Digitalization in German family firms – some preliminary insights

Currently, digitalization is a key topic among firms. This paper addresses this topic in the case of German family firms. German family firms have been internationally recognized already for a long time to be at the same time very innovative but also acting very secretly. Therefore it is not surprising that prior literature on this topic is between scarce to inexistent even though literature on digitalization and SME’s in general is widespread. The key question addressed in this paper is how German family firms try to face the challenge of the digital transformation. To provide some suggestions, we relate in an explorative and theorizing essay current evidence from literature on digitalization to key characteristics of German family firms and to insights we have gained in our personal relations to German family firms and their networks. We find indications that the digital transformation touches the heart of those firms as in the light of the new technological opportunities, key values such as innovation, secrecy, specialization on a niche and customer orientation might be in need to be redefined. As a result, starting from the German case we outline challenges and opportunities for family firms that might go far beyond the German case and point to fruitful areas for future research on family firms

Philosophy of language and accounting

Purpose: Accounting practices vary not only across firms, but also across countries, reflecting the respective legal and cultural background. Attempts at harmonization therefore continue to be rebuffed. The purpose of this paper is to argue that different wordings in national laws, and different interpretations of similar wordings in national laws, can be explained by taking recourse to the philosophy of language, referring particularly to Searle and Wittgenstein. Design/methodology/approach: The example of the substance over form principle, investigated in seven countries, is particularly suitable for this analysis. It is known in all accounting jurisdictions, but still has very different roots in different European countries, with European and international influences conflicting, which is reflected in the different wording of the principle from one country to the next, and the different socially constructed realities associated with those wordings. Findings: This paper shows that, beyond accounting practices, the legal and cultural background of a country affects the wording of national law itself. The broad conclusion is that different socially constructed realities might tend to resist any attempt at harmonized socially constructed words. Originality/value: The paper contributes to the debate surrounding the possible homogenization of accounting regulations, illustrating the theory of the social construction of both "reality" and "language" on the specific application of one common principle to various Member State environments

What about the future of the academy? - Some remarks on the looming colonisation of doctoral education

In this paper we highlight key challenges which arise due to a transition of doctoral education in accounting towards the US model in the German-speaking area. We identify two main changes in PhD education, firstly the introduction of graduate schools and/or mandatory course programmes and secondly a focus on highly ranked academic journals as outlets for research. We reflect on how these changes affect the attitude of doctoral students towards the research and publication process. In particular we show how and why this setting fosters a focus on a common, narrow notion of knowledge leading to short-term tangible outcomes (e.g. a 'hit' in a 'top' journal), and elucidate what may be gained and lost by the changes with respect to the longer-term sustainability of the academy. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Digitalization in German family firms – some preliminary insights

Currently, digitalization is a key topic among firms. This paper addresses this topic in the case of German family firms. German family firms have been internationally recognized already for a long time to be at the same time very innovative but also acting very secretly. Therefore it is not surprising that prior literature on this topic is between scarce to inexistent even though literature on digitalization and SME’s in general is widespread. The key question addressed in this paper is how German family firms try to face the challenge of the digital transformation. To provide some suggestions, we relate in an explorative and theorizing essay current evidence from literature on digitalization to key characteristics of German family firms and to insights we have gained in our personal relations to German family firms and their networks. We find indications that the digital transformation touches the heart of those firms as in the light of the new technological opportunities, key values such as innovation, secrecy, specialization on a niche and customer orientation might be in need to be redefined. As a result, starting from the German case we outline challenges and opportunities for family firms that might go far beyond the German case and point to fruitful areas for future research on family firms

Research diversity in accounting doctoral education: survey results from the German-speaking countries

Abstract US positivistic accounting research is increasingly perceived as having come to be the point of reference for researchers in other countries, including the German-speaking area where formerly normative research was widespread. In this paper, we present the survey results retrieved from 293 doctoral students in accounting in 2009, a period of transition in which old and new approaches to doctoral education co-existed. Specifically, doctoral students were subject to institutional change in the form of more structured doctoral studies and a focus on internationalisation and attempts to publish in academic journals. We find that at that time there was diversity with regard to both the set of accounting journals considered by doctoral students and the methods employed by the latter in their dissertations. With respect to research methods, we show that factors of the institutional setting reflecting a more structured and international approach to doctoral education are in particular linked to empirical quantitative, and to a lesser extent qualitative, research

The Reversal of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Animal Models

Several direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), including direct thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors, have been approved as alternatives to vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants. As with any anticoagulant, DOAC use carries a risk of bleeding. In patients with major bleeding or needing urgent surgery, reversal of DOAC anticoagulation may be required, presenting a clinical challenge. The optimal strategy for DOAC reversal is being refined, and may include use of hemostatic agents such as prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs; a source of concentrated clotting factors), or DOAC-specific antidotes (which bind their target DOAC to abrogate its activity). Though promising, most specific antidotes are still in development. Preclinical animal research is the key to establishing the efficacy and safety of potential reversal agents. Here, we summarize published preclinical animal studies on reversal of DOAC anticoagulation. These studies (n = 26) were identified via a PubMed search, and used rodent, rabbit, pig, and non-human primate models. The larger of these animals have the advantages of similar blood volume/hemodynamics to humans, and can be used to model polytrauma. We find that in addition to varied species being used, there is variability in the models and assays used between studies; we suggest that blood loss (bleeding volume) is the most clinically relevant measure of DOAC anticoagulation-related bleeding and its reversal. The studies covered indicate that both PCCs and specific reversal agents have the potential to be used as part of a clinical strategy for DOAC reversal. For the future, we advocate the development and use of standardized, clinically, and pharmacologically relevant animal models to study novel DOAC reversal strategies