Is accountability a double-edged sword? Experimental evidence on the effectiveness of internal controls to prevent fraud

Détails

ID Serval
serval:BIB_830C05385E11
Type
Article: article d'un périodique ou d'un magazine.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Titre
Is accountability a double-edged sword? Experimental evidence on the effectiveness of internal controls to prevent fraud
Périodique
Journal of Management Control
Auteur⸱e⸱s
Hoos F., Bollmann G.
ISSN
2191-4761 (Print)
2191-477X (Electronic)
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
2012
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
23
Pages
115-132
Langue
anglais
Résumé
Recent legislations oblige organizations to monitor the effectiveness of internal control mechanisms that are necessary to prevent fraud. However, little is known about the effectiveness of different internal controls. We investigate whether the duty to sign work results-one of the most prominent internal control mechanisms-is effective to prevent fraud under different superior instructions. We use a 2×2 between-subjects experimental design with accountability (duty to sign work results vs. no duty to sign) and superior instructions (with vs. without profit maximization cue) as independent variables. Both manipulations of superior instructions reminded people to respect accounting standards and principles but in one condition, an instruction to increase revenues was integrated as profit maximization cue. We expected this cue to trigger a profit maximization decision frame that increases the likelihood for fraudulent revenue recording. 58 managers from an executive MBA class participated in the experiment. We find that superior instructions interact with accountability. Fraudulent revenue recording was particularly observed when people received instructions to increase revenues and had to sign their work results. Consequently, fraudulent behavior can occur without pressure to commit fraud due to profit maximization cues that are communicated by a superior and despite implemented internal control mechanisms. We discuss possible implications of our results for the prevention of fraudulent behavior.
Mots-clé
Fraud · Accountability · Obedience · Internal audit · Internal controls · Effectiveness
Création de la notice
24/07/2012 9:19
Dernière modification de la notice
20/08/2019 15:43
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