Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to outline an agenda for researching the relationship between technology-enabled networks – such as social media and big data – and the accounting function. In doing so, it links the contents of an unfolding area research with the papers published in this special issue of Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal. Design/methodology/approach: The paper surveys the existing literature, which is still in its infancy, and proposes ways in which to frame early and future research. The intention is not to offer a comprehensive review, but to stimulate and conversation. Findings: The authors review several existing studies exploring technology-enabled networks and highlight some of the key aspects featuring social media and big data, before offering a classification of existing research efforts, as well as opportunities for future research. Three areas of investigation are identified: new performance indicators based on social media and big data; governance of social media and big data information resources; and, finally, social media and big data’s alteration of information and decision-making processes. Originality/value: The authors are currently experiencing a technological revolution that will fundamentally change the way in which organisations, as well as individuals, operate. It is claimed that many knowledge-based jobs are being automated, as well as others transformed with, for example, data scientists ready to replace even the most qualified accountants. But, of course, similar claims have been made before and therefore, as academics, the authors are called upon to explore the impact of these technology-enabled networks further. This paper contributes by starting a debate and speculating on the possible research agendas ahead
This paper investigates voluntary intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) by listed Hong Kong companies. It uses data taken from the years 1992, 1998 and 2002 to give a longitudinal account of voluntary ICD. Company size and industry effects on voluntary ICD are tested, as are the effects of time and level of disclosure on the financial success of a company. We find that levels of voluntary ICD are low but increase over time. Size and industry effects are found, while company financial success is positively correlated with the voluntary disclosure. These findings have implications for policy formulation and practice in relation to the reporting of intellectual capital.
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