Epistemologia da Pesquisa Contábil

ID: 6879

Authors: Gilberto de Andrade Martins.

Source: Revista Contabilidade & Finanças, v. 19, n. 48, p. 5-5, September-December, 2008. 1 page(s).

Document type: Editorial (Portuguese)

Graduate Education: the Doctoral Course in Accountancy at FEA / USP

ID: 6353

Authors: Jacqueline Veneroso Alves da Cunha, Edgard Bruno Cornachione Junior, Gilberto de Andrade Martins.

Source: Revista Contabilidade & Finanças, v. 19, n. 48, p. 6-26, September-December, 2008. 21 page(s).

Keyword: Accountancy , Graduate Education , PhD

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

Brazilian graduate programs have experienced a remarkable growth in recent years. From 1976, when the CAPES evaluation process of graduate programs began, till 2004, the recommended courses increased from 673 (183 doctoral programs) to 2,993 (1,034 doctoral programs). There are 16 programs in the Accountancy area, according to Capes. One of them, the graduate Accounting program at FEA/USP offers the sole Brazilian PhD program in the field. Due to its importance and novelty, the goal of this research was to retrieve the history of the graduate Accounting program offered by the department of Accountancy and Actuarial Science at FEA/USP. To achieve this goal, the method involved not only a literature review, but also a historic survey of documents and interviews. The program was born from the will, need and perseverance of the faculty members at the department. We conclude that the program has reached a consolidated stage, with its faculty members as its main strength, and its endogenous growth as its main weakness.

Accounting conservatism and timeliness: empirical evidence in financial statements of Brazilian companies with ADRS traded on the New York Stock Exchange

ID: 6354

Authors: Luis Sérgio Ribeiro dos Santos, Fábio Moraes da Costa.

Source: Revista Contabilidade & Finanças, v. 19, n. 48, p. 27-36, September-December, 2008. 10 page(s).

Keyword: Conservatism , Convergence Process , International Accounting , Timeliness

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

This study investigates the timeliness and the degree of conservatism in fi nancial statements disclosed by Brazilian companies with ADRs traded on the New York Stock Exchange. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), those companies must disclose accounting information according to the Brazilian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (BR GAAP) as well as the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP). The data were collected between 1999 and 2004 and the Basu Model (BASU, 1997) was applied to evaluate earnings timeliness and conservatism. The results are: (1) there is no difference in earnings conservatism and (2) earnings according to the BR GAAP are more timely than those according to the US GAAP. The evidence contributes to the current debate about the role of Brazil in the current stage of the convergence process.

Voluntary disclosure of statement of cash flows in the Brazilian capital market

ID: 6355

Authors: Bruno Meirelles Salotti, Marina Mitiyo Yamamoto.

Source: Revista Contabilidade & Finanças, v. 19, n. 48, p. 37-49, September-December, 2008. 13 page(s).

Keyword: Capital Market , Statement of Cash Flows , Voluntary Disclosure

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

This paper analyzes companies' motives to voluntarily disclose the SCF - Statement of Cash Flows in the Brazilian capital market, using the theoretical frame of Voluntary Disclosure Theory. Based on Verrecchia's (2001) model, five hypotheses are constructed to relate voluntary disclosure of SCF to other variables. These hypotheses are tested with data from public companies listed on BOVESPA, Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo, which voluntarily disclosed SCF from 2000 to 2004. Univariate statistical mean difference tests and multivariate logistic regression are used. Empirical evidence suggests a strong positive correlation between voluntary disclosure of SCF and previous voluntary disclosure of SCF; and positive with the weight the firm places on outsiders' perceptions. A positive correlation is also perceived with company performance; a negative correlation with disclosure costs; and negative with the degree of information asymmetry. A control variable is also used, related to companies that participate in ADRs, American Depositary Receipt Programs. A positive correlation is perceived between disclosure of SCF and companies' participation in ADR Programs.

