Evolution of the Governmental Accounting Reform Implementation in Greek Public Hospitals: Testing the Institutional Framework

34th Annual Congress of the European Accounting Association, April 2011

35 Pages Posted: 13 Feb 2011 Last revised: 15 Feb 2011

See all articles by Filippos Stamatiadis

Filippos Stamatiadis

Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Athens

Nikolaos Eriotis

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Date Written: February 12, 2011

Abstract

Purpose – In an attempt to promote efficiency, effectiveness and economy in health service production, the Greek government imposed in 2003 an accrual basis financial and cost accounting system in all public hospitals of the National Health System (NHS).

The purpose of this study is not to investigate thoroughly the accounting reform implementation and adoption in specific organizations, but rather to obtain an overall idea of the reform adoption process in Greek public hospitals by identifying major areas of non-compliance with the mandatory legislative accounting framework and various organisational contingencies that influence the level of reform adoption within a broad institutional framework.

Design/methodology/approach – Our analysis is based on the results of an empirical survey that took place during 2009. For the purposes of this survey, a compliance index is constructed and applied on a sample of 94 Greek public hospitals using a structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with six public hospital Financial and Accounting executives.

Findings – The empirical evidence reveals that the level of accrual basis financial and especially cost accounting adoption in Greek public hospitals is realized only to a limited extent. In particular, results show that the relationship between the institutional isomorphic pressures and accounting reform implementation process is restricted by organizational capability factors (i.e., the quality of existing Information Technology systems, the education level of finance and accounting staff, the extent of reform related training, and the professional support of consultants).

Research limitations/implications – Although this study takes into consideration the work of previous researchers in the health care area, it acknowledges that empirical research on the subject in the Greek environment is limited. Therefore this study should be viewed as an initial step to address this limitation.

Originality/value – This study draws on the information systems change, management accounting innovation, and public sector reform literatures to contribute to the current knowledge in public sector accounting by examining a number of factors that are expected to influence the implementation and adoption process of accrual and cost accounting practises in the Greek public healthcare sector within a broad institutional framework.

Contribution - The main contribution of this study is the empirical evidence it provides on the approaches and processes used by the Government of Greece to implement accrual accounting systems and the role certain human, organizational and situational factors played in such implementations.

Keywords: Accrual Accounting, Public Sector Accounting, Compliance Index, Public Hospitals, Isomorphism

JEL Classification: H8, H83

Suggested Citation

Stamatiadis, Filippos and Eriotis, Nikolaos, Evolution of the Governmental Accounting Reform Implementation in Greek Public Hospitals: Testing the Institutional Framework (February 12, 2011). 34th Annual Congress of the European Accounting Association, April 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1760423

Filippos Stamatiadis (Contact Author)

Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Athens ( email )

Agiou Spyridonos Street
Aigaleo
Athens, Attiki 12210
Greece

Nikolaos Eriotis

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens ( email )

5 Stadiou Strt
Athens, 12131
Greece

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