Evidence of sophisticated voting in a committee setting: theory and experiments

This article seeks to use laboratory experimental methods in order to investigate the extent to which decision makers employ sophisticated voting strategies. Using two experimental settings that provide very different incentives for sophisticated voting behavior, the analysis turns up little evidence that participants rely on perfect foresight when confronting lengthy voting agendas. However, these experimental results point toward members using a weaker version of sophistication when anticipating complex decision settings. The findings from this article suggest that decision makers employ only limited foresight when choosing among voting strategies.     

Managing technology as a virtual enterprise

The complexity of R&D projects and growing international competition are factors leading to more co‐operation especially among small and medium‐sized firms. But even large integrated firms are often not willing or able to perform the necessary amount of R&D and to cope with the uncertainty associated with radical innovations.
In a virtual company, members form a network, thereby enabling projects to be pursued by combining member's resources. Specific assets of a virtual company are its flexibility and ability to handle variety. Costs of co‐ordination and motivation are lowered if the virtual company succeeds in building trust and commitment. On the other hand, lack of these pose severe problems.
In markets with a strong scientific‐technological basis and rapid rate of change the concept of a virtual organization seems appealing. High R&D costs and risks can be shared, developments and time‐to‐market can be accelerated and the partners can concentrate on their respective core competencies.
In the paper we use an example from the biotechnology industry as a case study and discuss some of the theoretical and practical problems that are encountered in the virtual enterprise.     

Planning and financial performance among small firms in a growth industry

This paper examines the relationship between planning process sophistication and the financial performance of a select group of small firms in a growth industry. Multivariate analysis of variance is used to identify statistically significant differences between firms that employ sophisticated plans and those that do not. The results support previous research on strategic planning and financial performance.     

Auditor independence deficiencies & alleged audit failures

Some critics of the accounting/auditing profession in the United States claim that independence-related quality control problems are the cause of an increased number of alleged audit failures. Certified public accountants (CPAs) were queried regarding independence impairment in their profession. Questionnaire results indicate a number of CPAs believe independence deficiencies exist, and some CPAs admit to personal independence impairment. Michael A. Pearson is Associate Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Management and College of Business Administration, Kent State University. Additionally, he is the Editor of The Ohio CPA Journal. Professor Pearson is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). He has written numerous articles including, Enhancing Perceptions of Auditor Independence, Journal of Business Ethics 4 (1985), 53–56.