IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jiaata/v34y2019icp69-90.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does group cohesion moderate auditors’ whistleblowing intentions?

Author

Listed:
  • Alleyne, Philmore
  • Haniffa, Roszaini
  • Hudaib, Mohammad

Abstract

Prior whistleblowing research documents various relationships between certain individual characteristics and the intention to report workplace irregularities (whistleblow). However, auditors are trained to work in teams and to make decisions in consultation with the group. We study the extent to which an individual auditor’s ethical judgment may be affected by the strength of group cohesiveness in the audit team. Our research extends prior studies on whistleblowing in the auditing context by examining the moderating effect of group cohesion on the relationship between several individual characteristics and whistleblowing intentions. Results based on survey data of 54 audit teams comprising 226 external auditors indicate significant relationships between nearly all individual characteristics (attitudes, perceived behavioral control, independence commitment and personal responsibility for reporting, and personal cost of reporting) and whistleblowing intentions. However, we find no significant relationship between desired moral approbation and whistleblowing intentions. Further, we find the presence of strong group cohesion reduces the tendency of whistle-blowing intentions of individuals with strong individual characteristics. Though further research is warranted, our study suggests the need for audit firms to assess both group cohesiveness and individual characteristics when assembling audit teams.

Suggested Citation

  • Alleyne, Philmore & Haniffa, Roszaini & Hudaib, Mohammad, 2019. "Does group cohesion moderate auditors’ whistleblowing intentions?," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 69-90.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jiaata:v:34:y:2019:i:c:p:69-90
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intaccaudtax.2019.02.004
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1061951819300321
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.intaccaudtax.2019.02.004?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Schultz, Jj & Johnson, Da & Morris, D & Dyrnes, S, 1993. "An Investigation Of The Reporting Of Questionable Acts In An International Setting," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31, pages 75-103.
    2. Armstrong, J. Scott & Overton, Terry S., 1977. "Estimating Nonresponse Bias in Mail Surveys," MPRA Paper 81694, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Eileen Taylor & Mary Curtis, 2010. "An Examination of the Layers of Workplace Influences in Ethical Judgments: Whistleblowing Likelihood and Perseverance in Public Accounting," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 93(1), pages 21-37, April.
    4. Thomas M. Jones & Lori Verstegen Ryan, 1997. "The Link Between Ethical Judgment and Action in Organizations: A Moral Approbation Approach," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 8(6), pages 663-680, December.
    5. Philmore Alleyne & Mohammad Hudaib & Roszaini Haniffa, 2018. "The Moderating Role of Perceived Organisational Support in Breaking the Silence of Public Accountants," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(3), pages 509-527, February.
    6. Mary Canning & Brendan O'Dwyer, 2001. "Professional accounting bodies' disciplinary procedures: accountable, transparent and in the public interest?," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(4), pages 725-749.
    7. Mary Curtis, 2006. "Are Audit-related Ethical Decisions Dependent upon Mood?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 68(2), pages 191-209, October.
    8. Conor O’Leary & Gladies Pangemanan, 2007. "The Effect of Groupwork on Ethical Decision-Making of Accountancy Students," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 75(3), pages 215-228, October.
    9. Sweeney, John T. & Roberts, Robin W., 1997. "Cognitive moral development and auditor independence," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 22(3-4), pages 337-352.
    10. Alleyne, Philmore & Hudaib, Mohammad & Pike, Richard, 2013. "Towards a conceptual model of whistle-blowing intentions among external auditors," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 10-23.
    11. Heungsik Park & John Blenkinsopp, 2009. "Whistleblowing as Planned Behavior – A Survey of South Korean Police Officers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 85(4), pages 545-556, April.
    12. Eddy Cardinaels & Yuping Jia, 2016. "How Audits Moderate the Effects of Incentives and Peer Behavior on Misreporting," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(1), pages 183-204, May.
    13. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    14. Philmore Alleyne, 2016. "The influence of organisational commitment and corporate ethical values on non-public accountants’ whistle-blowing intentions in Barbados," Journal of Applied Accounting Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 17(2), pages 190-210, May.
    15. Treviño, Linda Klebe & Butterfield, Kenneth D. & McCabe, Donald L., 1998. "The Ethical Context in Organizations: Influences on Employee Attitudes and Behaviors," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 8(3), pages 447-476, July.
    16. Shafer, William E., 2008. "Ethical climate in Chinese CPA firms," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(7-8), pages 825-835.
    17. Steven Kaplan, 2015. "Discussant Comment on Whistleblowing Intentions of Lower-Level Employees: The Effect of Reporting Channel, Bystanders, and Wrongdoer Power Status by Jingyu Gao, Robert Greenberg, Bernard Wong-On-Wing," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(1), pages 101-102, January.
    18. Jingyu Gao & Robert Greenberg & Bernard Wong-On-Wing, 2015. "Whistleblowing Intentions of Lower-Level Employees: The Effect of Reporting Channel, Bystanders, and Wrongdoer Power Status," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(1), pages 85-99, January.
