The European Perspective on Women\u27s Leadership

The perspective of women in leadership positions is of particular impor- tance in Europe. It is a main subject in the areas of research and science. For example: At the University of Augsburg we conducted several studies of women\u27s leadership and the female academic career in view of gender is- sues such as gender within the family and in socialization. Furthermore we accomplished two gender mainstreaming studies with the focus on equity in several universities in Germany (Gender mainstreaming is a European law of 1997 and a political strategy of diversity management). In this article we want to show the perspective on women\u27s leadership in Europe. Therefore we want to present the European data on the educational status of girls and women at schools and universities and in academic ca- reers. Data for Germany is presented as an example to provide evidence of some details. First, we want to point out four contradictions for women in the education system and concerning leadership positions. Second, data is discussed and some results of research explaining the data are given. Fi- nally, we present a European Program for the educational system to give women more chances: The so called Gender Mainstreaming Program

The Relevance Of Discretionary Disclosures: Predictive Value Versus Feedback Value

This study contributes to the body of literature examining the role of discretionary disclosures. The primary theoretical contribution is a distinction between predictive value and feedback value. We use the Ohlson Model and examine the role of information as an endogenous variable in modeling the impact of disclosures on returns, which is a key methodological contribution to this stream of literature. Using a sample of 121 firms from the AIMR’s Corporate Information Committee for 1982-1994 we find that the expanded firm disclosures did possess predictive value, but they did not possess significant feedback value. These results have important policy implications since the relative costs and benefits of disclosures with predictive value differ from those with feedback value

The Obvious Fraud Revisited: The Admission-Seeking Interview

E.Z. Pickens Conglomerate, S.A. is a large, multi-national manufacturing organization. Approximately six months ago an anonymous tip was left on the company’s fraud hotline. The tip pertained to a division manager of the company who had allegedly perpetrated a fraudulent vendor scheme in collaboration with their significant other. Your company’s internal audit department conducted a review of the vendor file, corroborated the allegation, and forwarded their findings to your department. You supervised a complete investigation into the matter which will now culminate with an admission-seeking interview of the fraudster. Your task is to review the investigative file, prepare to confront the alleged perpetrator, and then conduct the admission-seeking interview to obtain an oral and written confession

Occupational Stress And Turnover Issues In Public Accounting: The Mediating Effects Of Locus Of Control, Social Support, And Employment Expectations

At the aggregate level, turnover costs firms in the accounting profession billions of dollars each year (Larkin 1995).  Though the costs of turnover vary widely from firm to firm, one study estimates that each separation costs firms $4,000 to$8,000 in training and recruiting costs (Roth and Roth 1995).  Further complicating the profession’s turnover dilemma, changing organizational structures and workforce demographics are forcing public accounting firms to update employee recruitment and retention programs. The increased importance of recruitment and retention efforts coupled with the detrimental effects of turnover have led researchers to gain a better understanding of the voluntary turnover process in public accounting.  The demanding and time-pressure nature of the public accounting work environment coupled with the profession’s lack of success in retaining women and minorities suggests that occupational stress may have an increasingly negative impact on the accounting profession. Through the development and testing of a behavioral-based theoretical model, this study attempts to expand our understanding of the turnover process that transpires in public accounting.  The study proposes that three factors act as mediators of occupational stress and subsequently impact employee turnover.  Specifically, locus of control (personality type), the perception of adequate social support (a source of additional information), and the bestowing of realistic employment expectations (knowledge acquired at hiring) are all modeled as buffers of occupational stress.  Results of a path analytic procedure support the theoretical model suggesting that the aforementioned constructs could become critical components of the accounting profession’s recruitment and retention processes

A Modified Price-Sales Ratio: A Useful Tool For Investors?

This study compares returns for stock portfolios using low price-to-earnings, price-to-book, price-to-sales, and price-to-sales ratios modified for profitability of sales and long-term debt. Non-financial companies with fiscal years ending on December 31 were included in a sample covering a 17-year period (1988-2004). The resulting sample was sub-divided into six groups by level of market capitalization.  A 25 stock portfolio was then compiled for each of six valuation ratios at each level of market capitalization. An index portfolio was also computed for each level of market capitalization.  First, the results of this study showed that additional expected returns based on firm size, measured by the market value of equity, is found only at the micro-cap level (less than $25 million market capitalization). The index portfolios of mini-caps ($25-100 mill.), small caps ($100-500 mill.), and mid-caps ($500-$1 bill.) did not show any additional returns in comparison to the large-cap index portfolio. Second, no "value" portfolio for mid-caps provided significant returns above the index portfolio, suggesting a much greater level of market efficiency at this level of market capitalization.  Finally, the most significant findings of our study were that the portfolios constructed from low price-to-sales and modified price-to sales ratios performed as well or better than the more traditional price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios. The price-to-sales ratio adjusted for profit margin (based on the prior three years) was statistically significant in three of six portfolios in comparison to the more traditional valuation ratios

