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Internal Control and Operational Efficiency

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  • Qiang Cheng
  • Beng Wee Goh
  • Jae B. Kim

Abstract

In this study, we examine whether internal control over financial reporting affects firm operational efficiency. We find that operational efficiency, derived from frontier analysis, is significantly lower among firms with material weaknesses in internal control relative to firms without such weaknesses. We also find that the remediation of material weaknesses leads to an improvement in operational efficiency. Additional analyses indicate that the negative effect of material weaknesses on operational efficiency is stronger for firms with a greater demand for higher quality information for decision making, for weaknesses that are deemed to be more severe, and to a certain extent, for smaller firms. Overall, our study extends the literature by presenting systematic evidence on the effect of effective internal control on operational efficiency and informs the debate over the costs and benefits of the internal control reporting requirements under the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002. Les auteurs se demandent si le contrôle interne exercé sur l'information financière influe sur l'efficience de l'exploitation de l'entreprise. Ils constatent que l'efficience de l'exploitation, évaluée selon la méthode de l'analyse des frontières, est sensiblement moins élevée chez les entreprises dont le contrôle interne présente d'importantes déficiences par rapport à celles qui ne présentent pas ces déficiences. Ils observent également que le fait de remédier aux déficiences importantes engendre une amélioration de l'efficience de l'exploitation. Des analyses supplémentaires indiquent que l'incidence négative des déficiences importantes sur l'efficience de l'exploitation est plus marquée dans le cas des entreprises à l'égard desquelles l'exigence d'information de qualité supérieure à des fins décisionnelles est plus élevée, dans celui de déficiences jugées plus sérieuses et, dans une certaine mesure, chez les entreprises plus petites. De façon générale, l'étude enrichit la documentation en établissant un lien systématique entre l'efficacité du contrôle interne et l'efficience de l'exploitation, et elle alimente la réflexion sur les coûts et les avantages des obligations d'information sur le contrôle interne auxquelles la Loi Sarbanes‐Oxley de 2002 assujettit les entreprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiang Cheng & Beng Wee Goh & Jae B. Kim, 2018. "Internal Control and Operational Efficiency," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(2), pages 1102-1139, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:coacre:v:35:y:2018:i:2:p:1102-1139
    DOI: 10.1111/1911-3846.12409
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Hanwen & Yang, Daoguang & Zhang, Joseph H. & Zhou, Haiyan, 2020. "Internal controls, risk management, and cash holdings," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    2. Tu Thanh Hoai & Nguyen Phong Nguyen, 2022. "Internal Control Systems and Performance of Emerging Market Firms: The Moderating Roles of Leadership Consistency and Quality," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, September.
    3. Yousefi, Hamed & Yung, Kenneth & Najand, Mohammad, 2023. "From low resource slack to inflexibility: The share price effect of operational efficiency," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    4. Ma, Wentao & Li, Wanyun, 2024. "Blockchain technology and internal control effectiveness," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    5. Wasswa Asaph Senoga, 2023. "The Effect of Accountability, Transparency, And Integrity of Church Leaders on Fraud Prevention in The Management of Church Funds," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(1), pages 1388-1409, January.
    6. Cianci, Anna M. & Convery, Amanda M. & Evans, Mark E. & Hughen, Linda & Werner, Edward M., 2021. "The impact of costly regulation on R&D investment levels and productivity," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    7. Hossain, Ashrafee & Hossain, Takdir & Jha, Anand & Mougoué, Mbodja, 2023. "Credit ratings and social capital," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    8. Imen Derouiche & Riadh Manita & Anke Muessig, 2021. "Risk disclosure and firm operational efficiency," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 297(1), pages 115-145, February.
    9. Liangcheng Wang & Yining Dai & Yuye Ding, 2019. "Internal Control and SMEs’ Sustainable Growth: The Moderating Role of Multiple Large Shareholders," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-14, December.
    10. Biehl, Henrike & Bleibtreu, Christopher & Stefani, Ulrike, 2024. "The real effects of financial reporting: Evidence and suggestions for future research," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    11. Lei Zheng & Akira Omori & Jin Cao & Xuemeng Guo, 2023. "Environmental Regulation and Corporate Environmental Performance: Evidence from Chinese Carbon Emission Trading Pilot," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, May.
    12. Zhang, Guangyue & Atasoy, Hilal & Vasarhelyi, Miklos A., 2022. "Continuous monitoring with machine learning and interactive data visualization: An application to a healthcare payroll process," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    13. Chunhua Xin & Xiaolu Hao & Lu Cheng, 2022. "Do Environmental Administrative Penalties Affect Audit Fees? Results from Multiple Econometric Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-25, April.
    14. Yang, Hefan & Liu, Xilu & Meng, Yao & Feng, Baoyi & Chen, Zhijun, 2024. "Digital transformation and the allocation of decision-making rights within business groups – Empirical evidence from China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    15. Inder K. Khurana & Hoyoun Kyung, 2021. "Internal control material weakness and CEO recruitment," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(9-10), pages 1940-1987, October.
    16. Yin, Zihan & Yan, Chao & Li, Zai, 2024. "Can CSR mitigate negative regional public sentiment? Evidence from major violent crimes in China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 332-347.
    17. Choi, Dongjoon & Lee, Hansol & Lee, Ho-Young & Park, Hyun-Young, 2021. "The association between human resource investment in IT controls over financial reporting and investment efficiency," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    18. Osswald, Benjamin, 2018. "Corporate tax planning and firms' information environment," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 236, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    19. Oliver Henk, 2020. "Internal control through the lens of institutional work: a systematic literature review," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 31(3), pages 239-273, September.
    20. Todd D. Kravet & Sarah E. McVay & David P. Weber, 2018. "Costs and benefits of internal control audits: evidence from M&A transactions," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1389-1423, December.
    21. Connelly, Brian L. & Shi, Wei & Cheng, Xin & Yin, Cheng, 2021. "Short Sellers: A screening theory perspective on B2B relationships," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 393-404.
    22. Mai Dao & Trung Pham & Hongkang Xu, 2022. "Internal control effectiveness and trade credit," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 59(4), pages 1423-1452, November.
    23. Brent Lao & Sheng Yi, 2021. "Financial misreporting and peer firms' operational efficiency," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(1), pages 387-413, March.
    24. Peiqing Zhu & Jianbo Song, 2021. "The Role of Internal Control in Firms’ Coping with the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, June.

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