    19. repec:ucp:bkecon:9780226316529 is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Olivier Herrbach, 2005. "The art of Compromise ? The individual and organisational legitimacy of "irregular auditing"," Post-Print halshs-00005479, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Muel Kaptein, 2022. "How Much You See Is How You Respond: The Curvilinear Relationship Between the Frequency of Observed Unethical Behavior and The Whistleblowing Intention," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(4), pages 857-875, February.
    2. Hengky Latan & Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour & Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour, 2021. "Social Media as a Form of Virtual Whistleblowing: Empirical Evidence for Elements of the Diamond Model," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 174(3), pages 529-548, December.
    3. Olayinka Erin & Omololu Adex Bamigboye, 2020. "Does whistleblowing framework influence earnings management? An empirical investigation," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 17(2), pages 111-122, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Philmore Alleyne & Mohammad Hudaib & Roszaini Haniffa, 2018. "The Moderating Role of Perceived Organisational Support in Breaking the Silence of Public Accountants," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(3), pages 509-527, February.
    2. Hengky Latan & Christian M. Ringle & Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour, 2018. "Whistleblowing Intentions Among Public Accountants in Indonesia: Testing for the Moderation Effects," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(2), pages 573-588, October.
    3. Derek Dalton & Robin Radtke, 2013. "The Joint Effects of Machiavellianism and Ethical Environment on Whistle-Blowing," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(1), pages 153-172, September.
    4. Verschuuren, Pim, 2020. "Whistleblowing determinants and the effectiveness of reporting channels in the international sports sector," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 142-154.
    5. Lee, Gladys & Xiao, Xinning, 2018. "Whistleblowing on accounting-related misconduct: A synthesis of the literature," Journal of Accounting Literature, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 22-46.
    6. Tabea Franziska Hirth-Goebel & Barbara E. Weißenberger, 2019. "Management accountants and ethical dilemmas: How to promote ethical intention?," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 287-322, October.
    7. Barbara Culiberg & Katarina Katja Mihelič, 2017. "The Evolution of Whistleblowing Studies: A Critical Review and Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 146(4), pages 787-803, December.
    8. Alleyne, Philmore & Hudaib, Mohammad & Pike, Richard, 2013. "Towards a conceptual model of whistle-blowing intentions among external auditors," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 10-23.
    9. Hengky Latan & Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour & Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour, 2021. "To Blow or Not to Blow the Whistle: The Role of Rationalization in the Perceived Seriousness of Threats and Wrongdoing," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 517-535, March.
    10. Eileen Taylor & Mary Curtis, 2010. "An Examination of the Layers of Workplace Influences in Ethical Judgments: Whistleblowing Likelihood and Perseverance in Public Accounting," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 93(1), pages 21-37, April.
    11. Syahrul Ahmar Ahmad Author_Email: syahrul.ahmar@johor.uitm.edu.my & Malcolm Smith & Zubaidah Ismail & Rahimah Mohamed Yunos, 2011. "Internal Whistleblowing Intentions: Influence Of Internal Auditors’ Demographic And Individual Factors," Annual Summit on Business and Entrepreneurial Studies (ASBES 2011) Proceeding 2011-051-155, Conference Master Resources.
    12. El’fred Boo & Terence Ng & Premila Gowri Shankar, 2021. "Effects of Advice on Auditor Whistleblowing Propensity: Do Advice Source and Advisor Reassurance Matter?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 174(2), pages 387-402, November.
    13. Nadia Smaili & Paulina Arroyo, 2019. "Categorization of Whistleblowers Using the Whistleblowing Triangle," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(1), pages 95-117, June.
    14. Muel Kaptein, 2022. "How Much You See Is How You Respond: The Curvilinear Relationship Between the Frequency of Observed Unethical Behavior and The Whistleblowing Intention," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(4), pages 857-875, February.
    15. Timothy Hawkins & Michael Gravier & Edward Powley, 2011. "Public Versus Private Sector Procurement Ethics and Strategy: What Each Sector can Learn from the Other," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 103(4), pages 567-586, November.
    16. Elka Johansson & Peter Carey, 2016. "Detecting Fraud: The Role of the Anonymous Reporting Channel," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 139(2), pages 391-409, December.
    17. Sean Valentine & Gary Fleischman & Lynn Godkin, 2018. "Villains, Victims, and Verisimilitudes: An Exploratory Study of Unethical Corporate Values, Bullying Experiences, Psychopathy, and Selling Professionals’ Ethical Reasoning," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(1), pages 135-154, March.
    18. Gary M. Fleischman & Eric N. Johnson & Kenton B. Walker & Sean R. Valentine, 2019. "Ethics Versus Outcomes: Managerial Responses to Incentive-Driven and Goal-Induced Employee Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(4), pages 951-967, September.
    19. Hengky Latan & Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour & Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour, 2019. "Ethical Awareness, Ethical Judgment and Whistleblowing: A Moderated Mediation Analysis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 289-304, March.
    20. Queiroz, Maciel M. & Fosso Wamba, Samuel, 2019. "Blockchain adoption challenges in supply chain: An empirical investigation of the main drivers in India and the USA," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 70-82.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jiaata:v:34:y:2019:i:c:p:69-90. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-international-accounting-auditing-and-taxation .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.