Australian Business Deans Council Research Articles

Journey of financial inclusion: a systematic literature review and conceptual framework for future research

PurposeThis article provides a systematic literature review on financial inclusion, offering a comprehensive overview of research publications. It also develops a conceptual framework to outline future research objectives, enhancing understanding and identifying key areas for further investigation.Design/methodology/approachThe data extraction concentrates on facts and figures about financial inclusion from 2005 to 2024. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), the study reviews and synthesizes insights from 115 pertinent articles published in 77 high-ranked journals, indexed across three academic databases: Scopus, Web of Science (WoS) and the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC).FindingsPrevious research on financial inclusion demonstrates that out of 115 articles, 50 were published between 2020 and 2024 and 43 between 2015 and 2019. This indicates the increasing trend of research on financial inclusion. Another interesting point is that researchers mostly use regression techniques to analyze the relationship between variables. Notably, reviewing the selected literature is valuable for researchers and practitioners interested in financial inclusion. It synthesizes the existing knowledge on the topic, identifies research gaps and suggests a conceptual framework to direct future studies.Originality/valueThis unique study contributes original value to the financial inclusion literature through a systematic literature review. By synthesizing existing knowledge and identifying research gaps, it presents a novel framework that offers new perspectives and highlights areas for future research, advancing the understanding of financial inclusion.

A TCCM-Based Review of Consumer Behaviour Towards Digital Voice Assistants and Future Research Agenda

This Systematic Literature Review explores the evolving landscape of consumer behaviour towards DVAs using the TCCM (Theory-Context-Characteristics-Methodology) framework. Through a comprehensive analysis of 64 research papers sourced from the Scopus database, indexed in the ABDC (Australian Business Deans Council) category list, and published until December 2023, we uncover pivotal themes and significant knowledge gaps in the current body of research. The findings show that most studies on consumer-DVA interactions are empirical in nature, predominantly focused on the shopping and hospitality sectors, and grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) frameworks. Applying the TCCM framework, this paper uncovers fertile ground for future research, highlighting opportunities for further exploration and development. Building on the identified research gaps and our insights, we present integrated frameworks on consumer behaviour towards DVAs. Additionally, we provide actionable recommendations for DVA researchers, developers, and marketers, highlighting critical areas for future research, such as integrating sentiment analysis and emotional recognition capabilities. We also propose tailored strategies, including customizable DVA personalities and engaging voice experiences, to enhance consumer engagement and brand loyalty. The paper concludes with a summary of limitations and key findings.

What Earnings Management Has to Do with Corporate Social Responsibility

With the continuing rise of attention towards societal challenges like, e.g., climate change, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) becomes an increasingly important topic for companies. While there is no question that CSR activities are on the rise, the connection towards Earnings Management in companies is less clear. Therefore, this research paper not only aims to provide an up-to-date picture on the literature addressing this interconnection, but also provides a profound base for a more solid theoretical framework. Thus, it delivers a critical basis for further empirical analyses in this field. In order to illustrate this interconnection between those two topics, this paper presents an SLR analysis of articles published in the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) or Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC), focusing on empirical analyses of CSR performance and Earnings Management. Overall, it can be stated that CSR performance has a negative influence on Accrual-Based Earnings Management, while findings on the influence on Real Earnings Management are contradicting. Furthermore, the relationship of CSR performance and Accrual-Based Earnings Management/Real Earnings Management is especially vague when the used methods are moderated by different variables such as family involvement or managerial entrenchment. While the connection between Accrual-Based Earnings Management and CSR performance is widely covered in the existing literature, the relationship between Real Earnings Management and CSR performance is clearly less outlined. This research paper makes key contributions to the existing literature, as it combines and structures results of conducted studies during the last ten years and elaborates on the differences on commonalities of the results. This analysis also suggests that other factors that possibly influence Earnings Management or CSR should be included in a future research model for upcoming analyses. It places the findings of earlier studies into the context of the Ethical Approach, creating a roadmap for the future.

