms even though theoretically the opportunistic IFR disclosure position should be able to offer vast benefits that could enhance firms’ value. Our findings should be useful to firms and stakeholders likewise in making firms’ valuation taking into consideration the existence of firms’ financial performance and IFR disclosure position

The role of business leaders in information technology innovation in the new era of disruptive technology

The new era of disruptive technologies such as internet of things (IoT), robotic process automation (RPA) and virtual reality (VR) not only contributes to the growth of marketplaces but also changes the individuals’ experiences in using new technology. This study examines the role of business leaders in the new era of disruptive technology and how it can fundamentally change the organisations or individuals to adapt to work challenges in changing market dynamics across industries. The research questions include what are the role of business leaders in Information Technology (IT) innovation; what are the major challenges and how business leaders overcome the challenges. Based on data gathered through interviews among the business leaders with accounting background, the findings revealed that support from the business leaders is necessary to motivate and encourage IT users to innovate with new technology. However, resistant to change, feeling complacent and anxious towards new technology are some of the challenges that the business leaders have to deal with IT users. Business leaders believed that management involvement, continuous discussion, educating IT users, demonstration of knowledge and coaching will help to motivate and inspire IT users to make full use on the benefits of new technology. The contribution of the study are two folds. Theoretically, it promotes the new rival of theory or framework that goes beyond the traditional IT use. Practically, business leaders are open to new approaches, develop and gain support for team vision, implement and execute a strategy effectively

Pelaporan maklumat alam sekitar melalui atas talian dan nilai firma

Pelaporan maklumat alam sekitar oleh firma merupakan salah satu strategi untuk mengekalkan kemampanan firma dan meningkatkan nilai firma. Sehubungan itu, firma perlu memastikan pelaporan maklumat alam sekitar diterima oleh pihak yang berkepentingan dengan lebih cepat, terkini dan berkesan. Kajian terdahulu melaporkan hubungan yang signifikan antara tahap pelaporan alam sekitar dengan nilai firma. Walau bagaimanapun, pelaporan maklumat alam sekitar tersebut hanya berdasarkan laporan secara manual ataupun dimuat naik di laman sesawang. Justeru, kajian ini dilakukan untuk mengkaji tahap pelaporan maklumat alam sekitar secara berasingan di laman sesawang selaras dengan galakan Bursa Malaysia. Pelaporan secara berasingan memberikan peluang kepada firma untuk melaporkan maklumat secara meluas, menonjolkan diri dalam kalangan pesaing serta meningkatkan nilai firma. Kajian ini turut menyiasat berkenaan hubungan antara pelaporan maklumat alam sekitar secara berasingan melalui atas talian dengan nilai firma. Dalam menentukan tahap pelaporan maklumat alam sekitar secara berasingan melalui atas talian, indeks pelaporan alam sekitar secara berasingan yang telah disediakan oleh Bursa Malaysia diuji terhadap 784 firma yang tersenarai di Pasaran Utama pada tahun 2017. Kajian mendapati sebanyak 376 firma (48%) telah membuat pelaporan tentang maklumat alam sekitar secara berasingan di laman sesawang. Berdasarkan kajian ini juga, terdapat hubungan positif antara tahap pelaporan alam sekitar secara berasingan melalui atas talian dengan nilai firma. Hasil kajian ini boleh dijadikan asas baharu kepada Bursa Malaysia dan penggubal dasar yang lain di Malaysia untuk memberikan lebih penekanan dan insentif terhadap firma yang melaksanakan tanggungjawab ini

Connecting the Dots between Social Care and Healthcare for the Sustainability Development of Older Adult in Asia: A Scoping Review

Globally, we face a rapid double growth of the ageing population that urges an integrated framework plan by connecting the health and social care disciplines as a shared and continuum of care approach. Bridging the gap between health and social care is required to meet the demand of ageing population needs, the readiness of the stakeholders, and community as a holistic approach. This article provides an overview of the evidence gap between social care and healthcare through a scoping review. Articles retrieved related to social and health care for older adults in the Asia region were identified through a compilation of PubMed, SAGE, Springer, and Google Scholar searches between the years 2015 to 2021. Only twelve articles were used for result generation. The majority highlights the constraint on financial support, issues related to culture, human resource competency and community participation. The systematic review of the current work provides valuable insight for future researchers and policymakers in designing sustainable development integrated long term care (LTC) framework models and plans