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PurposeGovernment reforms have seen shifts from rules-based to principles-based risk regulatory governance. This paper examines the effects of principles-based risk regulatory reforms on public sector risk management (RM) and management control practices in public sector organizations (PSOs).Design/methodology/approachThe principles-based regulation focuses on providing autonomy to PSOs while maintaining control over their actions without direct intervention. This resonates with Foucault's notion of how modern forms of governments operate. The research is informed by Foucault's concept of governmentality. The authors conducted a qualitative field study of an Australian PSO, gathering and analysing data from interviews, focus groups, and archival documents.FindingsThe findings show the capillary modes by which principles-based risk regulatory regime penetrates and works with management control practices in pursuit of regulatory goals within the PSO the authors studied. In addition, the authors find that the principles-based approach (focusing on autonomy) and rules-based approach (focusing on control) are not opposites in kind and effect but rather, autonomy should be understood as a central pillar of control. Furthermore, the findings show how cultural controls and formal controls are not in conflict but are interconnected in RM practices, with cultural controls providing control architecture for RM and formal control translating the control architecture into routines. Finally, the study provides insights into how enterprise risk management (ERM) provides capabilities for and routinizes RM practices in a PSO and the management control systems (MCS) that enabled this to occur.Originality/valueThe paper provides novel insights into how MCS are infiltrated, mobilized and deployed to enact principles-based risk regulatory reforms. These insights are useful for regulators, practitioners and researchers.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of business intelligence and analytics (BI&A) in mediating the relationship between enterprise resource planning (ERP) and three sets of management accounting practices (MAPs): budgeting, costing and performance evaluation. It also examines the extent to which the usage of ERP affects the intensity of the application of various MAPs. Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modeling (SmartPLS 3) is used to analyze data collected from a cross-sectional survey of 82 firms in the UAE. The results indicate that the constructs are valid and reliable and that the model supports the research hypotheses. Findings The findings confirm the positive effect of the extent of using ERP systems, as a construct of modules, on the extent of applying three sets of MAPs. They also show that the extent of the use of BI&A systems partially mediates the relationship between the extent of the use of ERP systems and intensity of applying each of the three sets of MAPs. Practical implications The results encourage organizations to adopt BI&A to reap the full benefits of ERP. Originality/value In contrast to the extant research that presumes a direct influence of ERP on MAPs, this study investigates if the extent of the use of BI&A mediates the presumed relationship between the extent of the use of ERP and intensity of applying each of the three sets of MAPs.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the importance of different components of strategic performance measurement systems (SPMS) and their deployment influence the use of performance information from the SPMS in making strategic decisions. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected through a survey of 143 managers of Canadian public organizations. Findings – The findings indicate that two SPMS components, namely, the importance of non-financial performance measures and the use of operational efficiency measures, have significant positive associations with performance information use for strategy implementation and strategy assessment decisions. The extent to which SPMS models were used is found to be positively associated with performance information use for strategy implementation, but not for strategy assessment, decisions. Furthermore, the relationships between SPMS variables and strategic decision making are moderated by information systems/data limitations and management’s commitment to attaining strategic goals. Managerial skills acquired through training or experience with SPMS also contribute positively to such relationships. Research limitations/implications – The results are affected by limitations associated with the survey method used. Practical implications – The findings could be useful for supporting public policy, strategic decision making, public service improvement, operational efficiency, and effectiveness. Originality/value – The study contributes to public management and performance measurement literature by investigating multiple determinants of performance information use in a cross-section of Canadian public organizations.

Purpose This study aims to investigate the mediating role of management control system (MCS) characteristics in the relationship between state type, reflected through societal institutions (SIs), and two sets of management accounting techniques (MATs), namely, performance measurement techniques (PMTs) and cost measurement techniques (CMTs). Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data from a cross-sectional survey of 136 firms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Findings The findings show a direct positive impact of state-type construct on MCS characteristics, and that MCS characteristics partially mediate the reported significant relationships between state type and the use of PMTs. While the findings show a similar positive relationship between state type and CMTs, MCS characteristics do not mediate this relationship. Research limitations/implications Although these results are affected by limitations associated with the survey method used, they are useful in explaining the necessary conditions supporting the use of MATs in general and performance measurement techniques in particular. Practical implications The study uses a cross-section of companies in the UAE, an attractive global investment destination, as its sample. The results can help investors better understand the choice of MATs in the UAE and its relation to MCS characteristics. Originality/value This study contributes to management accounting literature by determining the mediating role of MCS characteristics on the relationship between state type and the choice of two sets of MATs, whereas existing literature assumes a direct relation between the two.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to set the scene for this special issue by synthesising the vast array of literature to examine what constitutes mixed methods research, and the associated strengths and risks attributed to this approach.Design methodology approach - This paper takes the form of a literature review. The authors draw on extensive methods research from a diverse range of social science disciplines to identify and explore key definitions, opportunities and risks in mixed methods studies. They review a number of accounting studies that adopt mixed methods research approaches. This allows the authors to analyse variance in how mixed methods research is conceptualised across these studies and evaluate the perceived strengths and limitations of specific mixed methods design choices.Findings - The authors identify a range of opportunities and challenges in the conduct of mixed methods research and illustrate these by reference to both published studies and the other contributions to this special issue.Originality value - With the exception of Modell's work, there is sparse discussion of the application and potential of mixed methods research in the extant accounting literature.

