Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to investigate the link between qualitative measures of a firm's Board of Directors and its corporate social performance (CSP). Design/methodology/approach -CSP is a function of qualitative measures of a firm's Board of Directors, as well as firm risk and financial performance. A longitudinal sample of 104 Canadian firms is used. Findings -Board independence is positively related to social performance but shareholder orientation is not. In addition, a positive relationship between social performance with both financial performance and debt is found. Research limitations/implications -Although the sample is small and restricted to Canadian firms, the results are quite robust. Future studies should consider using qualitative measures on a larger international sample of firms. Originality/value -This paper uses qualitative measures -the degree of independence of the Board and the Board's level of shareholder orientation -to examine the interrelationship between a firm's Board of Directors and its CSP.

Shareholders, as owners of the firm, ofren are sought to ratify management's selection of an auditor through a formal vote during the annual shareholders' meeting. This vote represents the primary vehicle for investor communication concerning auditor-related issues and, thus, can be used as an indicator of investor dissatisfaction with the auditor. This study proposes to measure shareholders' dissatisfaction with the auditor through the shareholders ' auditor ratifcation vote.We identify attributes associated with high levels of investor dissatisfaction and then determine i f a high level of investor dissatisfaction is associated with a subsequent change in a jrm's auditor. We determined that investor dissatisfaction is associated with a j r m having engaged a less credible auditor and the issuance of a going concern audit opinion. In addition, we find that investors react strongly to the unexpected issuance of a going concern opinion. Finally, we discovered that managers are sensitive to shareholder dissatisfaction signals by noting a higher occurrence of auditor changes for firms with high investor dissatisfaction.

Budgeting is used throughout all types of organizations and is a significant topic of accounting research. In order to advance the discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of budgeting, future budgeting research will benefit from a comprehensive review of the theories used by previous budgeting researchers. This literature review highlights the major theoretical perspectives and specific theories used in budgeting research as well as the common variables used and methodologies, among other observations of budgeting research in 249 articles. Although we find no cohesive theory of budgeting, we identify the importance of a unified thought process to budgeting research and provide insights for future work in the area. EN QUÊTE D'UNE THÉORIE DES PROCESSUS BUDGÉTAIRES : UNE ANALYSE DOCUMENTAIRE RÉSUMÉLes processus budgétaires sont utilisés dans toutes les formes d'organisations et retiennent beaucoup l'attention des chercheurs en comptabilité. Pour faire en sorte que progresse l'analyse des avantages et des inconvénients des processus budgétaires, les chercheurs qui s'intéressent à ce sujet bénéficieront, dans leurs travaux à venir, d'une compilation exhaustive des théories utilisées par les chercheurs précédents. L'analyse documentaire proposée par les auteures met en relief les principales perspectives théoriques dans lesquelles le sujet est abordé et les théories précises adoptées dans la recherche sur les processus budgétaires ainsi que les variables et les méthodologies communément utilisées, entre autres observations tirées des travaux réalisés dans ce domaine, décrits dans 249 articles. Bien que les auteures ne notent pas de cohésion dans les théories avancées relativement aux processus budgétaires, elles mesurent l'importance d'un processus de réflexion cohésif dans la recherche sur les processus budgétaires et proposent des pistes de recherche future dans le domaine.Mots clés : analyse documentaire; comptabilité de gestion; processus budgétaires; théorie * Accepted by Pascale Lapointe-Antunes. We would like to thank Pascale Lapointe-Antunes for the opportunity, anonymous reviewers, Alan Webb, and participants at CAAA for their helpful and insightful comments. All other mistakes are our own. 508ACCOUNTING PERSPECTIVES / PERSPECTIVES COMPTABLES 2. A subjective act at the best of times, we understand that there may be a few discrepancies should another set of researchers choose to do the same literature review that we have done. However, we worked to ensure integrity of the classification process.

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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to help us better understand if it is beneficial for individuals to use social networking sites (SNSs) to expand their networking opportunities, translating into greater career success. A significant key to career success is networking. SNSs are changing the way employees develop their networks with businesses and with other individuals. Design/methodology/approach – This study uses archival data including academic records for 1,182 accounting alumni from a large Canadian public institution. This dataset was expanded by obtaining social network information (presence and use) for each individual’s record. Findings – After controlling for a number of indicators of career success, the study found that presence on SNSs such as LinkedIn and the amount of activity therein has a strong and consistent association with metrics of professional success not found with non-professional sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Originality/value – This study provides empirical support for the value of social networking as a proxy for the development of social capital. Support is in establishing the link between a group of social network profile characteristics and metrics of one’s career success. Distinguishing LinkedIn as chiefly connecting to alumni successes may be reflected in the weights attached to the profile characteristics as opposed to information coming from other sources.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the challenges of implementing a new activity-based budgeting model in a university setting. Design/methodology/approach The authors have conducted heuristic inquiry and content analysis to provide an in-depth examination and overview of the process of budget change at a not-for-profit institution. Findings Despite attempts to design a process where resource allocation is guided by principles of revenue generation, cost attribution, measures of quality and fit with strategic plan, overarching issues such as complexities of implementation and a lack of continuity of key personnel made it difficult to implement a new budgeting system. Research limitations/implications As it is a single case study, there may be some concerns regarding reliability and replicability. Subsequent work on a larger scale may mitigate some of these concerns. Practical implications The study demonstrates the challenges of implementing a new budgeting system where strategic choices may differ from revenue generating opportunities and when there has been significant turnover in personnel. The authors provide a perspective on how budgeting can be used to support an organization’s mission in addition to supporting revenue generating prospects, the empirics reinforce the implementation challenges and the need for continuity of key employees to implement change effectively. Originality/value The study suggests a new approach to incentive-based budgeting where resource allocation is informed by a number of activities (revenue generation, cost attribution, fit with strategic goals and quality of programs). It is not formula-driven and it stresses the importance of judgment to determine final resource allocation. Furthermore, the authors provide some support for the change management literature for implementing change in a complex organization.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a model of ethical decision-making that applies to accountants and the accounting profession. Design/methodology/approach This model is an integration of five factors that influence ethical decision-making by accountants: professional codes of conduct; philosophical orientation; religious orientation; culturally derived values; and moral maturity. Findings This model is a synthesis of previous identified factors that influence ethical decision-making and incorporates them into a model that is specific to professional accountants. Research limitations/implications The authors develop a set of propositions and explain how this model can be tested and its implications for both the accounting profession and the teaching of business ethics. Originality/value This model presents a new way of viewing ethical decision-making by accountants that is predicated on the importance of professional codes of conduct that influence both behaviour and decision-making. The external certification of professional accountants provides a layer of accountability not previously incorporated into ethical decision-making models.

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