The application of machine learning to study fraud in the accounting literature

PurposeThis study aims to objectively synthesize the volume of accounting literature on financial statement fraud (FSF) using a systematic literature review research method (SLRRM). This paper analyzes the vast FSF literature based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. These criteria filter articles that are present in the accounting fraud domain and are published in peer-reviewed quality journals based on Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) journal ranking. Lastly, a reverse search, analyzing the articles' abstracts, further narrows the search to 88 peer-reviewed articles. After examining these 88 articles, the results imply that the current literature is shifting from traditional statistical approaches towards computational methods, specifically machine learning (ML), for predicting and detecting FSF. This evolution of the literature is influenced by the impact of micro and macro variables on FSF and the inadequacy of audit procedures to detect red flags of fraud. The findings also concluded that A* peer-reviewed journals accepted articles that showed a complete picture of performance measures of computational techniques in their results. Therefore, this paper contributes to the literature by providing insights to researchers about why ML articles on fraud do not make it to top accounting journals and which computational techniques are the best algorithms for predicting and detecting FSF.Design/methodology/approachThis paper chronicles the cluster of narratives surrounding the inadequacy of current accounting and auditing practices in preventing and detecting Financial Statement Fraud. The primary objective of this study is to objectively synthesize the volume of accounting literature on financial statement fraud. More specifically, this study will conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) to examine the evolution of financial statement fraud research and the emergence of new computational techniques to detect fraud in the accounting and finance literature.FindingsThe storyline of this study illustrates how the literature has evolved from conventional fraud detection mechanisms to computational techniques such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The findings also concluded that A* peer-reviewed journals accepted articles that showed a complete picture of performance measures of computational techniques in their results. Therefore, this paper contributes to the literature by providing insights to researchers about why ML articles on fraud do not make it to top accounting journals and which computational techniques are the best algorithms for predicting and detecting FSF.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature by providing insights to researchers about why the evolution of accounting fraud literature from traditional statistical methods to machine learning algorithms in fraud detection and prediction.

Bibliometric analysis on positive work–family interface

PurposeResearch on work–family interface (WFI) is almost two decades old. It is widely believed that the archetype of work and family after COVID has changed. Post-COVID emphases and outcomes would be different. Accordingly, a bibliometric analysis of the research would help to understand the state of the research and positive WFI patterns that guide further investigations. The present study used measures such as journals, citations, etc. to determine the bibliometric patterns from 2003 to August 2023 using VOSviewer software.Design/methodology/approachData were obtained from Scopus. 1,601 works were found in the first search. This figure was narrowed down to 525 based on a few conditions. The most commonly referenced journals, sources, authors, etc. were used for the analysis.FindingsResearch on positive WFI has increased in recent years. The total number of articles in positive WFI was 525 between 2003 and August 2023. Greenhaus, Powell and Carlson were the most cited authors in this field. Carlson had produced the highest number of documents in WFI. Most WFI authors focused on antecedents, treating positive WFI as the outcome variable.Research limitations/implicationsThis is the first bibliometric analysis conducted on a positive WFI, although there have been a few on work–family conflict. However, other sources such as the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) and Web of Science may throw different results on journals, citations, etc. Hence, future researchers might emphasize if the same results originate from data in other databases. Other analytical tools may be used in the place of VOSviewer.Originality/valueThis is the first article on bibliometric analysis of positive WFI. This paper’s primary objective is to understand the patterns of literature available on positive WFI and its significance comprehensively.

Research on extended external reporting assurance: An update on recent developments

AbstractWe review the recent literature on the assurance of Extended External Reporting published since the review published in 2021 in the Journal of International Financial Management & Accounting. Our review includes 50 articles published between 2020 and August 2023 across 30 journals ranked A*, A, or B on the Australian Business Deans Council 2022 Journal Quality List. We find that the literature continues to be dominated by positivist studies investigating the determinants and consequences of assurance. Studies on determinants examine carbon assurance, ownership, governance, and institutional themes. The consequences studies included in our review examine reporting‐related outcomes and investors' decisions. Other (qualitative) studies we reviewed examine issues such as assurance providers seeking meaning in their work and their attempts to promote assurance beyond merely a verification tool. We highlight several avenues for future research that could inform the work of standard setters and regulators.