Purpose – Recent failures and scandals in the banking and financial services industry have served as catalysts for anxiety about operational risk. In particular, the Basel II accord emphasises the need to develop methodologies for assessing and managing this category of risk. However, operational risk is said to be an elusive and problematic concept. This paper aims to examine how certain events in the banking and financial services industry become enframed and constructed as operational risk and how such risk is managed.Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on the sociology of risk literature to analyse how an “unauthorised trading” event (and associated losses) that occurred in the currency options trading desk of the National Australia Bank (NAB) was enframed and constructed as operational risk. Data are gathered through metadiscourse analysis of textual materials relating to this event.Findings – The analysis reveals the social and institutional mechanisms underlying the construction of risk and the contested nature of risk knowledge. In particular, it highlights the significant role of media discourse in articulating risk claims and dominating public discourse about risk. It also highlights the moral character of the concept of risk and how the moralising of risk discourse leads to the creation of particular forms of subjectivities and the operationalisation of certain risk management rationalities in NAB.Originality/value – The paper will be helpful in improving researchers' and practitioners' understanding of how, in a given field of possibilities, particular events become constructed as operational risk.

Purpose - Recent failures and scandals in the banking and financial services industry have served as catalysts for anxiety about operational risk. In particular, the Basel II accord emphasises the need to develop methodologies for assessing and managing this category of risk. However, operational risk is said to be an elusive and problematic concept. This paper aims to examine how certain events in the banking and financial services industry become enframed and constructed as operational risk and how such risk is managed. Design/methodology/approach - The paper draws on the sociology of risk literature to analyse how an \"unauthorised trading\" event (and associated losses) that occurred in the currency options trading desk of the National Australia Bank (NAB) was enframed and constructed as operational risk. Data are gathered through metadiscourse analysis of textual materials relating to this event. Findings - The analysis reveals the social and institutional mechanisms underlying the construction of risk and the contested nature of risk knowledge. In particular, it highlights the significant role of media discourse in articulating risk claims and dominating public discourse about risk. It also highlights the moral character of the concept of risk and how the moralising of risk discourse leads to the creation of particular forms of subjectivities and the operationalisation of certain risk management rationalities in NAB. Originality/value - The paper will be helpful in improving researchers' and practitioners' understanding of how, in a given field of possibilities, particular events become constructed as operational risk. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

This paper outlines claims and evidence concerning the balanced scorecard (BSC) from the research literature, integrating current thinking about its substantive content and assumptions, strategic alignment, implementation issues, judgment and decision‐making, organisational performance, compensation plans, and comparisons to other performance‐measurement practices. In doing so, diverse localisations of the BSC are brought into view, as well as difficulties accompanying the practice of the BSC. Future directions for practitioners and researchers are indicated.

Hawala networks (hereafter HNets) is a worldwide phenomenon commonly used by expatriates wanting to send money home; businesses in import/export, foreign exchange, travel, and jewelry. It is estimated that every year US$100 billion to US$300 billion flow through Hnets Buencamino, Gorbunov, 2002). HNets exist due to a number of reasons, which include; anonymity, cultural friendliness (Chene, 2008), low transaction costs (Maimbo, 2003), less transit time (Schramm, Taube, 2002), enhanced level of trust versus banks and other conventional channels (Schramm, Taube, 2002) and increased efficiency (Ballard, 2003). However, little is known about this network structured \"organization\" especially its governance and management control systems. Virtually no research has been conducted to specifically look at the governance mechanisms and management control systems in these HNets. A review of existing research in the area of HNets reveals that most of the research has focused on defining what they do and describing the general mechanics of how money is transferred through the system and the types of players involved (e.g., Ballard, 2003; El-Qorchi, Maimbo, Wilson, 2003; Maimbo, 2003; Passas, 1999; Passas, 2006; Schramm, Taube, 2002; Wilson, 2002). This type of research provides basic information on how the network operates and how the linkages among network members function (Ballard, 2005); but none of it provides answers to the questions about how these informal networks are governed, coordinated or on how controls are exercised. The proposed research investigates the informal management and governance mechanism and structures within the HNets through the lens of Clan Based Organizations and Actor Network Theory.