Organizational performance measurement and evaluation systems: multiple case study in the Brazilian Chemical Sector

ID: 6356

Authors: Hamilton Luiz Corrêa, Flavio Hourneaux Junior.

Source: Revista Contabilidade & Finanças, v. 19, n. 48, p. 50-64, September-December, 2008. 15 page(s).

Keyword: Chemical industry , Performance evaluation , Performance management , Performance measurement

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

The objectives of this paper are to present some results of a research carried out in four large chemical companies operating in Brazil and to describe these companies' organizational performance measurement and evaluation systems. This is an exploratory and descriptive research based on multiple case studies, in accordance with a literature review on this subject. At the end, some conclusions and recommendations are presented, despite the limitations characteristic of the applied methodology.

Structural equations applied to student satisfaction: a study in the Accountancy Course at the Federal University of Santa Maria

ID: 6357

Authors: Kelmara Mendes Vieira, Felipe Tavares Milach, Daniela Huppes.

Source: Revista Contabilidade & Finanças, v. 19, n. 48, p. 65-76, September-December, 2008. 12 page(s).

Keyword: Accounting Students , General Satisfaction , Structural Equation

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the factors determining general satisfaction among Accountancy students at the Federal University of Santa Maria, in relation to the course. Therefore, Teacher Involvement, Student Involvement, Teacher-Student Interaction, Course Demands and Course Organization constructs were used and presented in the structural equation model of Paswan and Young (2002). The variable General Satisfaction was added to this model to verify if student satisfaction in relation to the course can be explained through these constructs. Data were collected through a questionnaire composed of 42 questions, answered by 224 students. The initially proposed structural equation model was tested and altered in accordance with the analysis results. To make a more adequate model, the construct of Course Demands was eliminated. The structural model tested eight hypotheses, five of which were confirmed. The adjusted model proved to be adequate for measuring General Satisfaction of Accountancy students at the Federal University of Santa Maria, reaffirming that the constructs Teacher Involvement and Student Interest positively influenced the General Satisfaction of the student in relation to the course.

Process management improves quality and reduces costs: the case of the orthopedics and trauma unit at the hospital das clínicas at the Federal University of Pernambuco

ID: 6358

Authors: Umbelina Cravo Teixeira Lagioia, José Francisco Ribeiro Filho, James Anthony Falk, Jeronymo José Libonati, Jorge Expedito de Gusmão Lopes.

Source: Revista Contabilidade & Finanças, v. 19, n. 48, p. 77-90, September-December, 2008. 14 page(s).

Keyword: Hospital quality indicators , Medical protocols , University hospitals

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

This paper aims to verify to which extent the use of a medical-hospital treatment protocol can promote quality improvement in the services provided by means of process standardization, while at the same time reducing surgical and inpatient costs directly related to the procedure under protocol. The study took place at the Orthopedics Department of the Hospital das Clínicas at the Federal University of Pernambuco and referred to a knee arthroplasty or prosthetic knee replacement procedure. Data was collected during the period from 2004 to 2005 regarding quality indicators and direct surgical and inpatient costs for 89 patients submitted to the procedure under observation. The study looked at two distinct time periods: before and after the implementation of the protocol that involved the entire medical and administrative processes, ranging from the initial contact of the patient at the outpatient service up to the surgery and discharge from the hospital ward. Statistical data analysis made it evident that the protocol implemented at the hospital promoted a reduction in the mean waiting period of three days from time of admission to surgery, of seven days in the overall length of the patient' stay, a mean reduction of 20 minutes in the time of surgery, although no significant cost reduction in the materials consumed during the surgery itself was observed. It also proportioned a reduction in all direct cost categories related to the inpatient period.

Aspects of Accounting teachers' education at college level: an analysis of graduate programs

ID: 6359

Authors: Maira Assaf Andere, Adriana Maria Procópio de Araujo.

Source: Revista Contabilidade & Finanças, v. 19, n. 48, p. 91-102, September-December, 2008. 12 page(s).

