Strategies to Reduce Excessive Transition Costs to the International Financial Reporting Standards

摘要

The excessive cost of the transitioning from the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is a vital business challenge. Based on the transaction cost economics (TCE) theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies that some of the organizational financial professionals use to minimize excessive transition costs from GAAP to IFRS accounting systems. Data were collected from 3 financial professionals of a corporation located in the west coast region of Northern California using semistructured interviews, besides reviewed public records, and studies of developed countries that adopted IFRS. Using the thematic analysis approach, 4 themes emerged, (a) strategic planning and strategy, (b) strategies formulation, implementation, and evaluation, (c) contract negotiation and enforcement, and (d) information system and project cost. The findings of this study could add practical knowledge of focused and consistent actions to IFRS adoption strategies, which could give priority to reducing the costs of the transaction from implementing GAAP to IFRS in local firms' financial reporting. The implications for positive social changes could include the potential to enhance knowledge of financial reporting, motivate investments, increase economic resources, and improve local employment growth.