Abstract
Accounting information system (AIS) is central to an organisation, providing valuable data for decision-makers. While many studies look into the impact of technology fit and corporate governance (CG) on firm performance, this study investigates how a component of CG (transparency), capability of AIS, executive visions (EV) and information technology (IT) skill impact on firm performance. Using a resource-based view (RBV) framework, hypothesised relationships among variables of interest were examined based on data collected from 336 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. Results from partial least square (PLS) analysis suggest that effects of AIS on firm performance were partially moderated by information transparency, a component of CG, while a full moderation effect was found for EV and IT skill on firm performance. The results thus demonstrate the importance of transparency and AIS to a greater height, prompting SMEs to revisit their policies on AIS, staff training and largely transparency to better improve firm performance.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abernethy, M. A., & Guthrie, C. H. (1994). An empirical assessment of the “fit” between strategy and management information system design. Accounting & Finance, 34(2), 49–66.
Ahmad, M. A. N., Smith, M., Ismail, Z., & Roni, M. S. M. M. (2013). The relationship between executive vision, computerised accounting information system capability, employee it skills and firm performance. Paper presented at the 4th International Conference on Public Policy and Social Science, UiTM Sabah Malaysia, Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Al-Qudah, G. M. A. (2011). The impact of accounting information systems on effectiveness of internal control in Jordanian commercial banks “field study”. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, 2(9), 365–365–377.
Armstrong, J. S., & Overton, T. S. (1977). Estimating non-response in mail surveys. Journal of Marketing Research, 14, 396–402.
Athanassiou, N., Crittenden, W. F., Kelly, L. M., & Marquez, P. (2002). Founder centrality effects on the Mexican family firm’s top management group: Firm culture, strategic vision and goals, and firm performance. Journal of World Business, 37(2), 139–150.
Bagozzi, R., & Youjae Y. (1988). On the evaluation of structural equation models. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. Journal, 16(1), 74–94.
Barclay, D. W., Thompson, R., & Higgins, C. (1995). The partial least squares approach to causal modeling: Personal computer adoption and use an illustration. Technology Studies, 2(2), 285–309.
Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. doi:10.1177/014920639101700108
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173–1182. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173
Benford, T. L., & Hunton, J. E. (2000). Incorporating information technology considerations into an expanded model of judgment and decision making in accounting. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 1(1), 54–65. doi:10.1016/s1467-0895(99)00004-4
Berggren, E., & Bernshteyn, R. (2007). Organizational transparency drives company performance. The Journal of Management Development, 26(5), 411–417. doi:10.1108/02621710710748248
Bharadwaj, A. S. (2000). A resource-based perspective on information technology capability and firm performance: An empirical investigation. MIS Quarterly, 24(1), 169–196.
Bryman, A., & Cramer, D. (1990). Quantitative data analysis for social scientists. New York: Routledge.
Bushman, R. M., & Smith, A. J. (2003). Transparency, financial accounting information, and corporate governance. Economic Policy Review—Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 9(1), 65–87.
Chui, Y. Y., Young, J. B., Soon, S. C., Ji, C. Y., & Seung, K. H. (2010, December 7–10). Measuring individual IT capability to efficiently perform business tasks in an enterprise IT environment. Paper presented at the 2010 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM).
Cragg, P., Caldeira, M., & Ward, J. (2011). Organizational information systems competences in small and medium-sized enterprises. Information & Management, 48(8), 353–363. doi:10.1016/j.im.2011.08.003
Cragg, P., King, M., & Hussin, H. (2002). IT alignment and firm performance in small manufacturing firms. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 11(2), 109–132.
Dillman, D. A. (2000). Mail and internet surveys: The tailored design method. Chichester: Wiley.
Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. JMR, Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39.
Gorsuch, R. L. (1974). Factor analysis. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Grande, E. U., Estébanez, R. P., & Colomina, C. M. (2011). The impact of accounting information systems (AIS) on performance measures: Empirical evidence in Spanish SMEs1. International Journal of Digital Accounting Research, 11(15778517), 25–43.
Greenstein, M., & McKee, T. E. (2004). Assurance practitioners’ and educators’ self-perceived IT knowledge level: an empirical assessment. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 5(2), 213–243. doi:10.1016/j.accinf.2004.04.002
Haat, M. H. C., Rahman, R. A., & Mahenthiran, S. (2008). Corporate governance, transparency and performance of Malaysian companies. Managerial Auditing Journal, 23(8), 744–778. doi:10.1108/02686900810899518
Hair, J. F. (2006). Multivariate data analysis. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Ismail, N. A., & King, M. (2005). Firm performance and AIS alignment in Malaysian SMEs. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 6(4), 241–259. doi:10.1016/j.accinf.2005.09.001
Ismail, N. A., & King, M. (2006). The alignment of accounting and information systems in SMEs in Malaysia. Journal of Global Information Technology Management, 9(3), 24–42.
