EFFECT OF ETHICAL ACCOUNTING PRACTICES ON ORGANIZATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1.          BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

In recent years, widespread moral lapses and corporate financial scandals have brought the topic to the forefront. Corporations are rushing to adopt codes of ethics, strengthen ethical and legal safeguards, and develop socially responsible policies. Every decade sees its share of corporate, political, and social villains, but the pervasiveness of ethical lapses in the early 2000s was astounding.

 Over the years the term ethics in organizational performance has long been associated with management scholars and business leaders around the world. There is a broad agreement that as a matter of corporate policy, every organization should strive to be committed in a manner that is ethically transparent. The concept of ethics simply deals with how decisions affect other people and organization. One of the unique features of most recognized trades and vocations including the highly regulated accounting profession is the existence of code of ethics which are the hallmarks of global best practices. The society evaluates the performance of professionals on the basis of both moral and technical codes. Adherence to these codes by the practitioners of the profession inspires confidence in the work of the professional by shareholders who depends on the auditor’s opinion as a means of evaluating the integrity of financial statements.

The huge and embarrassing corporate failures and high profile frauds in the last two decades has called to question the integrity of the accounting profession both within and from outside the profession, leading to increased demands for ethics within the auditing profession.

While the inherent risks in the marketplace, the potential for business failure, or the possibility of human mistakes cannot be entirely eliminated, the principle of professional ethics requires professional accountant to conduct themselves honestly, and in accordance with applicable professional standards.

Traditionally, the key feature of a profession is anchored on the grant of a special franchise by society who expects the practitioners of that profession to accept responsibility to provide a degree of regulation and enforcement through expert advice and persuasion thus, relieving the society of the burden of providing that control by other means (Mautz, 1988). A profession is distinguished by the general belief in its ability to deliver unique, specialized and restricted services to the public and the development of an internal rules aim at guiding, directing and regulating members’ professional conduct.

The current business environment has put professional services firms at a crossroads. The values of individuals, and the integrity of the organizations they belong to, are being tested.

 Behaving in an ethical manner is seen as part of the social responsibility of organization, which itself depends on the philosophy that organizations ought to impact on the society in ways that go beyond the usual profit maximization objective.

Generally, accounting ethical practices revolves round the principles of independence, objectivity, integrity, confidentiality, professional behavior, competence and due care. Failure on the part of the practicing accountants or auditors to exhibit due care and diligence in carrying out their responsibilities and lack of integrity impinges on the credibility of the accountancy profession. Accountants and the accounting profession facilitate capital accumulation. It has been argued that the role they play in similar exercises is unethical, for example, accountants give advice on mergers but fails to consider the implication of the exercise on employees.

Moreover, we easily hear today of illegal and unethical accounting practices in many business organizations, such practices as we know occur throughout the world. This therefore reminds us of the challenges that organizations face as the first quarter of this millennium advances with its hydra-headed challenges. There is a great concern of the quality of ethical conduct in all types of organization all over the world in which Nigeria is no exemption.

There is no gain saying, that many modern organizations are today faced with numerous challenges such as illegal and unethical business practices in a number of business transactions, Organizations are constantly striving for a better ethical atmosphere within the business climate and culture. Businesses must create an ethical business climate in order to develop an ethical organization. Otherwise saying, companies must focus on the ethics of employees in order to create an ethical business. Most organizations have come up with codes of ethics in dealing with ethical issues challenging them.

Ethical accounting practice is characterized by honesty, fairness and equity in interpersonal, professional and academic relationship and it respects the dignity, diversity and the right of individual and groups of people. Legan. (2000).

Therefore, ethical practices spring virtually from every decision, thus organization stability and survival depends on the consistency of quality of ethical financial decision made by managers. Managers are challenged and encouraged to have obligation on organization performance and society at large, to support and assist the society to imbibe the good ethical culture for the interest of all.

An organization forms when individuals with varied interests and different backgrounds unite on a common platform and work together towards predefined goals and objectives thereby increasing firm’s productivity.

To some managers however, unethical accounting behavior has come to stay and hardly can a growing firm exist in perpetuity without any form of compromise in this volatile world. Most organization management can equally not distinguish between what is moral and immoral business practices.

1.2. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

It has often been suggested by some that the expression business ethics is an oxymoron.it employs contradictory terms because business seeks to optimize or maximise gains from its operations while ethics implies a very different basis for business practices.

However, although the more cynically minded would seriously subscribe to this view, there has been a very dramatic upturn in an interest in ethical considerations by business leaders and professional business organisations partly as a result of the demands of societies which have had to bear the cost of spectacular corporate collapses and the unscrupulous business activities of a minority of business practitioners.

Today, many African Nations are faced with the crisis that is making the competitive strength of the business organization more challenging. This crisis involves people in business, customer, and at the peak of unethical practices and especially more worrisome is the unethical accounting practices among employees at all level of the organization. For example, a recent study found that employees theft ranges from stealing company’s product to using company’s service without authorization, such as making personal long distance calls at work (thereby “stealing” both the call and their productive time, while others on the other hand forge checks and commit other type of fraud.

Scandals involving management of organisations have often captured world attention. Most of these scandals are as a result of the deteriorating ethical accounting practices of the management of various organisations who have indulged themselves into all sorts of malpractices. There is therefore a genuine demand that financial institutions should strengthen ethics, integrity, transparency, accountability and professionalism, in order to protect public resources and enhance firm’s performance.