Keyword: Accounting Education , Higher Education , Teacher Education

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

This research studied accounting teachers' education in four education process areas: (i) practical; (ii) technical-scientific; (iii) pedagogical and (iv) social and political. The perceptions obtained from Stricto Sensu graduate accounting programs coordinators were analyzed, as well as the perceptions obtained from accounting graduates with a master's degree (M.Sc.) and M.Sc. students, accounting graduates with a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) and Ph.D. students. An on-line questionnaire was used to collect the target public's perceptions, and the sample was composed by 208 students and 12 coordinators. The results were identified through the use of descriptive and cluster analysis. Firstly, the graduate accounting programs are directed at technical-scientific education with theoretical and specific accounting knowledge, oriented towards scientific research. Secondly, these programs aim for pedagogical education, stimulating the teachers' activities and the development of didactical-pedagogical abilities. In the third place, according to students' opinion, these programs stimulate practical education, aiming for the practical application of the theory. And, finally, these programs strongly emphasize social and political education, with knowledge development in politics, economics, philosophy and social sciences. However, according to the coordinators' opinion, the order of importance is inverted, with social and political education occupying the third and practical education the fourth place.

Accounting quality and the adoption of IASB Standards: Portuguese evidence

ID: 6360

Authors: Ana Isabel Morais, José Dias Curto.

Source: Revista Contabilidade & Finanças, v. 19, n. 48, p. 103-111, September-December, 2008. 9 page(s).

Keyword: Earnings quality , International accounting standards , Value relevance

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

Through rule 1606/2002 by the European Commission, Portuguese listed firms were required to adopt IASB standards in the preparation and presentation of consolidated accounts for the periods beginning on or after 2005. IASB standards are developed in environments where accounting practices are especially directed at the private sector, reporting rules are largely unaffected by taxation requirements and capital is traditionally raised in public markets. However, in Portugal, financial reporting is closely related to tax reporting and banks play a key role in providing finance and inside access to information. We investigate whether adopting IASB standards is associated with higher earnings quality and higher value relevance. We compare the earnings quality and value relevance of accounting data of 34 Portuguese listed firms before (1995-2004) and after (2004-2005) the adoption of IASB standards. We find that firms, during the period when they adopt IASB standards, report less smooth earnings than those firms in periods when they adopted national accounting standards, which seems to suggest an improvement in earnings quality. However, we also find that the value relevance of accounting information decreases with the adoption of IASB standards.

The impacts of Sarbanes-Oxley on independent auditing

ID: 6361

Authors: Adriano Gomes da Silva, Antonio Robles Junior.

Source: Revista Contabilidade & Finanças, v. 19, n. 48, p. 112-127, September-December, 2008. 16 page(s).

Keyword: Audit , Sarbanes Oxley

Document type: Article (Portuguese) Show Abstract

Successive scandals of manipulation of open corporations' financial statements in the United States, in recent years, motivated their regulatory authorities to enact the Sarbanes-Oxley Act ('Sox'). This established a strict set of rules for the primary figures involved in the corporate world, including managers, auditors, lawyers and market analysts. Specific rules that introduced innovations, such as the creation of a supervisory body (PCAOB), new independence rules and renewed auditing standards were designed for independent auditors. The research covered the main goal of analyzing the impacts (dependent variables) independent auditors perceived after the introduction of the American law (independent variable), through a questionnaire. The research methodology combines a bibliographic review and a survey of how independent auditors perceived the Sox Act impacts. According to the participants, the Sox Act increased the supervision on the profession; added more credibility to the financial statements, to the work of auditors and accountants, and contributed to the raising of audit fees.

Errata

ID: 8871

Authors: Revista Contabilidade & Finanças.

Source: Revista Contabilidade & Finanças, v. 19, n. 48, p. 128-128, September-December, 2008. 1 page(s).

Document type: Other (Portuguese)