Philmore Alleyne

An exploratory study of auditors’ responsibility for fraud detection in Barbados

Purpose – Recently, fraud has been brought to the forefront with the scandals of Enron and Worldcom. Fraudulent financial reporting and misappropriation of assets served to undermine investors’ confidence in audited financial statements. This study investigates how auditors and users perceive the auditors’ responsibility for uncovering fraud, the nature and extent of fraud in Barbados, and audit procedures utilised in Barbados since Enron.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 43 respondents (19 auditors and 24 users) were surveyed regarding their perceptions and experiences on fraud, using qualitative and quantitative approaches.Findings – Indicates that the expectation gap is wide, as auditors felt that the detection of fraud is managements responsibility, while users and management disagreed. Also finds that fraud is not a major issue in Barbados and that companies who have internal auditors, sound internal controls and effective audit committees are better equipped to deal with fraud prevention and...

Perceptions of auditor independence in Barbados

– The study investigates the perceptions of auditor independence (PAI) between auditors and users in Barbados., – A self‐administered questionnaire was adapted and modified from Beattie et al.s study in the UK the sample included 66 auditors and 148 users. Factors relating to the size and closeness of Barbadian society, lengthy tenure and being a sole audit practitioner, small audit firm, provision of non‐audit services (NAS) among others, were investigated., – Economic dependence of auditor on the client, the provision of NAS, high competition, small firm size, being a sole practitioner, lengthy tenure and the size and closeness of Barbadian society were found to negatively affect PAI. Auditor independence was perceived to be enhanced by the existence of audit committees, rotation of audit partners, risks to auditor arising from poor quality, regulatory rights and requirements surrounding auditor change and an auditors right to attend and be heard at the companys annual general meetings., – Owing to the relatively small sample size and small emerging market, these findings should be interpreted with caution., – This research serves to inform audit related policies and regulation on the potential threats to auditor independence., – This paper contributes to the limited body of research on auditor independence in small developing countries.

Approaches to HRM in the Barbados hotel industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to measure the extent of the adoption of human resource management (HRM), the existence of a formal HR strategy, and the development of the HR function in the Barbados hotel industry compared with Hoques sample of hotels in the UK.Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative survey, covering 46 hotels out of a population of 75 hotels was conducted with the respondents being the hotels management: a general manager, HR manager or line manager.Findings – It was found that the adoption of human resource (HR) practices was more prevalent in Barbados hotels than in the UK sample. With respect to the existence of a formal HR strategy, the results were mixed. The results also show that in many respects the Barbados hotels are ahead of their UK counterparts in the development of the HR function.Research limitations/implications – The research focused on a small sample in a developing country. In addition, responses were obtained from top management rather than all levels o...

Explaining entrepreneurial intentions in the Caribbean

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to highlight the need for Caribbean scholarship to advance and test social psychological models that speak to current entrepreneurial realities on the ground which have implications for theory, education, practice and public policy. It tests a revised entrepreneurial intentions‐based model by examining the impact of several socio‐cognitive predictors.Design/methodology/approach – Using a structural equation modelling approach, a revised model of entrepreneurial intentions is tested based on a survey of 376 university students from a Caribbean university.Findings – The chi square difference results reveal that when compared with the proposed (revised) model, a previous model advanced by Krueger is found to be the most suitable model in explaining entrepreneurial intentions.Research limitations/implications – The cross‐sectional design of the study does not permit causal statements to be made regarding the variables examined. There is a call for longitudinal research to...

The Relationship Between Ability-Based Emotional Intelligence and Contextual Performance and Counterproductive Work Behaviors: A Test of the Mediating Effects of Job Satisfaction

This article investigated the mediating role of job satisfaction between four ability-based emotional intelligence (EI) dimensions and contextual performance and counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs), and controlled for Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, and Agreeableness. Based on data collected from 222 employees, results supported the hypothesized partial mediation model. Job satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between (a) the ability-based EI dimension, regulation of emotion, and contextual performance, and CWB-I and CWB-O; (b) the ability-based EI dimension, selfemotion appraisal, and CWB-I and CWB-O; (c) the ability-based EI dimension, use of emotion and contextual performance; and (d) between Agreeableness, Emotional Stability, and Conscientiousness and contextual performance and CWBs. Implications, limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.

A comparative study of recruitment and training practices between small and large businesses in an emerging market economy

Purpose – This study seeks to determine differences between recruitment processes and methods and training practices used in small and large businesses in the retailing, manufacturing, and tourism sectors in an emerging economy, Barbados.Design/methodology/approach – The research utilized a quantitative survey covering 49 retailing, manufacturing and tourism‐oriented organizations to ascertain whether small organizations practice the procedures and methods outlined in the prescriptive literature on recruitment and training compared with large organizations. Institutional theory and resource‐based view informed the research.Findings – It was found that recruitment processes and methods and training practices vary among small and large organizations. It suggests that, in Barbados, small businesses are likely to rely on informal recruitment methods and informal training practices compared with large businesses.Research limitations/implications – This study is only conducted across the retailing, manufacturin...