Jayaraman, N., Khorana, A., Nelling, E., & Covin, J. (2000). CEO founder status and firm financial performance. Strategic Management Journal, 21(12), 1215–1224.
Kahn, A. (2007). Managing employee skills and knowledge. Printing News, 158, 10.
Kharuddin, S., Ashhari, Z. M., & Nassir, A. M. (2010). Information system and firms’ performance: The case of Malaysian small medium enterprises. International Business Research, 3(4), 28–35.
Kim, G., Shin, B., Kim, K. K., & Lee, H. G. (2011). IT capabilities, process-oriented dynamic capabilities, and firm financial performance. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 12(7), 487–517.
Kim, Y., Lee, J., & Yang, T. (2010). Corporate transparency and firm performance: Evidence from Korean ventures. Washington: United States, Washington.
Kock, N. (2013). WarpPLS 4.0 user manual. Laredo, Texas: ScriptWarp Systems.
Kock, N. (2014). Advanced mediating effects tests, multi-group analyses, and measurement model assessments in PLS-based SEM. International Journal of e-Collaboration, 10(1), 1–.
Lee, S. M., & Peterson, S. J. (2000). Culture, entrepreneurial orientation, and global competitiveness. Journal of World Business, 35(4), 401–416. doi:10.1016/s1090-9516(00)00045-6
MacKinnon, D. P., Lockwood, C. M., Hoffman, J. M., West, S. G., & Sheets, V. (2002). A comparison of methods to test mediation and other intervening variable effects. Psychological Methods, 7(1), 83–104. doi:10.1037/1082-989x.7.1.83
Ming-Ling, L. (2008). Technology readiness, internet self-efficacy and computing experience of professional accounting students. Campus-Wide Information Systems, 25(1), 18–29.
Nicolaou, A. I. (2010). Integrated information systems and transparency in business reporting. International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, 7(3), 216–226. doi:10.1057/jdg.2009.27
Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc.
Powell, T. C., & Dent-Micallef, A. (1997). Information technology as competitive advantage: The role of human, business, and technology resources. Strategic Management Journal, 18(5), 375–405.
Price, R., Román, F. J., & Rountree, B. (2011). The impact of governance reform on performance and transparency. Journal of Financial Economics, 99(1), 76–96. doi:10.1016/j.jfineco.2010.08.005
Ravarini, A. (2010). Information technology capability within small-medium Enterpises (Doctor of Philosphy). Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, Joondalup.
Rugman, A. M., & Verbeke, A. (2002). Edith Penrose’s contribution to the resource‐based view of strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 23(8), 769–780. doi:10.1002/smj.240
Sekaran, U. (2003). Research methods for business: a skill-building approach. New York: Wiley.
Senatra, P. T. (1980). Role conflict, role ambiguity, and organizational climate in a public accounting firm. The Accounting Review, 55(4), 594–603.
Steven, A. M., Timothy, H. G., Cary, H., & Clark, W. J. (2004). Prediction of CASE adoption: A neural network approach. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 104(2), 129–135.
Teo, T. S. H., & Ranganathan, C. (2003). Leveraging IT resources and capabilities at the housing and development board. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 12(3), 229–249.
Tuckman, B. W. (1994). Conducting educational research. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.
Ussahawanitchakit, P., & Yeunyong, W. (2009). AIS success of Thai foods businesses: An empirical investigation of its antecedents and consequences. International Journal of Business Strategy, 9(1).
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the Ministry of Education of Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA and the Edith Cowan University for providing financial assistance through the research project number 9096 NIAS AHMAD.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore
About this paper
Cite this paper
Nias Ahmad, M.A., Smith, M., Ismail, Z., Djajadikerta, H., Roni, M.S.M.M. (2016). Computerised Accounting Information Systems and Firm Performance: The Mediating Role of Transparency. In: Abdullah, M., Yahya, W., Ramli, N., Mohamed, S., Ahmad, B. (eds) Regional Conference on Science, Technology and Social Sciences (RCSTSS 2014). Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1458-1_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1458-1_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-10-1456-7
Online ISBN: 978-981-10-1458-1
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)