What Makes Data Possible? A Sociotechnical View on Structured Data Innovations

2021 | HICSS | Citations: 12

Authors: Aaltonen, Aleksi; Penttinen, Esko

Abstract: Drawing from the theory of digital objects, this paper examines the distinction ... Expand

Abstract: Drawing from the theory of digital objects, this paper examines the distinction between structured and unstructured data as carriers of facts. We argue that data do not ‘have’ a structure but are made by a structure that confers data their capacity to represent contextual facts. We employ a case vignette involving XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) and its use in statutory financial reporting to illustrate and explore the sociotechnical nature of data and to describe what we call data innovations: new valuable ways to render phenomena as data. We find that data structure is best viewed as a matter that is relative to a purpose in a context. Theorizing data from a sociotechnical perspective could evolve to provide, in effect, the material science of digital economy. Collapse

Topics: electronic data interchange accounting domain-specific language innovation management information reporting system

Methods: natural language processing data modeling design science database modeling

Theories: theory of digital objects

Reporting Technologies and Textual Readability: Evidence from the XBRL Mandate

2021 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 0

Authors: Li, Xitong; Zhu, Hongwei; Zuo, Luo

Abstract: Financial reporting technologies can significantly affect how firms construct an ... Expand

Abstract: Financial reporting technologies can significantly affect how firms construct and disseminate quantitative and qualitative disclosures. Leveraging the opportunity created by the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) mandate in the United States, we use a difference-in-differences approach to examine whether and how a firm’s XBRL adoption affects the readability of its textual disclosures. We find that the initial adopters’ HTML-formatted annual reports become harder to read after the XBRL mandate. Further analysis reveals that this effect is concentrated among adopters with more quantitative disclosures, those with smaller firm size, and those with a higher level of financial complexity. Importantly, we show that managers’ reduced attention to preparing HTML-formatted annual reports, rather than increased disclosures, is likely the explanation for this decrease in textual readability. We also find that the negative effect on textual readability persists at least in the subsequent year. Taken together, our results suggest that although XBRL can standardize numerical disclosures, its initial adoption can divert managerial attention and result in reduced readability of textual disclosures. Collapse

Topics: electronic data interchange accounting missing data open source information reporting system

Methods: financial report experimental group longitudinal research difference in differences descriptive statistic

Theories: lemon market theory

Financial Concept Element Mapper (FinCEM) for XBRL interoperability: Utilizing the M3 Plus method

2017 | Decision Support Systems | Citations: 1

Authors: Etudo, Ugochukwu; Yoon, Victoria; Liu, Dapeng

Abstract: The use of eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) to represent financial ... Expand

Abstract: The use of eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) to represent financial reports (particularly 10-K and 10-Q filings) is a requirement of all public companies in the United States. The intention of the XBRL mandate is to streamline the financial reporting pipeline by providing full automaticity with respect to the collection, collation and analysis of financial information on the Web. However, the current lack of acceptable XBRL interoperability prevents the realization of the mandate's potential. This paper reports on a comprehensive solution to this problematic situation. The proposed design artifact, called FinCEM, is undergirded by channel theory and seeks to capture and leverage the semantics of XBRL calculation linkbases towards improved XBRL interoperability. The design artifact is instantiated and evaluated against XBRL filings from companies included in the S&P 100. The artifact, which operates automatically and without human intervention, is shown to provide significant improvements over alternative approaches as it attains high accuracy with respect to its core information retrieval task. Collapse

Topics: electronic data interchange knowledge representation accounting web technology Java

Methods: ontological modelling machine learning design artifact experiment design theory

Theories: flow theory

Discovering work prioritisation patterns from event logs

2017 | Decision Support Systems | Citations: 4

Authors: Suriadi, Suriadi; Wynn, Moe T.; Xu, Jingxin; van der Aalst, Wil M. P.; ter Hofstede, Arthur H. M.

