Factors Impact on Internal Audit Effectiveness: The Case of Duhok University in Kurdistan-Iraq

This study investigates the factors impact on internal audit effectiveness (IAE) in Kurdistan Iraq. Data were collected from 15 directors of Colleges and 15 internal audit managers at University of Duhok. The relationship between IAE and three principle factors has been examined using multiple regression analysis. Findings reflect that management support for IAE perceived effectiveness of internal audit from both directors of colleges and internal auditor’s perspective. Management support is related to occupy experienced and trained staff, providing sufficient resources. However, this study found insignificant relationship between independence of the internal audit and internal audit effectiveness.

Voluntary Reporting, Sustainable Reporting and Transition Economy

This concept paper aims at exploring the interrelationship among the corporate voluntary reporting, the corporate sustainable reporting and the transition economy from the literatures and frameworks. At this juncture, transition economy refers the economy especially, the transformation of least developing economy to the developing economy as per the criteria of United Nations. Thus, the context of Bangladesh has been used as a ground for the study. The study explores the affiliation among corporate voluntary reporting, corporate sustainable reporting and transition economy from their respective literature and frameworks. From the literature of the corporate voluntary reporting, various dimensions of corporate disclosures have been considered, while the dimensions of sustainability reporting have been considered as per the consolidated set of global reporting index, published by Global Sustainability Standards Boards. In addition, components of transition economy have been considered on the basis of the guideline of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The similitudes of these three concepts and their consequences are determined on the basis of the literature and frameworks. It is found that the core concepts of corporate voluntary reporting, corporate sustainable reporting and the transition economy are similar, and they are intermingled to each other. We have found that the dimensions of corporate voluntary reporting are the initiation of sustainability reporting that leads a transition economy to gain its status of being a developing economy. The findings of the study imply that the transition economy like Bangladesh has to put more focus on corporate engagement in transforming its economy to the developing economy. As the developing economy is based on trade rather than aid, the government of the country should design their corporate strategies and policies in such a way that leads the country to have a sustainable development. In addition, the findings may also encourage the corporate people to disclose more information regarding sustainability issues. Moreover, the findings may assist the United Nation to consider and reconsider their criteria of graduating any country from one level of economy to another. Finally, the findings can also open the avenue to the academicians to explore the extent of corporate reporting on transition economy.

Impact of Macroeconomic Variables on Stock Return Volatility: Evidence from Sub-Sahara Africa

The main purpose of this paper was to investigate the impact of macroeconomic variables on stock market return volatility in Sub-Sahara markets. The study concentrated on three stock markets including Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa using GARCH-X (1,1) model on monthly data from January 2000 to December 2017. Preliminary analyses from descriptive statistics show that show mean monthly returns are positive for all the stock markets. Skewness coefficients show that the stock returns and interest rates distribution of all Sub-Sahara Africa stock markets are negatively skewed but inflation rate is positively skewed for Nigeria and South Africa, and flat for Ghana. Excess kurtoses are positive for all the stock markets and macroeconomic indicators, and Jarque-Bera statistics indicate the stock markets’ series and macroeconomic indicators are not normally distributed. The Unit roots tests results indicate that all the stock markets and macroeconomic indicators are first difference stationary. The results of the GARCH-X (1,1) model show that macroeconomic variables do not significantly impact stock market returns volatility in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa at the 5% significance Level. We therefore recommend that stock market regulators, market participants and investors should concentrate more efforts on other macroeconomic variables aside interest rate and inflation rate, in estimating stock market return volatility in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Examining The Excess Cash Holdings As An Indicator of Agency Problems

This research aims to examine the implications of excess cash holdings on firm value based on agency theory. Data were obtained from a total sample of 1828 non-financial public companies in Indonesia, with 672 exceeding normal cash holdings using the panel regression techniques. The result showed that excess cash holdings have a negative effect on the firm value which is stronger for more concentrated ownership, for more dispersed ownership and for more financially difficult firms. Overall the empirical finding showed that excess cash holdings acts as a significant indicator of agency problems.

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Reporting Quality in Nigeria: An Assessment of Selected Quoted Firms

This study investigates the effect of IFRS adoption on reporting quality in Nigeria. Secondary data were sourced from financial reports of a sample of 79 quoted Nigerian firms, with the help of Nimegen Centre for Economics (NiCE) qualitative reporting index for reporting quality. The study covered a period of 10 years, i.e. 2007 to 2011 as SAS regime and 2012 to 2016 IFRS regime. ANOVA test and descriptive analysis, were utilised for the analysis. The study concludes that, IFRS adoption has made significant positive difference in the extent of reporting quality. It is recommended that Nigerian firms should adopt appropriate measures to improve the level of relevance, comparability and verifiability of their financial reports through provision of more forward looking information, reduction in the use of technical jargons and appointment of more reputable audit firms.

