THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EXECUTIVE SUCCESSION AND DISCRETIONARY ACCOUNTING CHANGES: EARNINGS MANAGEMENT OR DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES?

This paper investigates the association of executive changes with both income increasing and decreasing accounting changes. Two potential explanations for the hypothesis that firms with changes in CEOs are more likely to make accounting changes are examined. The earnings management explanation holds that new management intervenes in the financial reporting process in order to alter perceptions of effectiveness. The different perspectives explanation holds that managements have different tastes, perspectives, or views of the world than the predecessor. Evidence supports the different perspectives explanation.     

Utilization and productivity of the Duke physician's associate

The objectives of this study were as follows: (1) Formulate a theoretical model of the typical medical practice as a system for producing medical care, with particular attention to the role of middle-level health workers such as graduates of Duke University's Physician's Associate Program. (2) Develop a methodology for collecting data necessary to estimate the relevant parameters in the model, and to describe current patterns of utilization of Duke PA's. (3) Draw substantive conclusions, insofar as the model and data collection methodology permit, about the actual and potential productivity of Duke PA's.As of October 1971 Duke University had graduated 68 PA's from its Physician's Associate Program. Of these, 34 are employed as assistants in family practice or general medicine in a variety of private and institutional settings. Data were collected on eleven of these 34 PA's. No attempt was made to study the other 34 graduates engaged in clinical specialties, administration, or other functions. Neither was any attempt made to collect data on or draw inferences about the utilization and productivity of graduates of any other program such as the MEDEX Program.⁴     

The "perfect storm" in compensation: convergence of events leads to a greater need to review compensation strategies

The recent unprecedented convergence of significant strategic events in the compensation arena has created the need for ongoing and extensive compensation planning. This article reviews the events leading to this point, describes the implications of the results from a recent Aon study with WorldatWork, and suggests what employers can do to successfully navigate the "perfect storm" in compensation.     

Patient intensity in an ambulatory oncology research center: A step forward for the field of ambulatory care--Part II

Nursing leaders in ambulatory care need to objectively quantify patient intensity to balance patient care needs and nursing resources. In this three-part series, current literature on acuity/intensity tools will be reviewed, and the development of an Ambulatory Intensity System (AIS) to objectively quantify nursing care will be described. In this article, the ongoing implementation of the system, its incorporation into the organization's established computerized appointment system, reliability measures, and related performance improvement activities will be discussed.     

Making wellness the focus: one employer's story

The rising cost of health care threatens the very fabric of American society. With Americans widely practicing unhealthy life habits, such as using tobacco, eating imprudently and leading a sedentary lifestyle, they are at risk for health conditions that threaten to make them long-term liabilities to their employer. This article tells how one U.S. employer chooses to focus its workforce on wellness.     

Valuation Implications of Investment Opportunities and Earnings Permanence

This study investigates the value-relevance of accounting earnings in the presence of investment (growth) opportunities after making two theoretical and methodological research design refinements. First, we test for the incremental effect of growth on firms earnings response coefficients after controlling for the extent of transitory earnings under the assumption that the value-relevance of earnings with respect to growth should be stronger when earnings are more permanent. Second, we perform comprehensive factor analysis using market-based and accounting-based measures to construct a composite proxy for investment opportunities. We find that firms investment opportunities and the relative permanence of current earnings affect the value-relevance of those earnings. Additionally, we find that the interaction between permanent earnings and investment opportunities produces an even stronger price response to earnings.