Stephanie Farewell

An Introduction to XBRL through the Use of Research and Technical Assignments

This project is designed to facilitate an understanding of eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). The materials are structured so that each can be used independently of the other components. The materials consist of a reading, research assignments, and two technical assignments. The reading is written to provide a background on XBRL. After obtaining a basic understanding of XBRL, research and technical assignments are used to increase the students skill‐set. The research assignments look at the evolution of XBRL. The first technical assignment modifies and styles eXtensible Markup Language (XML) tagged data. In the second technical assignment an industry extension is developed to the promulgated Commercial and Industrial (C‐I) taxonomy. The second technical assignment concludes with the creation of an instance document and viewing of the instance document with a style sheet. Through an understanding of XBRL, students will possess an important basic skill‐set for a technology that will likely play...

Issues with the communication and integrity of audit reports when financial reporting shifts to an information-centric paradigm ☆

A core application of XBRL is to facilitate the flow of tagged financial statements and annual reports, from companies and other entities directly to the databases, web sites, and computers of regulators, stakeholders and other information consumers. Increasingly, XBRL provides the technological foundation for the communication of financial information where there is independent assurance. This XBRL-based assurance may be on the financial statements (i.e., an electronically consumable form of todays standard PDF or HTML audit report) or focus on the quality of the XBRL exhibit (i.e., the instance document). Regardless of the type of XBRL assurance report, maintenance of the security and integrity of the instance document is paramount. This conceptual paper identifies and discusses the communication, security challenges and relevant research issues when there is independent assurance on financial statements formatted in XBRL. Successful electronic communication of assurance to information consumers should clearly distinguish the responsibilities of management (i.e., the financial statements) and the auditor (i.e., the audit report). It is important to have an integrated approach where the assurance report, financial statements and other reports in which facts in the financial statements are incorporated are inextricably tied at the level of automated data consumption. Further, as much as possible, human interaction should be accommodated. The paper sets out a range of alternatives for maintenance of security on the assurance report.

Attesting Adios! Airways' XBRL Filings: A Case Study on Performing Agreed-upon Procedures

On 30 January 2009, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released Rule 33–9002. This rule phased in the required use of XBRL. The accuracy of mapping financial statement line items to the US GAAP taxonomy and the tagging of the financial statement facts are of fundamental importance to the accuracy of the XBRL instance document. Currently, there is no requirement for separate assurance on XBRL filings. However, given the significance of the information made available, firms may find it desirable to obtain attestation services. This case provides students with an agreed-upon procedures engagement plan based upon SOP 09–1 ‘Performing Agreed-Upon Procedures Engagements that Address the Completeness, Accuracy or Consistency of XBRL Tagged Data’ released by the Auditing Standards Board in 2009. Students assume the role of an engagement manager and complete an agreed-upon procedures engagement for the quarterly financial statements of Adios! Airways Inc. The case is of general application to an international setting.

A Field Study Examining the Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs' XBRL Implementation

ABSTRACT The eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) represents an electronic reporting standard that has gained global prominence. Yet, almost all XBRL academic research has focused on the S...

Factors Influencing the Decision of International Students to Attend U.S. Business Schools

International students pursuing secondary education at United States universities has been increasing over the past 25 years, and is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. However, these students have a plethora of choice among universities in the United States and foreign countries, other than their home country. Universities must distinguish themselves if they hope to obtain the most desirable students from around the world. Previous research by Agarwal and Winkler (1985), Lee and Tan (1984), Mazzarol and Soutar (2002), and McMahon (1992 has identified a number of factors that influence the decision among educational programs. This paper builds on extant research by examining the role of accreditation by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and understanding of the meaning of AACSB accreditation on the university choice decision of international students pursuing business degrees in a cross-section of United States public universities. This study finds that while understanding of the meaning of AACSB accreditation is mixed that AACSB accreditation is a factor that students report as significant in the choice of educational institution.