Perceived effectiveness of fraud detection audit procedures in a stock and warehousing cycle: Additional evidence from Barbados

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore perceptions of fraud detection techniques in the stock and warehouse cycle in Barbados. Design/methodology/approach - The study uses a self-administered questionnaire, adapted and modified from Owusu-Ansah Findings - The study indicates that there is a moderate to high perceived effectiveness of standard audit procedures in the detection of fraud in the stock and warehousing cycle in Barbados and that the majority of the “more effective” audit procedures can be classified as field research techniques that are more direct in obtaining evidence. It is found that auditors from larger firms reported higher means for audit procedures. There are mixed findings with respect to the significant relationship between level of auditing experience of auditors and perceived effectiveness of fraud detection techniques. The study also indicates that males consistently rated the level of effectiveness of audit procedures higher than females. Research limitations/implications - Due to the relatively small sample size, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Nonetheless, the findings of this study do indicate that auditing procedures in this developing country are on par with those of developed countries. Practical implications - This paper serves to inform audit-related policies and regulation on the potential threats within the stock and warehouse cycle. Originality/value - This paper contributes to the limited body of research on fraud detection within the stock and warehouse cycle in small developing countries.

A qualitative study of HRM and performance in the Barbados hotel industry.

ABSTRACT This study explores and measures the effect of human resource management (HRM) and performance in the hotel industry in Barbados. HRM and performance have been the subject of much debate worldwide, especially in the large Anglophone countries. This research seeks to replicate Hoques (1999b) study of HRM and performance in the UK hotel industry. The qualitative survey covered 16 hotels out of a population of 75 hotels in Barbados. Respondents in this research were hotel managers, being either a general manager, human resource (HR) manager or line manager, who gave their perceptions. Similar to Hoque, the impact of internal and external fit and the universal relevance of HRM were tested. It was found that there was mixed support for internal fit, external fit, and universal relevance in the Barbados hotel industry. All the hotels perceived themselves as performing well. Strong evidence of elements of industrial relations and personnel management (IR/PM) and HRM were also found. However, one can conclude that best practice works in Barbados rather than best fit.

The Practice of HRM and SHRM in the Barbados Hotel Sector

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the relationship between the number of human resource management (HRM) practices adopted and organizational demographics among hotels in Barbados, as well as determining the extent to which strategic human management (SHRM) is practiced. A quantitative survey was administered to 46 hotels out of a population of 75 hotels. The findings revealed that more than half the sampled hotels adopted more than 14 HRM practices; that hotel size (by employee level), hotel room prices and age of hotel were significantly related to the number of HRM practices adopted. All hotels engaged in strategic planning and the majority had a HR strategy formally endorsed and actively supported by the hotels top management and that HRM strategies are integrated with business strategies and HR strategies are deliberately integrated with each other. These findings suggest that there is widespread adoption and a growing level of interest in HRM, as well as considerable importance being attached to strategic HR issues.

Accountants’ perceptions of corporate governance in public limited liability companies in an emerging economy: Evidence from Barbados

Purpose - – This paper aims to examine the perceptions of accountants on corporate governance (CG) practices in public limited liability companies in Barbados, and the perceived effectiveness of these mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach - – A three-stage approach was utilized. First, an Internet-based questionnaire was sent to members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados to gain accounting perspectives on CG practices by listed Barbadian companies. Second, feedback on the survey results was obtained from the attendees of a panel session at a regional accounting conference. Third, interviews were conducted with five qualified accountants to further explore issues that emerged from the previous stages. Findings - – The results suggest that the most important mechanisms for effective CG were the board of directors, auditors and professional accountants. The timely provision of relevant information, board room culture, qualifications and independence of directors were the tasks considered most vital to enhancing board effectiveness. However, the high concentration of ownership in family-controlled firms, interlocking directorates, weak regulatory systems and cultural issues influenced the effectiveness of CG mechanisms. Recommendations for overcoming these barriers and improving CG included purposive training, whistle-blowing mechanisms, stronger legislation and adequate disclosures. Research limitations/implications - – The study’s small sample increases the likelihood of bias and important differences being missed, thus reducing the generalizability to the accounting profession as a whole. Practical implications - – The research sheds light on the value being placed on CG practices by the accounting profession. The study would assist companies, board of directors and accounting practitioners in developing CG mechanisms that are suitable for emerging countries. Originality/value - – The paper contributes to the dearth of literature on perceptions of accountants on CG practices in emerging economies.