Marco Maffei

(Un)useful risk disclosure: explanations from the Italian banks

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to better understand how mandatory risk categories are disclosed and to provide a better understanding of the reasons why risk disclosure looks less useful than it ought to be. Design/methodology/approach - – We analyze how Italian banks provide risk information, by focusing on its characteristics to find out any differences between the notes to the financial statements and the public report, both prepared in compliance with the instructions of the Bank of Italy. We assess the risk-related reporting practices of 66 Italian banks, based on a content analysis of the two mandatory reports, and verify whether bank-specific factors explain any differences. Findings - – Italian banks formally comply with the Bank of Italy’s instructions, but there is discretion to choose the characteristics of the information provided. Despite different risk categories to disclose in each report, disclosure is quite uniform, although banks tend to provide denser information in the notes to the financial statements and the difference in the economic signs between the two reports decreases as the level of risk increases. Practical implications - – The significance of this study goes beyond the debate taking place in the academic arena, as it can be largely relevant for preparers, those responsible for setting international and national accounting standards, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and the domestic supervisory authorities, particularly concerning the possible introduction of requirements that are more explicit than the existing ones. Originality/value - – The Italian setting is very relevant because unlike other countries, Italy adopts “interventionist enforcements”, which are regarded as a critical tool for achieving the minimum disclosure requirements. Moreover, the two sets of disclosure required by the Bank of Italy have never been investigated in a single data set.

CEO performance evaluation systems: empirical findings from the Italian health service

This paper examines the way that the performance of chief executive officers of Italian healthcare organizations is evaluated. The aim is to analyse the extent of the use of New Public Management techniques in the highly regionalized and political Italian healthcare sector. A positive association was found between formal CEO performance evaluation systems and the quality of regional governance. There was no significant relationship between formal CEO performance evaluation and the duration of CEO tenure.

Successful changes in management accounting systems: A healthcare case study

Abstract This paper explores how a change in the management accounting systems (MAS) of healthcare organisations was implemented in a manner acceptable to those involved. The study employed a longitudinal case study of a university hospital in southern Italy, and was informed by Broadbent and Laughlins Middle Range Theory (MRT). The findings revealed that the change in the MAS was successful due to the involvement of professionals in the ongoing process of change. This involvement reduced their natural tendency to resist, and increased the commitment of the various groups of professionals to the new business culture.

I sistemi di valutazione della performance dei Direttori Generali come processo trasformazionale. Un’analisi empirica dei Servizi Sanitari Regionali Italiani.

The research aims at investigating the issues related to the implementation of systems useful to assess the performance of the CEOs in the healthcare organizations belonging to Italian Regional Health Services. The implementation of such systems is regarded here as a transformational process and, accordingly, this paper employs Habermas’ theory about society - as advanced by Broadbent and Laughlin - to interpret and discuss the results. A meaning-oriented content analysis of the Regional Health Plans has been carried out to understand the characteristics of the performance evaluation systems designed by each Region. Moreover, a cluster analysis has been performed to identify homogeneous groups of Regions. The results are then discussed in the light of the theoretical framework in order to understand the type of change that the Italian Regions are experiencing. Furthermore, several contextual factors have been considered to enhance comprehension and to interpret the findings from an evolutionary perspective.

Expected benefits and perceived risks of cloud computing: an investigation within an Italian setting

ABSTRACT Over the past several years, cloud computing has increasingly been regarded as able to improve efficiency within organisations. The aim of this study is to address under-investigated issues related to the implementation of cloud computing, with a particular focus on expected benefits and the perception of risks. Towards this aim, on the basis of an adapted version of the technology acceptance model, we carried out a semi-structured survey among first-time cloud computing users to identify expected benefits and perceived risks. The survey of this study included a sample of 130 individuals in 65 enterprises located within Italy. We chose an Italian setting because it is characterised by an increasing number of programmes that emphasise the importance of cloud computing and support its wide dissemination. The findings of this study identify possible areas for improvement within the implementation phases of cloud computing.

