David Coy

The information gap in annual reports

Following radical restructuring of the electricity industry in New Zealand since 1987, the government adopted a “light‐handed” regulatory regime that used market‐based methods involving competition and transparent accountability. This accountability is in part discharged through the provision of information in the corporate annual report. To assess the quality of that communication, a disclosure index was developed and applied to the annual reports of the 33 electricity retail and distribution companies which comprise the entire industry in New Zealand. The index was developed using the ideas and opinions of 15 experts representing broad stakeholder groups. This paper compares the resulting scores for the extent and quality of each index item with the level of importance of those items as stated by the panel. Many items are not adequately disclosed, resulting in an information gap between stakeholders’ expectations and the disclosures provided by the electricity companies. This paper identifies the items and the detail about them needed to close that gap.

An insight into accountability and politics in universities: a case study

In an era when improved accountability and more comprehensive annual reporting was sought from all parts of the New Zealand public sector, this paper focuses on universities to explore the political influences on accountability. The changing nature of accountability is considered and the internal political factors that may impinge on annual report disclosures are discussed. Issues considered at the societal level include the public right to know, the interest in public sector annual reports and the influence of the accountancy profession in determining the form and content of annual reporting. A case study recounts events on a university campus surrounding the issue of resource allocation and the lack of publicly available information, to provide insights about the political influences upon annual reporting. Fulfilling public accountability obligations is as important for organizations involved in learning and caring as it is for other organizations with more overt commercial, administrative or political objectives.

Developing a Research Culture in a University Faculty

Abstract This paper offers ideas for those seeking to improve research and publications performance in university faculties, and may be especially relevant for younger faculties that have been recently upgraded to university status. A case study of the School of Management Studies at the University of Waikato is used to identify the important managerial decisions made to transform a faculty from being undergraduate teaching dominated in the late 1980s to one with a strong research profile by the mid‐1990s. The paper draws on management theory to show the links between changes in beliefs, attitudes and values in bringing about a change in the organisational culture. The case study identifies the decentralised university management structure and strong leadership at the dean level as critical elements in developing the research culture.

Managing Teaching Allocations in a University Department: The TAMM Model.

Abstract This paper provides via the Internet a computerised model that has been used successfully for over a decade as a decision support system to assist managers of university teaching departments in making allocations of academic staff to courses. The Teaching Allocation and Management Model (TAMM) has been used in university commerce departments and is presented here in a generic form that may be adapted by departments of any discipline. We believe that such models are not widely used in universities or tertiary education generally and that their wider adoption can contribute to improved management, efficiency, effectiveness, and a greater sense of equity among academic staff. The paper describes TAMM, explains how it is used and presents some of its strengths, weaknesses and limitations.

Tertiary Education in New Zealand: Radical changes to Funding and Accountability

This paper summarises the main provisions of new requirements for financial reporting by tertiary institutions and a new EFTS based funding system. The new arrangements were published in January 1991 by the Ministry of Education. The paper indicates that financial reporting by the NZ universities, with one or two exceptions, has been poor and that the new requirements will improve accountability to stakeholders. Some weaknesses are identified in the area of timeliness, accessibility, asset valuations and the allocation of indirect costs.

Perceptions and experiences of annual report preparers

Between 1986 and 1993, tertiary education institutions, [TEIs] in New Zealand have transformed their annual reports from being uninformative, untimely and unobtainable documents, to ones that are well-presented, comprehensive and readily available in a timely fashion (Coy, Tower & Dixon, 1994). This paper reports a study of the events and experiences according to report preparers in bringing about this change, including the incentives and difficulties that they have been facing.The study uses data collected from 48 staff involved in report preparation at 15 of the 37 TEIs that are in New Zealand. These data are qualitative, and are analysed from a realist perspective mixing causal analysis and interpretive understanding (Silverman 1985).The study suggests that the mandated changes to reporting are seen as one facet of several recent public sector reforms in New Zealand. Interviewees felt that the changes to reporting were driven externally by legislation, and internally by the stances taken by some chief executive officers and by the professional ardour of some accountants. Moreover, the Audit Office was seen as a prominent agent of change.The general reactions of preparers of reports to the reforms range from strong support to resentment and scepticism. A major concern voiced was the potential for data reported by TEIs to be used for political purposes. On the other hand, improved staff motivation was noted in many institutions as well as greater cost consciousness and awareness of student, needs. However, these positive attributes were probably derived from the reforms in general, and not just from the changes to reporting.

THE TENSION BETWEEN ACCOUNTORS AND ACCOUNTEES: EVIDENCE FROM THE REFORMED NEW ZEALAND ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY

At any time, there will be differing views on what needs to be done to be properly accountable, because accountees are likely to be in favour of more accountability, and accountors, of less (Perks, 1993). This leads to a tension between these two groups (Ijiri, 1983).

Strategic Discourse as a Technology of Power

The sudden demise of the Christchurch-based meat processor Fortex Group, which was once seen as an icon of the deregulated New Zealand economy, has been the subject of varying explanation in the New Zealand media, and, initially at least, met with some incredulity. Fortex’s rapid rise to success bore the hallmarks of modern textbook-style management with a focus on innovation and the marketing of value-added products, in stark contrast to the traditional commodity-based trading approach of its competitors in the New Zealand meat industry.