Many modern organizations are faced with numerous challenges such as illegal and unethical practices in a number of business transactions. Managers are also faced with the challenge of evaluating the effect of these critical practices on the performance of such organizations. Again, many business managers operate their activities today, without keen interest of bothering whether their actions are right or wrong and the extent of employees understanding of the term ethics while the level of compliance is highly infinitesimal, (Oladunni 2002).The way Nigerian society cares little about the source of wealth tend to make some of these business operators to begin to wonder about the necessity of ethics in an organization.

Many executives, administrators and social scientists see unethical accounting behavior as a cancer working on the fabric of society in too many of today’s organization and beyond. The crises of unethical behavior involve business people, government officials, customers and employee at all levels of the organization. For example, a recent study found that employees accounted for a higher percentage of retail theft than did customers. The study estimated that one in every fifteen employees steals from his or her employer.

It is also observed that Nigerians generally have a poor attitude to work, like most other general statements. Also, Oladunni [2002] once observed that it is believed in Nigeria that people have poor attitude to work or do not like to work, which result in the low productivity in some organizations.

1.3. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This research study revolves majorly; the significance effect of good ethical accounting practices on organizational performances.

Other specific objectives include:

• Investigate code of ethics guiding the performance of accounting firm.
• Examine the compliance level of established code of ethics of accounting firm.
• Establish whether ethical accounting practices has any relationship with organizational performance.
• Show-case the necessity of good ethics to the success and eventual institutionalization of an organization. 
• Highlight the consequences of unethical practices on organisation productivity
• Proposes possible solutions to the unethical accounting practices  in the accounting profession.

1.4. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Ethics are very important in an organization. Ethics are the principles and values used by an individual to govern his or her actions and decisions..

 The significance of this study is multi-faceted as it helps in identifying the essence of ethical accounting practices on organizational performance, as this will enhance employees’ performance as things are done correctly in a coordinated member. Moreover, newly established firms and organizations will actually know the place of proper ethical practices in the continued existence of such an organization. The research of this nature is very important to developing nations like Nigeria that already has a high level of known corruption and sharp business practices, which have permeated all facets of Nigeria’s national life.

This study will also be of great significance to policy analysts, auditors, investors, as well certified public accountants since it will assist in analyzing the effectiveness of the professional code of ethics on employee and management of an organization.

It will therefore equally be of immense help to the various professional bodies in evaluating the success of its activities with specific reference to the problem of poor ethical accounting practices, elimination of unethical organizational behavior, it would also assist the boards in determining or formulating their future plans.

Finally this study will be of great significance to schools and students, it will serve as a reference point for future researchers who will want to research more on the topic.

1.5. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research study propels round the inclusive effect of  good ethical accounting practices on organizational performances as far as accounting firms and services industries are concern in Nigeria.

The activities of the accounting professional bodies were put also into consideration. However, The research was limited to accounting firms and services industries operating in Ogun State, due the schedule of the researcher.

1.6. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

As with all studies, limitations exist and must be acknowledged. Moreover, the outcomes were based on the information solicited from the respondents and such might be subjected to human errors, omissions and possible mis-statements.

The limitations of the study are as given below:

a)     Because the sample is chosen from the one state Of Nigeria. That’s why the findings and analysis is varying slightly in organization to organization.

b)    Some respondent did not give enough concentration to understand the significant of analysis.

c)     Time constraint: Another major constraint that affected this study was time. This was due to the fact that the study was conducted amidst normal academic studies.  To this end therefore, it was difficult for the researcher to meet up some of the appointments with respondents.

1.7. DEFINITION OF TERMS

Ethics: Ethics refers to the code ofmoral principles and values that governs the behaviors of a person or group withrespect to what is right or wrong. Ethics sets standards as to what is good or bad inconduct and decision making.

Code of Ethics: A code of ethics within an organization is a set of principles that is used to guide the organization in its decisions, programs, and policies.

Ethical Dilemma: this refers to a situation that arises whenall alternative choices orbehaviors have beendeemed undesirablebecause of potentially negativeconsequences, makingit difficult to distinguishright from wrong.

Aprofession: is an occupation that requires extensive training and the study and mastery of specialized knowledge, and usually has a professional association, ethical code and process of certification or licensing.

Accountant: An accountant is any person who possess a professional license to practice accountancy from a recognized professional body and has legal capacity and authority to carryout the duties of accountants in taxation and audit practice.

Social Responsibility: it isthe obligation of organizationmanagement to makedecisions and take actionsthat will enhance the welfareand interests of societyas well as the organization.

Stakeholder: Any person or group withinor outside the organizationthat has a stake in theorganization’s performance.

Whistle-Blowing: this entails the disclosure by anemployee of illegal, immoral,or illegitimate practices bythe organization.

Ethical behavior: ethical behavior is that which is morally accepted as “good” and “right” as opposed to “bad” or wrong in a particular setting.

Accountability: accountability is concerns with the processes by which “those who exercise power whether as governments, as elected representatives or as appointed officials, must be able to show that they have exercised their powers and discharged their duties properly”

Transparency: It is a metaphorical extension of the meaning a “transparent” object is one that can be seen through. With regard to the public services, it means that holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions they take.

Integrity: the concept of integrity has to do with perceived consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcome. When used as a virtue term, “integrity” refers to a quality of a person’s character.