The Effect of 5S on Employee Performance: An Empirical Study among Lebanese Hospitals

When studying the regular quality practices in hospitals, it is essential to focus on the 5S as it reflects the daily activities of healthcare providers. The aim of this research is to study the effect of 5S-quality approach on employee performance in some Lebanese hospitals. Based on a quantitative approach, a survey was conducted among four hospitals in South Lebanon and 240 self-administered questionnaires were distributed randomly among target respondents. The collected primary data was analyzed by SPSS software. Statistical tests were applied for hypothesis testing such as correlation and regression analysis tests. The obtained results showed that 5S is significantly and positively affecting employee performance except for Sort. This study was limited to the constricted geographical zone and small number of hospitals was surveyed. Future studies may enlarge the research empirically and study different quality approaches.

Determinants of Capital Structure in Listed Insurance Companies in Nigeria

This study investigates the determinants of capital structure in listed insurance companies in Nigeria for the period of thirteen years, from 2006-2018. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for this study. The population of the study is made up of the 28 insurance companies listed on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as at 2018. Since the population is not too large, this study utilized census sampling technique to take all the population. The data used in this study were secondary data derived from annual reports of insurance companies that are listed on the NSE. The study used panel regression with respect to the use of Hausman specification test to determine the use of fixed or random effect model. The random effect regression result revealed that that firm size has insignificant positive effect on capital structure (CST) of listed insurance companies in Nigeria. The study showed a significant positive effect between age and CST of listed insurance companies in Nigeria. Based on the regression result, asset tangibility has insignificant negative effect on CST, the regression result shows that risk has insignificant positive effect on CST, while the study found that insurance growth has significant positive effect on CST of listed insurance companies in Nigeria. The study concludes that size, age, tangibility of asset, insurance risk and growth are determinants of CST of listed insurance companies in Nigeria. The study recommends that insurance companies should have a high consideration for the value of total asset when determining their capital mix. Also, insurance companies that have been incorporated for long should consider external financing likewise, insurance companies should not give fixed asset priority when considering their capital structure mix. Debt providers should seek for high return in order to hold the risk related to the bankruptcy and financial distress. Lastly, debt holders should require such return to hold the risk of agency conflicts with shareholders and management.

Ecoanalytics as A New Area of The Analysis of Environmental Conditions at An Enterprise

This article studies the aspects of environmental safety issues. It characterizes the methods of assessment of environmental condition in Russia and abroad. The nature of ecological audit and its purpose are considered. The article highlights the problems of regional programs in Russia related to the improvement of the environmental condition. The essence of the analysis of the ecological state of the organization in Russia is revealed. The peculiarities of the appearance of a new analytical direction of eco-analysis within the organization have been identified and described.

The Effect of Financial Literacy on Investment Decision Making in Southern Lebanon

This study examines the effect of financial Literacy on investment decision making among investors in South Lebanon. Financial literacy is expressed in terms of knowledge and awareness while investors’ decision-making is described as the act of investors and the way they interpret, anticipate, investigate, and assess the steps and transaction for decision making. This includes investment risk, investment decision model and process. To achieve the research objective, a quantitative approach was applied in which 150 self-administered questionnaires were collected using convenience sampling. The sample includes customers of four different Banks in South Lebanon. The data was analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics were identified and proposed hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation and multi-regression analysis. Results showed a positive significant relationship between financial literacy and investment decision making. Future studies are encouraged to expand the research to other regions in Lebanon over a longer time horizon in addition to applying other variables.

Leadership Strategy of State University Public Service Agency to Increasing Organizational Performance in Indonesia

The purpose of this study was to analyze the leadership strategy of the State University Public Service Agency in improving the performance of institutions in Indonesia. The study was conducted at three State University Public Service Agency in Indonesia on regional considerations and ranking of State University Public Service Agency institutions version of The Ministry of Research, Technology and State University (MoRHE) for 2015-2017, namely the University of Lampung (West Region), Sebeles Maret University (Central Region) and Gorontalo State University (Eastern Region). Leadership strategy as an effort to improve the performance of institutions of State University Public Service Agency involves twelve experts, namely the highest leader (Rector), Vice Rector, Dean and Chair of the Institute for at least one period (four years). Development of strategies using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Leadership strategy of State University Public Service Agency can be implemented by integrating the leader selection system, leadership development and leadership performance evaluation. The performance measures include graduate quality, publication quality, innovation quality, student quality and service quality.