Towards a general model of stakeholders’ commitment to accounting change

Alexandra Fontes, Ana Paula Silva and Lúcia Lima Rodrigues

Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management, 2025, vol. 22, issue 4-5, 473-508

Abstract: PurposeThis paper intends to develop a model to assess stakeholders’ perceptions of accounting change processes, drawing from Fontes et al.’s (2016) preliminary framework. In addition, it provides a comprehensive analysis of stakeholders’ perceptions regarding the transition of Portuguese unlisted non-financial companies to an International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)-based model.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed model is based on a grounded theory approach to a longitudinal qualitative study conducted in Portugal, consisting of 84 interviews with the primary targets of an IFRS-based system: 42 interviews before its adoption, in 2009, and another 42 after formal adoption, in 2017.FindingsAmong the main findings is the embracing of the concept of commitment, which consists of a dynamic process dependent on several causal conditions, strategies and contextual factors of different natures. Taken as a whole, the findings demonstrate the IFRS model’s legitimate role in generating commitment, even under circumstances where the anticipated impact on the accounting information is negative or neutral.Practical implicationsThe study findings are significant for the IASB, European Union and countries’ accounting standard-setters as they provide relevant insights to improve the future of the global process of accounting convergence.Originality/valueBy adopting a grounded theory strategy, this study develops Fontes et al.’s (2016) preliminary theoretical construction based on the integration of several streams of literature, addressing a gap in accounting literature. Such an improved theoretical framework provides a valuable basis for studying stakeholders’ commitment to accounting change in different national contexts.

Keywords: IFRS; Portugal; Accounting change; Commitment; Grounded theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:qrampp:qram-11-2023-0220

DOI: 10.1108/QRAM-11-2023-0220

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