Dancing with the devil: the use and perceptions of academic journal ranking lists in the management field

Purpose This study explores the use and perceptions of scholarly journal ranking lists in the management field based on stakeholders’ lived experience.Design/methodology/approach The results are based on a survey of 463 active knowledge management and intellectual capital researchers.Findings Journal ranking lists have become an integral part of contemporary management academia: 33% and 37% of institutions and individual scholars employ journal ranking lists, respectively. The Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) Journal Quality List and the UK Academic Journal Guide (AJG) by the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) are the most frequently used national lists, and their influence has spread far beyond the national borders. Some institutions and individuals create their own journal rankings.Practical implications Management researchers employ journal ranking lists under two conditions: mandatory and voluntary. The forced mode of use is necessary to comply with institutional pressure that restrains the choice of target outlets. At the same time, researchers willingly consult ranking lists to advance their personal career, maximize their research exposure, learn about the relative standing of unfamiliar journals, and direct their students. Scholars, academic administrators, and policymakers should realize that journal ranking lists may serve as a useful tool when used appropriately, in particular when individuals themselves decide how and for what purpose to employ them to inform their research practices.Originality/value The findings reveal a journal ranking lists paradox: management researchers are aware of the limitations of ranking lists and their deleterious impact on scientific progress; however, they generally find journal ranking lists to be useful and employ them.

Stock market volatility: a systematic review

PurposeThe increasing globalization and technological advancements have increased the information spillover on stock markets from various variables. However, there is a dearth of a comprehensive review of how stock market volatility is influenced by macro and firm-level factors. Therefore, this study aims to fill this gap by systematically reviewing the major factors impacting stock market volatility.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a combination of bibliometric and systematic literature review techniques. A data set of 54 articles published in quality journals from the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) list is gathered from the Scopus database. This data set is used to determine the leading contributors and contributions. The content analysis of these articles sheds light on the factors influencing market volatility and the potential research directions in this subject area.FindingsThe findings show that researchers in this sector are becoming more interested in studying the association of stock markets with “cryptocurrencies” and “bitcoin” during “COVID-19.” The outcomes of this study indicate that most studies found oil prices, policy uncertainty and investor sentiments have a significant impact on market volatility. However, there were mixed results on the impact of institutional flows and algorithmic trading on stock volatility, and a consensus cannot be established. This study also identifies the gaps and paves the way for future research in this subject area.Originality/valueThis paper fills the gap in the existing literature by comprehensively reviewing the articles on major factors impacting stock market volatility highlighting the theoretical relationship and empirical results.

Surviving beyond expiry: a systematic literature review of zombie firms

PurposeThis paper reviews the literature on zombie firms to provide a holistic view by delineating their formation, impact, widespread nature, prevention and policy implications.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a systematic literature review methodology, in which 76 papers published in journals ranked on the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) 2022 list were reviewed. The study period was from 2000 to 2022.FindingsAmong the main findings, the widespread problems of zombie firms were evident. The authors found that consistent support, either in the form of government grants or a weak financial framework, was responsible for their formation. The suboptimal performance of factors of production, depressed job creation, low innovation and overall negative impact on economic activity are the consequences of zombification. This can be controlled by ensuring better bankruptcy codes, focused on government assistance, technology use and better due diligence by banks.Practical implicationsThis review serves as a reference point for future researchers as a cohesive and holistic study presenting a full picture of the problem, so that the proposed solutions are robust and tenable.Originality/valueThis review is among the initial attempts to comprehensively study published work on zombie firms in terms of analyzing their region-specific nature, with an emphasis on definition, causes, impact and prevention.

