Smith & Jones LLP: Charting a Path to the Future*

This case requires accounting students to shift their focus from learning about the practice of auditing to learning about the business of auditing. It describes the strategy, vision, and mission of a medium‐sized, Canadian audit firm and the external and internal challenges the firm faces as it looks to improve its profitability. Students should reflect on which behaviors Smith & Jones would like to encourage and what the partners can do to encourage its employees to exhibit these behaviors.     

Determinants of tourism success for DMOs & destinations: An empirical examination of stakeholders' perspectives

What is tourism success? Specifically, what does tourism success mean for a destination as opposed to a destination management organization (DMO)? The main objectives of this study were to examine the concept of tourism success as it relates to both destinations and to DMOs, and to determine if a relationship or distinction exists between the two. Eighty-four (84) knowledgeable tourism managers and stakeholders from twenty-five (25) Canadian destinations were interviewed. Responses were used to identify variables and build a model that supports the existence of a relationship between the success of tourism destinations and DMOs with respect to community relations, marketing, and economic indicators. Unique to DMO success were supplier relations, effective management, strategic planning, organizational focus and drive, proper funding, and quality personnel. Unique to destination success were location and accessibility, attractive product and service offerings, quality visitor experiences, and community support.     

An investigation of paradigm choice in Australian international human resource management research

This paper addresses the question of whether Australian international human resource management (IHRM) research is dominated by either a universalist or contextualist paradigm. Using a systematic review approach, 82 peer reviewed papers were analysed using a basic extraction tool to record publication and research design details. The universalist/contextualist distinction decision was based on the point at which theory became evident in each publication. Results indicated an almost even split in the universalist/contextualist paradigm choice suggesting a balanced rather than dominant research preference. This finding may reflect the impact of both European and North American influences in Australian IHRM research. A second finding is a high level of papers without proposed theoretical relationships: this second finding has a number of ramifications for IHRM research and practice in Australia.     

Artists' positioning in and creating authentic identities through place and tourism in New Orleans's Jackson Square

In this paper, I explore how artist identities are constructed in relation to processes associated with tourism and a tourist site in New Orleans. My analysis draws from literatures concerning art, tourism art, and artist identities as well as from Goffman's work on identity, particularly in relation to impression management through setting, appearances, and manners in front and back regions. Relying on archival and ethnographic data, I show how facets of the ‘venerated artist’ social identity, tourism, and a nostalgic historical geography have privileged the place of artists in Jackson Square's Pedestrian Mall and supported the construction of authentic personal and felt artist identities. However, in these same ways, potentially progressive cultural practices associated with art, place, and identities are foreclosed, creating a variety of exclusionary issues.     

HR Professional Role Tensions: Perceptions and Responses of the Top Management Team

The aims of the research are to explore evidence of professional human resource management (HRM) role tensions, the factors that affect HRM role tension, and to consider the impact on management perceptions when role tensions exist. Using a qualitative approach, 25 interviews were conducted in Australia with senior HRM personnel, top management team (TMT) executives, and a management consultant. Findings reveal that the failure of the HRM profession to attract people with a business focus increases HRM role tensions. Respondents report that tensions were reduced when aspects of the HRM role were devolved or outsourced, there was an acceptance of a changed psychological contract, and clearer attempts were made to communicate an agreed‐upon strategic focus for HRM. HRM role bias led to a reduced willingness among TMT members to respect, and communicate with, HRM professionals. The implications of the negative outcomes of HR role tensions are discussed with reference to the power of the HRM function. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The international fund for Ireland: Some findings on its patterns of expenditure

The International Fund for Ireland (IFI) was established by the Irish and British governments as part of the Anglo-Irish Agreement of November 1985. In 1994 the total resources available to the Fund were approximately £280 million. Both Unionists and Nationalists have expressed opposition to the Fund and concern over the Fund's objectives. Despite the considerable degree of controversy which surrounds the Fund, there has been no systematic analysis of the Fund's expenditure. This article begins such an analysis by presenting findings on the geographical distribution of the Fund's expenditure over the period 1986/87-1994. Findings on the distribution of the Fund's expenditure by the various initiatives and programmes which it sponsors (eg Business Enterprise, Tourism, etc) are also presented. The article also presents detailed findings on the allocation of the Fund's expenditure in one particular area of Northern Ireland, West Belfast. A number of policy recommendations are made on methodological issues surrounding the evaluation of the Fund and measures which the Fund could implement to reduce the suspicion and controversy which surround it.     

IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL: INTERNET ACCESS AND INSTITUTIONAL QUALITY

Using a panel of up to 114 countries covering the years 1990 through 2010, we estimate the effect of Internet use on changes in countries' Economic Freedom of the World (EFW) scores. The point estimates suggest that the marginal effect is generally positive. However, starting from above‐average EFW scores (>7.7 out of 10; examples in 2010 include the UK, Switzerland, and Hong Kong) the marginal effect turns negative. Taking this interaction into account, the marginal effect is positive and statistically significant for countries starting at initial EFW scores of around 6 or less. Examples of countries with 2010 EFW scores near this threshold include China, Nigeria, and Pakistan. We discuss mechanisms that potentially generate this conditional relationship between Internet use and institutional change. (JEL O10, O43, P48)     

Valuing Core Deposits

While the financial crisis has brought to the fore valuation of bank assets, equally important to a bank’s long-term health is the quality of its deposits. This paper employs bank-specific data on total and retained balances to value so-called core deposits: checking and savings and money market accounts. The empirical results indicate that core deposits have considerable value to financial institutions, often dramatically more than regulators have allowed. The empirical results also indicate that the value of core deposits varies substantially by institution. For some institutions the value of core deposits approaches the total value of the institution. I am grateful to Rob Battalio, Tom Cosimano, Dave Hutchison, Bill McGuire and seminar participants at the University of Notre Dame for their comments on earlier drafts. I am particularly grateful to an anonymous referee whose suggestions substantially improved the paper. Any remaining limitations are entirely my responsibility.