Attitudes Toward Dysfunctional Audit Behavior: The Effects Of Locus Of Control, Organizational Commitment, and Position

Dysfunctional audit behavior (DAB) is associated with decreased audit quality (Public Oversight Board 2000). While recent studies suggest that dysfunctional audit behavior is a widespread problem (Smith 1995; Otley and Pierce 1995), extant research fails to adequately explain the causes or determinants of this form of deviant behavior. This study develops and tests a theoretical model that identifies locus of control, position, and organizational commitment as antecedents of attitudes toward DAB. Using a cross-organizational design and a path analysis technique, survey results from 113 auditors support the theoretical model.

The OHearns: Estate Planning In The Presence Of Long-Term Care Considerations

This case exposes students to issues surrounding estate planning when one or both spouses contemplate a need for costly long-term care. The role of Medicare and especially Medicaid in paying for such care is emphasized. The case addresses such issues as whether or not to purchase long-term care insurance and what factors to consider when transferring assets. In addition to addressing legal and technical issues, the case also addresses ethical issues (e.g., the ethics of impoverishing oneself through the transfer of assets in order to qualify for Medicaid). It may be used in any undergraduate or graduate level course that includes some emphasis on estate planning

Locus Of Control And Dysfunctional Audit Behavior

The Panel on Audit Effectiveness suggested that dysfunctional audit behavior (DAB) was associated with decreased audit quality (Public Oversight Board 2000).  Recent, notable audit failures have also rekindled criticisms of audit quality.  The current study presents the results of a survey in which 134 auditors were asked to report their perceived levels of three widely-cited DABs in their firms: occurrence of premature sign-offs, altering/replacing audit procedures, and underreporting of time.  Although the overall results can be characterized as positive for the auditing profession, a systematic pattern in the results was identified.  Specifically, statistical analysis suggests that perceptions of DAB were associated with a common personality variable, locus of control.  Practical implications of this interesting finding are subsequently presented in the paper

Women leading in education across the continents

"WissenschaftlerInnen aus der ganzen Welt gründeten 2007 auf einer Konferenz in Rom das Netzwerk Women Leading Education Across the Continents (WLE). Ziel war es, einen qualitativen und quantitativen Überblick über Frauen in Führungspositionen im Bildungssystem (Schul- und Hochschulwesen) zu erhalten. Das Netzwerk verfolgt mehrere Ziele: eine Datensammlung zu Frauen in Führungspositionen im Bildungswesen weltweit; die Untersuchung von Gründen, die das Erreichen einer Führungsposition erleichtern oder erschweren; eine Unterfütterung dieser Daten anhand einer Analyse der Biografien der WLE-Mitglieder; die Einflussnahme auf Forschung, Politik und Praxis mithilfe von Publikationen und einem Online-Gender-Audit." (Autorenreferat)"Scholars across the globe created the Women Leading in Education Across the Continents (WLE) group at a conference held in Rome in 2007. The goal was to fill a knowledge vacuum; an understanding of the status of women in educational leadership, in both basic and higher education, from both a qualitative and quantitative view. The group emerged with the following goals: to gather data from an increasing number of countries across all continents regarding the number of women represented in positions of leadership in education; to describe issues that are either barriers or facilitators regarding the ability of women to attain the highest levels of educational leadership; to bring those issues to life through an analysis of the lives and stories of women within the group; to impact research, policy making and practice through publications and an online gender audit." (author's abstract

Convenient synthesis of energetic polynitro materials including (NO₂)₃CCH₂CH₂NH₃-salts via Michael addition of trinitromethane

The nucleophilic Michael addition of nitroform with acrylamide creates a variety of energetic products. Several interesting compounds with a trinitromethyl group were synthesized, among them salts containing the trinitropropylammonium cation, [(NO2)3CCH2CH2NH3]X. Owing to their positive oxygen balance, the suitability of these compounds as potential high-energy dense oxidizers (HEDOs) in energetic formulations was investigated and discussed. Furthermore, numerous important and reactive compounds for the continuing synthesis of molecules with a high oxygen balance are presented. All compounds were fully characterized, including multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, vibrational analysis (IR, Raman), elemental analysis, as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction. Thermal stabilities were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and sensitivity data against friction, impact and electrostatic discharge were collected. The energies of formation were calculated using Gaussian 09 and energetic properties, such as the specific impulse and detonation velocity, were predicted with the EXPLO5 (V6.02) computer code