I rischi derivanti dall’implementazione del cloud computing: un’indagine empirica nelle PMI Italiane

This paper examines the issues relating to the implementation of cloud computing in Italian SMEs. The aim is to measure the perception of the risks usually associated to the introduction of cloud computing in Italian SMEs identified as first-time adopters. The analysis relies upon a questionnaire disseminated through 400 individuals belonging to the Accounting and/or Information and Communication Technology divisions of 200 Italian SMEs, during the implementation phase of cloud computing. The survey was conceived as to obtain information about the perceived risks in terms of likelihood and impact before cloud computing adoption and after six months of implementation. The data gathered were therefore helpful to put into light the perceived risks of cloud computing implementation. The results show that there is a strong risks perception before this tool implementation indipendentely from the personal experience of the respondent. Hence, this research contributes to the ongoing debate on cloud computing potential in firms, deepening the issues relating to its introduction.

Accountants Are from Mars, ICT Practitioners Are from Venus. Predicting Technology Acceptance Between Two Groups

Several authors tried to explain the key determinants in technology acceptance using the technology acceptance model (TAM). TAM posits that ease of use and usefulness predict technology usage. Despite it strong usage there are several studies that show a lack in the model due to the absence of personal factors that should be considered. This paper aims to show the existence of significant difference in technology usage between different groups of people. Two hundred and fifty individuals responded to a survey about technology usage in their firms. Our results show that there is a statistically significant difference in ease of use and in perceived usefulness. The investigation applies TAM to help researchers, developers and managers understand antecedents to users’ intention to use.

Cloud Computing Adoption in Italian SMEs: A Focus on Decision-making and Post-implementation Processes

Cloud computing is an emerging model in which machines in large data centres can be used to deliver services in a scalable manner. It allows firms to receive the same internal ICT structure with lower costs and a higher degree of flexibility. With this technology come many disadvantages that can have a major impact on the information and services supported by this technology. This chapter pursues two related aims. First, it investigates the decision-making process of implementing cloud computing by highlighting the drivers and ICT requirements of SMEs. Then, it examines the effects following the migration of the ICT system from an in-house data centre to a cloud-based service. We found specific drivers and ICT requirements, suggesting the implementation of cloud computing in SMEs to oversee specific issues. Moreover, our findings show that the advantages arising post-implementation confirm the expectations created by the management during the decision-making process; meanwhile, at least in the short term, no disadvantages arose.

I Razionali della Gran Corte de’ Conti di Napoli durante l’ultimo periodo borbonico

L’articolo ha ad oggetto i Razionali, ossia un gruppo di impiegati in servizio presso la Gran Corte de’ Conti di Napoli (GCCN) che, durante l’ultimo periodo borbonico, si occupavano del controllo dei conti pubblici. L’obiettivo e di verificare se la figura del Razionale presenti caratteristiche distintive tali da far intravedere un peculiare corpo burocratico. Per questo scopo, l’analisi si appoggia al filone di ricerca intorno alle origini dei c.d. corpi burocratici, che si contraddistingue per l’osservazione di elementi caratterizzanti quali l’istruzione, le mansioni svolte, la retribuzione e i carichi di lavoro. Sono state impiegate fonti primarie e secondarie. Le fonti primarie sono costituite dal corpus normativo che disciplina l’attivita della GCCN e le funzioni dei suoi impiegati. Le fonti secondarie includono, invece, scritti sulla storia del Regno delle Due Sicilie, la storia della GCCN e la storia della contabilita pubblica. Alla luce delle variabili esaminate, gli autori ritengono che sia possibile intravedere nei Razionali le caratteristiche di un corpo burocratico, seppure in forma primordiale.

Banking for the Common Good: a case study

This research investigates how Italian mutual credit cooperative banks, understood as ethical banks, conceive and implement the intention to contribute to the Common Good. The literature highlights that it is a complex task to identify what, in practical terms, the Common Good consists of for an entity. Hence, we refer to a Common Good-driven theory, namely, Economia Aziendale, that has the potential to overcome the above-cited lack of practical application, thus strengthening the Common Good theorys ability to provide an appreciable framework for CSR and ethics studies. Economia Aziendale is used as a lens to analyse the case of the Banca di Credito Cooperativo di Napoli. The study provides a detailed picture of the values, activities and practices of the bank contributing to the achievement of the Common Good for the local community of Naples. The findings are of relevance for the international debate on ethics in finance.