Abstract: Business process improvement initiatives typically employ various process analys ... Expand

Abstract: Business process improvement initiatives typically employ various process analysis techniques, including evidence-based analysis techniques such as process mining, to identify new ways to streamline current business processes. While plenty of process mining techniques have been proposed to extract insights about the way in which activities within processes are conducted, techniques to understand resource behaviour are limited. At the same time, an understanding of resources behaviour is critical to enable intelligent and effective resource management - an important factor which can significantly impact overall process performance. The presence of detailed records kept by today's organisations, including data about who, how, what, and when various activities were carried out by resources, open up the possibility for real behaviours of resources to be studied. This paper proposes an approach to analyse one aspect of resource behaviour: the manner in which a resource prioritises his/her work. The proposed approach has been formalised, implemented, and evaluated using a number of synthetic and real datasets. Collapse

Topics: process mining open source business process management Java information reporting system

Methods: event log experiment case study cross sectional research business process modeling

Developing a Serious Game for Business Information Visualization

2016 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 9

Authors: Grund, Christian; Schelkle, Michael

Abstract: Business information visualization (BIV) is increasingly recognized by companies ... Expand

Abstract: Business information visualization (BIV) is increasingly recognized by companies as being essential to avoid threats and realize opportunities. However, many companies still do not seem to know how to improve their BIV. Serious games appear to be a promising approach to convey this knowledge. To investigate the question whether using serious games to improve BIV skills is beneficial, they should be empirically evaluated. However, we could not identify such games in our literature review. The main goal of this study is therefore to fill this gap by contributing a serious game that aims to improve players’ BIV skills. Within the game, players compete across several minigames that each address one specific guideline for achieving adequate BIV. A software prototype of the game is developed using the humancentred design process. After its development will have finished, areas of application and evaluation will include education as well as employee training in companies. Collapse

Topics: human centered design video game usability human computer interaction information reporting system

Methods: design artifact design methodology personal interview design process literature study

The impact of XBRL adoption in PR China

2014 | Decision Support Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Liu, Chunhui; Luo, Xin (Robert); Sia, Choon Ling; O'Farrell, Grace; Teo, Hock Hai

Abstract: EXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) is expected to develop into the gl ... Expand

Abstract: EXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) is expected to develop into the global data standard for business financial reporting with the potential to change the way that decisions are made. Thus, understanding its value realization in the proper business context is a vitally important issue. This study examines the impact of initial mandatory adoption of XBRL on organizations' cost of capital and transaction costs in PR China. As transaction cost theory predicts, the uncertainty related to the unproven technology increases transaction costs and the cost of capital during the early adoption period. Implications have immediate benefits for regulators, filing organizations, information consumers, the accounting profession, and other stakeholders. Collapse

Topics: electronic data interchange IS value anonymity information reporting system technology adoption

Methods: Mann Whitney U test regression analysis method cross sectional research descriptive statistic

Theories: transaction cost economics

The impact of early XBRL adoption on analysts’ forecast accuracy - empirical evidence from China

2014 | Electronic Markets | Citations: 0

Authors: Liu, Chunhui; Yao, Lee Jian; Sia, Choon Ling; Wei, Kwok Kee

Abstract: Developing common standards, such as eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XB ... Expand

Abstract: Developing common standards, such as eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), to smoothen information sharing in the value chain is considered the leading issue for releasing the potential of e-business. Data standards such as XBRL play a critical role in an increasingly networked environment. Despite promises of XBRL to improve data accuracy, few empirical studies have tested the impact of early XBRL adoption on the quality of information. Theories explaining information technology (IT) productivity paradox indicate that value realization from IT innovations may experience time lag due to the need for technology refinement and diffusion. This study examines the impact of early adoption of XBRL on analysts' forecast accuracy with empirical data of Chinese firms. The uncertainty related to the unproven technology, such as information errors, has decreased analysts' forecast accuracy during the early adoption period among firms in an economy with little public information on listed firms. Our findings have practical implications that will facilitate the quality improvement of financial information in a networked business environment. Our findings highlight the importance of quality assurance and policy enforcement for value realization from XBRL adoption to regulators, filers, information consumers, the accounting profession and other stakeholders. Collapse

