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Purpose This paper aims to explore organisational intentions to use Big Data and Big Data Analytics (BDA) in external auditing. This study conceptualises different contingent motivating factors based on prior literature and the views of auditors, business clients and regulators regarding the external auditing practices and BDA. Design/methodology/approach Using the contingency theory approach, a literature review and 21 in-depth interviews with three different types of respondents, the authors explore factors motivating the use of BDA in external auditing. Findings The study presents a few key findings regarding the use of BD and BDA in external auditing. By disclosing a comprehensive view of current practices, the authors identify two groups of motivating factors (company-related and institutional) and the circumstances in which to use BDA, which will lead to the desired outcomes of audit companies. In addition, the authors emphasise the relationship of audit companies, business clients and regulators. The research indicates a trend whereby external auditors are likely to focus on the procedures not only to satisfy regulatory requirements but also to provide more value for business clients; hence, BDA may be one of the solutions. Research limitations/implications The conclusions of this study are based on interview data collected from 21 participants. There is a limited number of large companies in Lithuania that are open to co-operation. Future studies may investigate the issues addressed in this study further by using different research sites and a broader range of data. Practical implications Current practices and outcomes of using BD and BDA by different types of respondents differ significantly. The authors wish to emphasise the need for audit companies to implement a BD-driven approach and to customise their audit strategy to gain long-term efficiency. Furthermore, the most challenging factors for using BDA emerged, namely, long-term audit agreements and the business clients’ sizes, structures and information systems. Originality/value The original contribution of this study lies in the empirical investigation of the comprehensive state-of-the-art of BDA usage and motivating factors in external auditing. Moreover, the study examines the phenomenon of BD as one of the most recent and praised developments in the external auditing context. Finally, a contingency-based theoretical framework has been proposed. In addition, the research also makes a methodological contribution by using the approach of constructivist grounded theory for the analysis of qualitative data.

The paper presents theoretical issues of social innovation measurement due to its multidimensional context. The purpose of this paper is to review the theoretical background on the topic of social innovation concept and TBL approach and to propose the conceptual model for measuring the value of social innovation at an organisation’s level. The proposed measurement process for social innovation consists of four stages, which cover selection and implementation of the social innovation, identification of the scope of the social innovation, measurement and calculation of the consolidated index. Indicators for measurement value of social innovation are applied using the TBL approach. The conceptual model could be applied as a methodology for measuring value of social innovation.

PurposeTaking into account retailers' critical position in the value chain, their sector's economic significance and environmental externalities, in addition to the institutional agenda, this paper aims to explore the drivers influencing retailers to shift to more sustainable business models.Design/methodology/approachThe paper utilises the institutional competing logic, including in-depth interviews with major supermarket retail chains and one expert group discussion. The data gathered in Germany and Lithuania were complemented by desk research analysis, including corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports and management reports.FindingsThe paper provides empirical insights into how multiple drivers through institutional competing logic are brought about influencing the shift to more sustainable business models. The results show that retail chains in both countries implement their sustainability based on triple environmental-legal-financial drivers. However, different types of retail chains–namely premium retailers, typical retailers and discounters–implement their sustainability discourse differently.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the chosen research approach, the results may lack generalisability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further.Social implicationsInterestingly, retailers “shift” their responsibility to the consumers rather than encourage themselves to make more sustainable choices. The authors observe a more passive and responsive role of retailing chains because of the inherent trade-off between revenue growth and sustainable consumption.Originality/valueThe original contribution lies in exploring how retail chains adapt institutional competing logic and are influenced by multiple drivers when implementing their sustainability activities. In addition, the authors propose a conceptual model for retailers' sustainability management, as well as formulate three research propositions.

Purpose This paper aims to investigate theoretically and empirically the interactions between smart economic development (SED) and competitiveness in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. The main argument to uphold here is that smartness approach has been traditionally more focused on smart urban planning and smart specialization. Design/methodology/approach An evaluation by index, correlation and significance analysis is used to present original empirical evidence from six CEE countries. Findings Smartness approach integration into economic development justifies the identification of SED determinants: basics (welfare, digitality, environmental, social responsibility) and enhancers (learning, networking, agility, innovations and knowledge-driven). The interaction between SED and countries’ competitiveness in CEE countries might be described by two approaches, namely, focus-based (several most important basics and enhancers) and balance-based (equal importance of basics and enhancers). Research limitations/implications The limitations relate to the particular sample of CEE countries and gathering opportunities of statistical data. Practical implications The combination of SED-Index sub-indices and WEF GCI might aid a more accurate ex ante measurement. Despite common global challenges, each country should choose its own combinations for smartness determinants to achieve long-term competitiveness. Social implications The findings are important for fostering smartness approach in economic development for long-term competitiveness. Originality/value This paper contributes to economic development literature by discovering basics and enhancers for SED. By linking well-known term of competitiveness and economic development with a concept of smartness, the new approaches, namely, focus-based and balance-based, to policy making in CEE countries emerged.

