Challenges of using RPA in auditing: A socio-technical systems approach

The use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is rapidly growing in the professional services sector such as auditing. Despite the great benefits RPA can offer, RPA failure rates are still high. In this research, we draw on socio-technical systems theory to examine the challenges of using RPA in the various phases of auditing and how auditors address these challenges. By interviewing experienced partners and auditors in auditing firms and technology companies, we show that challenges arise when there is a lack of fit between the technical requirements of the RPA tool (technical subsystem) and the skills and knowledge of the auditors and clients (social subsystem). We discuss our findings and provide valuable practical implications and opportunities for future research.     

Timing of environmental inspections: survival of the compliant

Environmental inspection agencies have limited resources. A natural response to this shortage of resources is targeting and this targeting policy leads to higher compliance than random inspections. This paper uses individual inspection data on the inspection policy of the environmental agency for the textile industry in Flanders (Belgium). We distinguish between three types of inspections and use a survival model to show that the environmental agency inspects firms in a non-random way. Even though the agency solves most environmental problems, it can increase compliance by using the deterrence effect of more stringent inspections and sanctions.      

论缓停建工程中优先权的冲突与顺位确定

由于缓停建工程所涉及的法律权利的复合性与多重性,债权人在实现自己的债权时势必会与他人的民事权利产生冲突,须确立一定的规则来协调各种权利冲突,使处于优位的特定债权人的利益得到保障。在确立解决优先权之间冲突原则的基础上,尚须对各项权利安排合理的顺位,以为法院处理此类问题提供一条切实可行的思路。     

盈余管理与企业竞争力

本文以盈余管理的客观性和中性的价值取向为基础,初步探讨了目前我国盈余管理的相关问题及对策,认为盈余管理对提高企业竞争力有着积极的作用,只有认识盈余管理的积极作用并加以正确的引导,对其有害的部分加以监控或治理,才有利于提高企业的竞争力,以确保企业可持续发展的战略。     

基于谱分析的连续加工过程检验批量的确定

在连续加工过程中 ,合理地确定检验批量 ,不仅可以反映加工过程的稳定性 ,而且也是确定抽样检验方案及检验频次的基础。本文主要利用时间序列的谱分析方法对连续加工过程的质量检测数据进行周期划分 ,从而确定抽样检验的批量 ,并根据周期分析结果 ,指出了导致加工质量产生波动的一些原因。     

一体化管理体系实施策划的过程及其主要内容

当前,企业正迫切需要建立一个综合性的管理体系,以期在满足各个标准的基础上实现组织整体的发展目标。本文对一体化管理体系(IMS)的实施策划过程及其主要内容进行探讨,旨在为企业建立一体化的管理体系提供参考。     

审视并消除不利因素加快新疆工业化进程

工业化是实现现代化不可逾越的发展阶段,要缩短东西部地区之间的差距,振兴新疆经济,就必须走新型工业化之路。目前新疆工业化发展虽有一些有条件,但也存在制约工业化进程的因素,如工业结构层次较低、工业经济发展地区分布不均衡等。只有通过统筹规划、走特色经济之路、发展壮大工业园区等措施才能加快新疆工业化进程。     

汽车市场订单管理流程实施

论文探讨了汽车厂商订单管理流程的具体实施,分析了订单管理对区域市场经营模式和经销商能力提升的促进。随后,论文详细研究了订单管理流程中最为重要的年采购目标管理流程、月采购计划流程和周采购计划流程。     

Linking performance drivers in production planning and inventory control to process choice

This study investigates how process choice relates to production planning and inventory control decisions. We empirically examine the validity of deductively derived patterns about these types of decisions. More importantly, we look for normative insights by exploring how production planning and inventory control decisions affect operations performance. Our findings show that production line and continuous flow plants use more of a level production strategy, and carry less raw material and work-in-process inventory. The performance drivers for these plants, through which the operations function excels, are effective utilization of equipment, reduced finished goods inventory, and reduced setup down time. To gain forward demand visibility and batching economies, job and batch shops rely much more on backlogs in their planning process. These plants use more of a production chase strategy and position inventory lower in the bills of materials. Four performance drivers for top-performing job and batch shops are to find ways that better anticipate customers' orders, have a more responsive chase strategy, carry less raw material or purchased inventory, and shorten production planning horizon, partly through less reliance on backlogs. It is intriguing that top-performing plants not only do the expected things, given their choice of process, but also excel in selected dimensions—some of which fit the profile normally associated with a different process choice. To monitor and continuously improve operations, evaluation ‘scorecards’ should pay particular attention to performance drivers, which change depending on the plant's process choice.     

Environmental regulatory enforcement with “green” consumers

We consider a standard probabilistic model of random monitoring to analyze the interactions between a firm and a monitoring agency in the presence of “green” consumers when compliance payoffs are contingent on monitoring and monitoring costs are shared by the monitoring agency and the firm. When the amount paid by the firms if monitored is exogenously fixed, we find that full compliance is implemented with a finite fine. If there is an upper bound for the fine and the regulator determines endogenously the fine and the amount paid by the firms if monitored, we find that full compliance is also achieved, although the optimal fine is now set at its maximum level. The optimal amount paid by the firms if monitored is lower than the environmental premium the compliant firm gets.The author thanks two anonymous referees for their useful comments and suggestions