Online Consumer Stickiness: A Systematic Review

Despite the growing interest of researchers and practitioners in figuring out why users stick to some websites and not others, the resulting scholarly work is still divergent, partial, and fragmented. Online stickiness plays a vertical role in consumer decision-making, so this research domain is still developing, and a comprehensive and critical overview of existing research on this topic is sorely needed. This paper seeks to establish a scientific foundation for future research on the subject matter by conducting a thorough evaluation of the literature on online consumer stickiness via publications in peer-reviewed academic journals in various domains. A systematic analysis of 53 articles from 32 journals listed in the Association of Business Schools (ABS) or Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) reveals a lack of consistent conceptual consistency and a conflict between stickiness’s antecedents and consequences in the online context.

High-Performance Work Systems in the Healthcare Industry: A Systematic Literature Review

This research study aims to unveil the key features of contemporary literature on high-performance work systems (HPWS) in the domain of healthcare by carrying out a systematic literature review of relevant scientific studies from existing literature published in top-rated journals (Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) listed). The article aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of theoretical foundations, concepts, level of the study, variables and recent trends in the area. The Scopus database is used to identify the scientific publications for this study. Based on the search query and inclusion & exclusion criteria, the short-listing process resulted in 72 articles published between 2006 and 2021. From the short-listed articles, the authors have identified 45 relevant studies connected to the HPWS area in the healthcare domain that was published in top-rated journals listed in ABDC. The authors have systematically analysed the selected studies. A critical review of the existing literature helped gather and present details relating to the theoretical framework referred to, intervening variables, performance outcomes, methodological concerns, etc., Also, research gaps have been identified and the avenues for future research are suggested. In addition to this, the authors have conducted a bibliometric analysis to check for the domain knowledge structure, trending topics and themes of HPWS research in the healthcare industry.

LOCUS OF CONTROL THEORY IN TREATING TOURIST BEHAVIOR: THE THEORY ROOTS AND RESEARCH DIRECTION IN DESTINATION BRANDING FIELD

We aim to shed light on this issue by reviewing the roots and development of the locus of control theory. Moreover, we will introduce how we can use this development, in theory, to provide a new research direction in the tourism service field. A theory-based review was conducted to investigate the locus of control theory roots and its potential implications in the tourism industry using the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) list to explore the current literature. We followed the PRISMA methodology to collect the data from the Scopus database as well as Google Scholar and ResearchGate. The study found that the locus of control theory has its roots in social psychology and has been developed over the years to explain individual differences in behavior and decision-making. In the tourism service field, we found that understanding the locus of control can help service providers tailor their services to meet the needs and expectations of different types of tourists. This will contribute to attribution literature in psychological aspects and tourism literature with a deep understanding of how tourists behave and interpret differently.

Social media influencer marketing: foundations, trends, and ways forward

AbstractThe increasing use and effectiveness of social media influencers in marketing have intrigued both academic scholars and industry professionals. To shed light on the foundations and trends of this contemporary phenomenon, this study undertakes a systematic literature review using a bibliometric-content analysis to map the extant literature where consumer behavior, social media, and influencer marketing are intertwined. Using 214 articles published in journals indexed by the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC), Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS), and Web of Science (WOS) from 2008 to 2021, this study unpacks the articles, journals, methods, theories, themes, and constructs (antecedents, moderators, mediators, and consequences) in extant research on social media influencer marketing. Noteworthily, the review highlighted that the major research streams in social media influencer marketing research involve parasocial interactions and relationships, sponsorship, authenticity, and engagement and influence. The review also revealed the prominent role of audience-, brand-, comparative-, content-, influencer-, social-, and technology-related factors in influencing how consumers react to social media influencer marketing. The insights derived from this one-stop, state-of-the-art review can help social media influencers and marketing scholars and professionals to recognize key characteristics and trends of social media influencer marketing, and thus, drive new research and social media marketing practices where social media influencers are employed and leveraged upon for marketing activities.

