Assurer Reputation for Competence in a Multi-Service Context

45 Pages Posted: 7 Dec 2006

See all articles by Ananda R. Ganguly

Ananda R. Ganguly

Claremont McKenna College - Robert Day School of Economics and Finance

Joshua Herbold

University of Montana - Department of Accounting and Finance

Mark E. Peecher

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Gies College of Business; University of Illinois College of Law

Abstract

We experimentally examine determinants of the transferability and durability of an assurer's flagship-service reputation for competence in a multi-service context. Economic and psychology theories agree that transferability will increase when a new service and a flagship service require relatively similar, as opposed to relatively dissimilar, competencies. These theories disagree, however, regarding the durability of an assurer's flagship-service reputation following a performance failure in a new service.

Economic theory requires some reciprocity for transferability and durability, and, accordingly, predicts that a new-service failure will inflict more damage on a flagship-service reputation when the new and flagship services require relatively similar, as opposed to relatively dissimilar, competencies. Psychology theory, in contrast, predicts that a new-service failure will tend not to damage the flagship-service reputation, even when the new and flagship services require relatively similar competencies. Thus, unlike economic theory, psychology theory predicts that relatively similar competencies between a new and a flagship service can improve the transferability of an assurer's flagship-service reputation for competence without reciprocally threatening its durability.

Experimental findings indicate that reputation transferability increases when the new and flagship services require relatively similar, as opposed to relatively dissimilar, competencies. They also indicate that a new-service failure damages the flagship-service reputation only when, and to a greater degree when, the new and flagship services require relatively dissimilar, as opposed to relatively similar, competencies. Thus, empirically, greater similarity in the competencies required by a new and flagship service simultaneously enhances the transferability and durability of the assurer's flagship-service reputation. These empirical findings are better explained by psychology theory than by economic theory.

Keywords: reputation, competence, assurance services, auditing

JEL Classification: C92, D20, D80, G20, L11, L21, M31, M40, N20

Suggested Citation

Ganguly, Ananda Roop and Herbold, Joshua and Peecher, Mark E., Assurer Reputation for Competence in a Multi-Service Context. Contemporary Accounting Research, Vol. 24, No. 1, Spring 2007, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=949352

Ananda Roop Ganguly (Contact Author)

Claremont McKenna College - Robert Day School of Economics and Finance ( email )

500 E. Ninth Street
Claremont, CA 91711
United States
(909) 607-0720 (Phone)
(909) 621-8249 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/academic/faculty/profile.asp?Fac=519

Joshua Herbold

University of Montana - Department of Accounting and Finance ( email )

School of Business Administration
32 Campus Dr.
Missoula, MT 59812
United States
406.243.2724 (Phone)
406.243.6925 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.business.umt.edu

Mark E. Peecher

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ( email )

Gies College of Business
1206 South Sixth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
United States
217-333-4542 (Phone)
217-244-0902 (Fax)

Gies College of Business ( email )

1206 South 6th Street
IL 61820

University of Illinois College of Law ( email )

504 E. Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign, IL 61820
United States

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