Topics: electronic data interchange accounting information reporting system

Methods: descriptive statistic Mann Whitney U test

The association between the mandatory adoption of XBRL and the performance of listed state-owned enterprises and non-state-owned enterprises in China

2014 | Information & Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Wang, Tawei; Wen, Ching Yao; Seng, Jia-Lang

Abstract: This paper investigates the impact of the mandatory adoption of the eXtensible B ... Expand

Abstract: This paper investigates the impact of the mandatory adoption of the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) on the performance of listed state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and non-SOEs. Building on institutional theory, we hypothesize and determine that non-SOEs benefit from the adoption of XBRL by operating more effectively, which results in better performance. Due to the institutional factors, for SOEs, financial report users still need much more information in addition to financial reports before they can make appropriate decisions. Implications on the use of XBRL-formatted financial reporting information for international business with the existence of SOEs in China are discussed herein. Collapse

Topics: electronic data interchange accounting organizational productivity database system corporate governance

Methods: descriptive statistic financial report robustness check regression analysis method experimental group

Theories: institutional theory

The Impact of Executive Team Competencies on XBRL Aoption

2014 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Boritz, J. Efrim; Efendi, Jap; Lim, Jee-Hae; Tan, Bernard C. Y.

Abstract: The issue of determinants of a search-facilitating technology such as “Extended ... Expand

Abstract: The issue of determinants of a search-facilitating technology such as “Extended Business Reporting Language (XBRL)” has drawn considerable attention from the global academic community. This research focuses on executive team characteristics to investigate their association with the voluntary adoption of XBRL technology beyond the effect of firm characteristics. We investigated whether these characteristics (information system- and/or business/financial related- competencies) within the executive team affected the quality of the XBRL-tagged filings. Our findings demonstrate higher levels of information systems competencies were positively associated with early adoption of XBRL; whereas, higher levels of other business related-competencies (e.g. financial expertise) were negatively associated with it. Furthermore, IS competency was negatively associated with the technical aspects of XBRL. These results extend the literature on the influence of management on corporate decisions and can be used as a guide for investigating voluntary adoption of other reporting technologies, and further inform regulators and users of XBRL. Collapse

Topics: electronic data interchange accounting IT skill innovation management IT manager

Methods: probit regression logistic regression descriptive statistic propensity score method F-test

Digital business reporting standards: mapping the battle in France

2013 | European Journal of Information Systems | Citations: 4

Authors: Guilloux, Véronique; Locke, Joanne; Lowe, Alan

Abstract: Government agencies use information technology extensively to collect business d ... Expand

Abstract: Government agencies use information technology extensively to collect business data for regulatory purposes. Data communication standards form part of the infrastructure with which businesses must conform to survive. We examine the development of, and emerging competition between, two open business reporting data standards adopted by government bodies in France; Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport (EDIFACT) (incumbent) and eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) (challenger). The research explores whether an incumbent may be displaced in a setting in which the contest is unresolved. Latour's translation map is applied to trace the enrollments and detours in the battle. We find that regulators play an important role as allies in the development of the standards. The antecedent networks in which the standards are located embed strong beliefs that become barriers to collaboration and fuel the battle. One of the key differentiating attitudes is whether speed is more important than legitimacy. The failure of collaboration encourages competition. The newness of XBRL's technology just as regulators need to respond to an economic crisis and its adoption by French regulators not using EDIFACT create an opportunity for the challenger to make significant network gains over the longer term. ANT also highlights the importance of the preservation of key components of EDIFACT in ebXML. Collapse

Topics: electronic data interchange information reporting system tax accounting electronic business extensible markup language

Methods: qualitative interview case study theory development theoretical contribution