Professor Joaquín Texeira Quirós

The influence of cultural factor within the subculture of accounting is recognized by the literature, that does not neglect its possible impact on comparability of financial reporting. This research seeks to analyze the possible existence of distinct levels of cultural values proposed by Gray (1988) on the basis of regional groups. Additionally, it is intended to test the existence of a possible association between the cultural values, as well as between these and the qualitative characteristics. Data collection was carried out from the reports and consolidated annual accounts, for 2013 and 2014, disclosed by non-financial entities listes in stock indexes relating to financial markets of the European Union, having been used as content analysis methodology. After the application of the selection criteria, the final population of this study encompasses 137 entities. The findings based on the application of non-parametric bivariate analysis techniques suggest that the conservatism could be distinguished on the basis of some regional groups. The existence of a positive connection between conservatism and secrecy is equally noticed. One of the contributions of this investigation is constituted by, among others, the identification of the potential impact of culture in the context of professional judgment, even in the context of advanced international accounting harmonisation process. Keywords: Culture, Qualitative Characteristics, Framework, Harmonization.

This paper aims to examine the financing options of the managers/owners of SMEs (small and medium-sized companies) from a point of view that incorporates cultural values, namely, conservatism and secrecy. Data were collected with the use of a questionnaire conducted for managers/owners of a sample of 1,629 Portuguese SMEs, and with the use of accounting and financial information from the period 2009-2011. 438 managers/owners provided valid answers, corresponding to a response rate of 27%. Using multivariate regression techniques as a basis, the results showed that a significant number of managers/owners supported the negative relationship between conservatism/secrecy and the business financing options associated with a higher risk (debts with costs). The results also showed that a more significant number of managers/owners of national SMEs choose sources of financing in light of the pecking order theory.

Abstract

Purpose: This empirical study analyzes a questionnaire answered by a sample of ISO 9000 certified companies and a control sample of companies which have not been certified, using a multivariate predictive model. With this approach, we assess which quality practices are associated to the likelihood of the firm being certified.

Design/methodology/approach: We implemented nonparametric decision trees, in order to see which variables influence more the fact that the company be certified or not, i.e., the motivations that lead companies to make sure.

Findings: The results show that only four questionnaire items are sufficient to predict if a firm is certified or not. It is shown that companies in which the respondent manifests greater concern with respect to customers relations; motivations of the employees and strategic planning have higher likelihood of being certified.

Research implications: the reader should note that this study is based on data from a single country and, of course, these results capture many idiosyncrasies if its economic and corporate environment. It would be of interest to understand if this type of analysis reveals some regularities across different countries.

Practical implications: companies should look for a set of practices congruent with total quality management and ISO 9000 certified.

Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature on the internal motivation of companies to achieve certification under the ISO 9000 standard, by performing a comparative analysis of questionnaires answered by a sample of certified companies and a control sample of companies which have not been certified. In particular, we assess how the manager’s perception on the intensity in which quality practices are deployed in their firms is associated to the likelihood of the firm being certified.

A adoção de normas contabilísticas simplificadas consoante a dimensão das entidades ou a sua relevância pública é matéria que não tem reunido consensos alargados.
Este estudo propõe-se a identificar a existência de diferenças significativas entre os preparadores que habitualmente utilizam a norma especificamente destinada às microentidades e os preparadores que atuam em empresas de maior dimensão, e utilizam outros normativos contabilísticos, relativamente aos seguintes aspetos: (1) à importância atribuída, para efeitos de tomada de decisão; (2) à informação financeira emanada da Contabilidade e às características qualitativas da informação financeira; (3) ao grau de utilidade de cada uma das demonstrações financeiras.
Os dados foram recolhidos a partir de um questionário conduzido aos preparadores da informação financeira (Técnicos Oficiais de Contas portugueses), resultando na obtenção de uma amostra de 431 profissionais, sendo posteriormente submetidos a testes estatísticos de diferenças não paramétricos, nomeadamente, o teste de Mann-Whitney-U e o teste do qui- quadrado.
Os resultados deste estudo identificaram diferenças significativas na perceção dos profissionais em torno da utilidade da informação financeira, para efeitos de tomada de decisão, assim como um apoio razoável para as diferenças em torno da importância atribuída às demonstrações financeiras e às características qualitativas da informação financeira.

Quality is the main focus of the current paper, as well as the great importance of its benefits to businesses. These benefits, which shall consubstantiate increased earnings, are deemed as significant to companies from an economical, technological and human resources point of ...

The influence of the accounting value of conservatism, proposed by Gray (1988) as part of the cultural relevance theory, has been widely debated in the literature. The possession of derivative financial instruments (DFI) was used as proxy to define it. This study aims to assess the existence of the explanatory variables of this accounting value, such as regional groups, firm level controls and qualitative characteristics. Content analysis was used in 2013 and 2014 annual reports and consolidated accounts disclosed by non-financial entities listed on five stock market indexes of the European Union (EU), namely: PSI-20, IBEX-35, FTSE-100, DAX-30, and OMX-S30. After the application of the selection criteria, the population of this study encompasses 137 entities. The findings indicate that conservatism differs significantly according to the regional groups, as suggested by the literature. Additionally, firm level controls such as size and profitability, as well as the fundamental qualitative characteristics, can explain conservatism. One of the main contributions of this research is to consider the impact of culture on the financial reporting, even bearing in mind the latest convergence efforts among the main accounting standard setting bodies at international level.

This research aims to analyze the relationship and the effects of the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) practices on quality certification in services corporations and to analyze the impact of TQM and quality certification (ISO 9000) on the organizational performance. A model of structural equations was used to evaluate the relationship between the different dimensions. With the aim to measure the correlation between the continuous variables' and the dichotomous variable ISO 9000, Eta coefficient was used. The results showed that TQM practices in Portuguese service companies provide an improvement in their operational and market performance, however, TQM does not show an improvement in financial performance. Regarding ISO certification, the results indicate that certified companies do not show an improvement in their performance, whether financial, operational or market. Also, our research confirms that the implementation of TQM practices provides the conditions for quality certification.