Understanding Family Business Internationalisation: A Systematic Literature Review with Thematic Lenses

This article is a systematic review and a critical examination of 61 journal articles (published from 1996 to 2019) on the family business internationalisation (FBI). The purpose of this article is to identify the key factors that have an impact on the FBI. The result of a systematic review of factors affecting the growth of FBIs is presented and utilises both the Australian Business Deans Council ranking and H-index to objectively demonstrate all the factors that can have an impact on family business to internationalise. The key findings reveal a total of five factors out of 108 factors, which were mentioned in minimum of four papers. Using the most influential articles identified in the analysis, the article concludes with six factors family ownership, role of networks, mindset of the family founder, cross-generational involvement, family involvement which needs to be controlled by family business if they want to achieve internationalisation.

Marketing Journal Rankings: Active Scholar Assessment

Abstract Journal rankings convey important information to researchers and influence processes related to promotion, remuneration, research funding, and resource allocation in academe. The present research uses direct responses from an international sample of 203 active marketing scholars in a web-based survey to endogenously rank 138 marketing journals by quality, awareness, and importance. We employ regression estimation with nested random journal-within-tier effects to comprehensively rank the marketing journals into four ordered tiers (A–D), and then in turn, subdivide journals in each tier, into “upper,” “middle,” and “lower” groups (e.g. Tier A: A+, A and A−). Our methodology, Active Scholar Assessment (ASA), produces an independent ranking of marketing journals that aggregates individual expert opinion regarding journals by researchers from 68 countries. Subsequently, we compare our ASA-developed marketing journal rankings and categories with prominent citation-based ranking systems (Scimago, Clarivate Analytics’ Journal Citation Reports, Association of Business Schools, and the Australian Business Deans Council) to demonstrate that the opinions of active scholars are comparatively more stable and capture additional information (that is not reflected by computations based solely on citations), and provide useful strategic information and direction to scholars.

Performance management in Africa: an agenda for research

PurposePerformance management (PM) remains one of the fundamental human resource practices in organisations today and is a dominant strategy adopted in managing employees. This paper aims to analyse extant research on PM conducted globally to inform research and practices in an African context.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review of 43 articles published in 22 journals ranked by the Australian Business Deans Council and Chartered Association of Business Schools was undertaken. The papers selected were limited to the past two decades (2001–2021) to focus primarily on contemporary practices.FindingsThe findings of this review indicate that PM continues to gain attention from African scholars and practitioners, though not as prominently as indicated within the broader global context. The review also exposed significant gaps in current research, including PM issues, theoretical or conceptual development and methodological approaches, which, if addressed, could inform future practices and research foci.Research limitations/implicationsThe primary limitations of this study are a focus on the most recent two decades of research into PM and the intention to direct learnings from this review of scholarly insight towards a focus solely on an African context. Thus, as interpretations of insights are based upon the perspective of how these can inform PM practices in Africa, a direct extrapolation of the findings to other contexts may not be appropriate.Practical implicationsThis review of research conducted into PM globally in the past two decades has identified limited contributions from within the African context. This lack of contextual understanding may well be affecting the adoption and creation of globally recognised PM practices in Africa. As such, there is an opportunity to understand better the complexities associated with PM by embracing theories and formulating, testing and refining existing models to consider performance issues at more profound levels of analysis within an African context.Originality/valueThis study presents insights into global trends in PM research and practices not previously explored, highlighting a need for more contextualised research to progress Africa beyond current theoretical, conceptual and methodological limitations.

Fintech: A content analysis of the finance and information systems literature.