Purpose The paper aims to explore the impact of institutional factors on non-financial reporting in the Baltic countries. The vast majority of research in the scientific literature references practices of sustainable disclosures in developed countries with a focus on legal factors and their effect on corporate reporting. Meanwhile, there is a lack of in-depth empirical data for identifying correlations between institutional (mandatory, normative and company-specific) factors and non-financial reporting in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach The theoretical framework of neo-institutional theory was applied to explore how the external environment affects practices of non-financial reporting in developing countries. The approach used in the paper is quantitative. Findings The research results reveal that if companies are likely to disclose voluntarily one of non-economic aspects in their reports, they are also likely to disclose more about the other non-economic issues. However, no significant correlations were detected between the disclosure of voluntary (non-economic) and mandatory (economic) aspects. Mandatory factors promote both – economic and non-economic reporting – while normative and company-specific factors promote non-economic reporting more. Practical implications The authors contribute to the foreign investors and practitioners by helping to better understand corporate non-financial reporting practices in post-communistic countries. Originality/value The research adds to the growing body of research on non-financial reporting practices with particular reference to the developing Baltic context. This study also contributes to scientific literature by exploring the impact of different institutional factors to non-financial reporting in developing countries.

Reporting on corporate social responsibility (CSR) has broadened widely within the last decade. A great deal of research on sustainability reporting (SR) has focused on American and Western Europe companies. Only fragmentary studies exist that compare reporting patterns of CEE countries. There is substantial room for investigating how and to what extend companies in CEE disclose sustainability information. This study examined the reporting behaviour of the 50 largest companies in nine CEE countries and two WE countries in order to investigate the practice and divergence of sustainability reporting in CEE countries.

Growing internationalization constitutes an opportunity to catch up by investigating in technology. Recently a significant amount of papers analysed phenomenon of technological catch up at domesticforeign company's level. However, the need for empirical studies at country's level is relevant as well. The main aim of the paper is to evaluate the relation among investment in technology, technological progress and macro-economic indicators and in this way to estimate opportunities of investing in technology to catch up advanced countries at macro level. We applied theoretical framework of neoclassical growth theory to explore relation between investment in technology, technological progress and macro-economic indicators in different countries. The approach used in the paper is quantitative. Research results show that regardless income level, countries can increase economic growth rates and catch up higher income countries by making appropriate decisions of investment, changing the structure of investment in technologies by funding sources and spheres. Research contributes to the scientific literature of technological progress and country's economic growth by providing empirical evidence of 44 countries.

Purpose This paper aims to explore the development of sustainability accounting information systems through lens of contingency theory. In this digital age when companies are confronted with massive sets of data, integration of financial and non-financial data, little empirical evidence exists on how sustainability issues are integrated or linked within internal corporate information systems. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire-based survey, hypothesis testing, principal component methods and hierarchical clustering are used to provide original empirical evidence from major Lithuanian companies. Findings The main findings reveal that most companies surveyed include a sustainability strategy in their core strategy, but there is a lack of linkage with measuring and integrating sustainability outcomes within the entirety of corporate financial results. Unexpectedly, the association between stakeholders' involvement and sustainability accounting information system design was not as strong as hypothesized theoretically. Therefore, it deserves further investigation, constituting an important implication for future research. Specifically, three profiles of sustainability accounting information systems were explained, namely, integrated, fragmented and compliance systems. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this study relate to the small sample size, as sustainability-related information is still regarded quite confidential. Practical implications This result could serve as a specific reference for companies to apply integrated sustainability accounting information systems that might serve as a good practice model for companies, however, fragmented and compliance profiles are the prevailing ones. Social implications The findings are important for fostering corporate social responsibility by developing sustainability accounting information systems. Originality/value This paper contributes to the sustainability accounting and information systems literature by providing empirical evidence linking contingent factors with the development of sustainability accounting information systems.

The analysis based on the scientific studies of literature on bankruptcy procedures shows that companies are announced as insolvent rather too late. In order to secure successful and permanent company‘s activity, it is important to rationally value its financial condition constantly. Scientists tried to find integral method, which credibly allows to predict companies financial problems in time. Applying bankruptcy prediction models is one of the most simple as well as accurate ways for predicting bankruptcy of enterprises. With the help of these models, the threat of bankruptcy could be noticed several years before bankruptcy actually starts. In this paper after the analysis of bankruptcy prediction importance and bankruptcy dynamics in Lithuania, bankruptcy prediction models commonly used in scientific literature are given in a systematic way. If all suggested methodologies are analysed, every enterprise can find the most appropriate methodology to value the stability of its activity. Article in Lithuanian. Bankroto prognozavimo svarba ir metodai Santrauka. Bankroto proceso analizė mokslinėje literatūroje rodo, kad įmonės skelbiamos nemokiomis gerokai pavėluotai. Norint užtikrinti sėkmingą ir ilgalaikę įmonių veiklą, svarbu nuolat racionaliai vertinti finansinę jų būklę. Mokslininkai ieško integruoto metodo, kuris leistų patikimai ir racionaliai įvertinti įmonės veiklos būklę. Įmonės veiklos būklės vertinimas gali padėti išvengti bankroto proceso. Bankroto prognozavimo modeliai yra vienas paprasčiausių ir patikimiausių bankroto prognozavimo būdų. Remiantis šiais modeliais, kompanijai kilusi bankroto grėsmė gali būti pastebėta anksčiau, negu įmonė priartėja prie bankroto ribos. Todėl šiame straipsnyje, išanalizavus bankroto prognozavimo svarbą bei bankrotų skaičiaus dinamiką Lietuvoje, nustatyti ir susistemintai pateikiami mokslinėje literatūroje dažniausiai taikomi bankroto prognozavimo modeliai. Išanalizavus siūlomas metodikas, kiekviena įmonė gali rasti savo veiklos stabilumui vertinti tinkamiausią. Reikšminiai žodžiai: bankrotas, bankroto prognozavimas, bankroto prognozavimo modeliai, bankroto tikimybė, nebankrutavusios/bankrutavusios įmonės, įmonių veiklos būklė.