Accounting and Finance Department Research Seminar
The Department of Accounting & Finance announces the following research seminar.
Speaker: Professor. Susan Shu (Boston College)
Title: Results-Oriented Culture and SEC Investigations
Date: Friday, November 21, 2025
Time: 9:30am-10:45am
Location: via Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 438 755 1509
Passcode: 20210211
Abstract:
This paper examines how a results-oriented culture—focused on achievement and competition—affects case selection by SEC staff. Using an internal survey with nearly 60% response rate, we create a new measure of results orientation and find that staff in more results-oriented offices are more likely to initiate investigations, particularly for easier cases. However, these cases are less likely to result in enforcement actions. Despite this, firms under such offices show fewer financial reporting irregularities, suggesting that results-oriented offices better deter misconduct. Overall, the study highlights how organizational culture shapes public-sector performance.
For additional information, please contact Prof. Hongkang Xu.
Zoom
Hongkang Xu
5089999187
hxu5@umassd.edu