The amount of research related to financial technologies (fintech) has grown rapidly since these modalities have been implemented. A review of this literature base will help identify the topics that have been explored and identify topics for further research. This research project collects, synthesizes, and analyzes both the research strategies (i.e., methodologies) and content (e.g., topics, focus, categories) of the literature, and then discusses an agenda for future research efforts. We searched for fintech research published in the last 20years and analyzed 146 articles published in Finance and 70 articles published in Information Systems (IS) during this period in their respective A*, A, and B journals in the 2019 Australian Business Deans Council list. We found an increasing level of activity during the most recent 6-year period and a biased distribution of fintech articles focused on exploratory methodologies. We also found several research strategies that were either underrepresented or absent from the pool of fintech research and identified several subject areas that need further exploration. We also created four fintech topic categories to organize and classify this diverse research stream.

A Master Conceptual Framework of Research in Halal Tourism

Halal tourism witnessed a significant growth during the second half of the decade ended on December 2020 with COVID19 pandemic. This expansion can be witnessed equally in academic research and Halal tourism industry. Keeping in view the phenomenal growth this research performs review of the very high quality research literature on Halal tourism to consolidate its findings and recommendations. It performs thematic analysis of 74 articles published between the period 2009 to 2020 i.e., up to before the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic, listed in the A* and A ranked journals of the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC). It consolidates research methodologies, themes, dependent/independent and mediating/moderating variables, which ultimately lead to a master conceptual framework of research. It highlights that the research on Halal tourism is in its developing stages, with more themes emerging in the recent years. It suggests that every country must reflect the blend of its own culture duly enveloped in the Shariah parameters. Finally, this review of literature highlights a nexus between Social values, tourism services and Islamic stipulations, as a way forward for research and developments in the Halal tourism research and industry.

Social media influencers and consumer engagement: A review and future research agenda

AbstractThe rise of social media influencers (SMIs) in the recent decade garnered wide interest from academicians and marketers. Academicians try to understand the effect of influencers on consumer behaviour, while marketers use influencers as part of their strategy to achieve marketing objectives. Although, plenty of practical and conceptual research is available in this area, literature reviews in the domain of SMIs and consumer engagement are scarce as it is still developing, and most of the studies have focused on these two concepts separately. In this study, the authors attempted to combine and understand how social media influencers affect consumers engagement. This systematic review of the literature offers a comprehensive view of previous research on social media influencers and consumer engagement. The study reviewed articles published in the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC), Scopus, and Web of Science indexed journals till 5 June 2021. To understand consumers' engagement with SMIs, authors identified and theorized the antecedents, decision and outcome of such engagement. It also discusses the influencer‐follower parasocial relationship on different social media platforms. The study proposes an integrated conceptual framework that can be further used to test and validate the impact of social media influencer's marketing efforts on consumer engagement. This framework also may serve as a foundation for marketers to develop effective influencer strategies for brand promotions. The review concludes the discussion by highlighting theories, methodology, and context of studies conducted by past researchers.

A Systematic Review of 50 Years of Human Resource Management Research in Bangladesh: Retrospective Reflections and Forward Trajectories

This article aims to determine the current status of human resource management (HRM) research in Bangladesh by reviewing papers published from 1971 to 2021 and offering recommendations for future research. An electronic search of the Scopus database was carried out using 17 keywords connected to HRM in combination with ‘Bangladesh’ and ‘Bangladeshi’. Finally, through a systematic literature review using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA), 25 empirical articles published in journals listed in the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) ranking were carefully chosen for the present review to ensure they were of good quality. This review demonstrates several distinct features of Bangladeshi HRM research conducted so far. First, no Bangladeshi HRM-based study has been published in A*-ranked journals in the ABDC ranking. Second, Bangladesh-based HRM studies have mostly employed self-reported questionnaires. Third, directors/heads of departments/managers/supervisors are the primary data sources in Bangladesh-based studies. Fourth, no longitudinal study has been conducted in Bangladesh-based HRM research in the last 50 years. Despite some limitations, the present review makes a notable contribution to the field of HRM in Bangladesh by identifying existing research gaps, as this is the first extensive and systematic review of HRM research in Bangladesh. Additionally, this study provides future research directions that could contribute to industrial development, economic growth, and HRM knowledge advancement and dissemination in Bangladesh.