This study aims to examine a contingent factor of business strategy decisions, namely environmental uncertainty. The study applies secondary data as an alternative method to analyze technological uncertainty: a component of environmental uncertainty. To examine environmental uncertainty, this study develops an Environmental Uncertainty Index (EUI). Utilizing a sample of manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) for the period from 2009 to 2012 and a multinomial logistic regression, this study finds that the probability of a company pursuing a prospector strategy is greater than an analyzer strategy. Notwithstanding, the study fails to prove that the probability of a company opting for a defender strategy is greater than an analyzer approach. The findings suggest that the new measure of technological uncertainty is more applicable than the other existing measures. Furthermore, EUI measures the environmental uncertainty objectively, therefore, this new measure could be applied to future research. In general, this study broadens understanding concerning the relationship between business strategy and its contingent factors, namely environmental uncertainty. KeywordsBusiness strategy, contingent factor, environmental uncertainty, Indonesia. AbstractThis study aims to examine a contingent factor of business strategy decisions, namely environmental uncertainty. The study applies secondary data as an alternative method to analyze technological uncertainty: a component of environmental uncertainty. To examine environmental uncertainty, this study develops an Environmental Uncertainty Index (EUI). Utilizing a sample of manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) for the period from 2009 to 2012 and a multinomial logistic regression, this study finds that the probability of a company pursuing a prospector strategy is greater than an analyzer strategy. Notwithstanding, the study fails to prove that the probability of a company opting for a defender strategy is greater than an analyzer approach. The findings suggest that the new measure of technological uncertainty is more applicable than the other existing measures. Furthermore, EUI measures the environmental uncertainty objectively, therefore, this new measure could be applied to future research. In general, this study broadens understanding concerning the relationship between business strategy and its contingent factors, namely environmental uncertainty.JEL Classification: L10, L20, M14.

Purpose This study aims to examine the contingent fit between business strategies and environmental uncertainty and its effect on corporate tax avoidance. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a two-stage linear regression method comprising multinomial logistic regression and panel data regression. Findings This study finds that under highly uncertain conditions, the contingent fit of prospector strategy is higher than the contingent fit of other two strategies, i.e. defender and analyzer strategy. The study fails, however, to demonstrate that under highly uncertain conditions, this study finds that under highly uncertain conditions the contingent fit of a “prospector” strategy is higher than for “defender” and “analyzer” strategies. The study fails, however, to demonstrate that under highly uncertain conditions the contingent fit of a defender strategy is higher than that of an analyzer strategy. The study also finds that the contingent fit between prospector strategy and environmental uncertainty has a positive effect on tax avoidance, and this effect is higher than for the misfit strategies. Moreover, in such environments the fit level of a defender strategy has a negative effect on tax avoidance while environmental uncertainty has a positive effect on tax avoidance. Research limitations/implications This study estimated competition uncertainty using the Herfindahl index to measure competitive intensity in an industry. However, only the data from public listed companies was used due to a lack of data availability for non-public companies. Consequently, further study is recommended to include the total number of companies within an industry as a proxy of competitive intensity. Practical implications The results implied that managers, not only in Indonesia but also in other countries as well, specifically emerging countries (generally the environmental uncertainty in emerging countries is high) should consider the contingent factors when making business strategy decisions. Managers must be aware of the contingent fit with environmental uncertainty, and therefore, must assess external conditions prudently. Furthermore, the results of this study showed that managers should pay more attention to the effects of their decisions on corporate tax avoidance, while aligning their business strategy decisions with corporate tax planning strategy to obtain an optimal outcome for the company. Social implications The Directorate General of Taxes and Board of Fiscal Policy, as regulators, need to comprehend environmental uncertainty to issue various policies that can ease the burden of the taxpayer to remain in business, particularly during the turbulence environment so that can prevent the companies doing illegal practices and will eventually reduce the number of tax avoidance. Originality/value This study developed alternative measure of tax avoidance, which is tax avoidance latent variable score (TAXLVS). The TAXLVS was derived from confirmatory factor analysis of previous existing tax avoidance measurements. This study is also the first that analyzes the effect of business strategy on tax avoidance using contingency approach.

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Financial reporting reflects transparency of the firm and if it could not explain the changes in shareholders’ value in a timely manner; shareholders need additional monitoring mechanism. This study aims to investigate the effect of financial statements’ quality on corporate governance mechanism and to examine the simultaneous effect between both. This study uses earnings timelines as a proxy of financial reporting’s quality; proportion of independent board and board size as proxies of corporate governance mechanism. Using Two Stage Linear Regression (TSLS) and samples consist of manufacturing companies listed on Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2015, this study finds that earnings timelines have significant influence on board size; earnings timelines and proportion of independent board have the simultaneous effect; however, it fails to document the simultaneous effect of earnings timelines and ownership concentration. This study is the first that investigates the simultaneous effects of financial reporting quality and corporate governance.