The purpose of this study was to understand organizational change initiated in the public sector of Pakistan. This study investigated the case of reform initiative of Computerized driving licensing authority (CDLA) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Traffic Police (KPTP). Keeping in view the research questions, an in-depth study was conducted through the interpretivist research philosophy. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted from the top, middle and lower management (including permanent staff and project staff). Moreover, the secondary source of information was also used. For data analysis purpose, thematic networking technique was adopted as it helps in summarizing the whole set of information and also in presenting the codes in a simplified manner. Findings of the study show that change was planned and implemented in isolation from the internal stakeholders. Neither planned nor emergent change approach was adopted. New Public Management (NPM) features were evident, however, they were not planned properly. Moreover, the reasons for change, types and approach to change, causes of resistance to change, issues in implementation, the outcome of organizational change, and the role of technocrats were also identified. This study contributes theoretically by adding into the body of knowledge from the developing country perspective as well as by studying change in an autocratic system of police. Keywords: Organizational change, public sector reforms, thematic networks, new public management, qualitative methodology.

This article empirically explores the association between accrual earnings management (AEM) and real earnings management (REM) using a sample of 150 non-financial listed firms for the period 2008–2017. The AEM is measured through the original Jones model (1991) and Dechow et al. (1995) model, whereas REM is measured through Roychowdhury’s (2006) model. For empirical analysis, the study estimates simultaneous equations by using ordinary least square (OLS) and the two-stage least square techniques (2SLS). The result of the analysis indicates that there is a negative and significant relationship between AEM and REM, suggesting that Pakistani listed firms employ AEM and REM as a substitute to achieve earnings targets. The results of the study are valuable for auditors and regulators to contemplate, govern and legalize suitable guidelines to enhance the transparency in the financial reporting quality.

This paper examines whether ownership structure improve the financial reporting quality. We built on two different econometric techniques including Feasible Generalized Least Square (FGLS) and Panel Corrected Standard error Model (PCSE) by using a sample of 150 non-financial firms listed on Pakistan Stock exchange for the period of 2008-2017. The results propose that institutional ownership and as well as managerial ownership are negatively related to real earnings manipulation, which implies that both these types of ownership structure act as a best monitoring mechanism in reducing real earnings manipulation and thus enhancing the financial reporting quality. Whereas, state ownership and family ownership are positively associated to real earnings manipulation, which suggest that family and state ownerships engage in real earnings manipulation and thus reducing the financial reporting quality. Overall results supports the alignment hypothesis, entrenchment effect and efficient monitoring hypothesis of the agency theory. The results of the study provide practical implication for investors and policymakers in understanding the role of ownership on financial reporting quality.

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