Leslie Kren

Research

            My research has focused on organizational control, defined as the systems and procedures used by firms to motivate employees to further organizational objectives. This research domain has attracted considerable interest from accountants and accounting researchers because most organizations direct significant accounting resources toward providing information for organizational control. In my work, I have drawn on my knowledge of accounting and accounting information systems, my work experience, and my training in econometrics and research methodology. I have concentrated on projects from which I could draw real-world implications.

            I have published several articles in leading accounting and business journals addressing questions related to organizational control. In addition, I have presented my work at numerous academic meetings and research workshops. A summary of my publications, presentations, and research awards is provided below.

 

Refereed Publications

 

Kren, L., and T. Tyson. "Tradeoffs in Objective and Subjective Performance Evaluation: A Case Study Examining the Validity of Agency Theory Predictions.” Management Accounting Quarterly.

 

Kren, L. "Is ‘pay-for-performance’ the best policy?.” Strategic Finance.

 

Kren, L. "Planning Internal Service Department Resources to Avoid Sub-Optimal Behavior." CPA Journal. 78(1). (January). 54.

 

Kren, L. and A. Maiga. "The Intervening Effects of Information Asymmetry on Budget Participation and Segment Slack." Advances in Management Accounting. 16.

 

Kren, L., and T. Tyson. "Distinguishing Unit-Level and Higher-Level Resources: Adding a Strategic Dimension to the Traditional Activity Hierarchy," CPA Journal.

Reprint in: Emerging Practices in Cost Management. ed. by J.B. Edwards. Warren Gorham & Lamont, RIA, New York.

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Kren, L. "Effects of Uncertainty, Participation, and Control System Monitoring on the Propensity to Create Budget Slack and Actual Budget Slack Created." Advances in Management Accounting. 11.

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Kren, L., and B. A. Leauby, "The Effect of SFAS 106 on Chief Executive Compensation." Advances in Public Interest Accounting. 8.

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Kren, L., and T. Tyson. "Using Cycle Time to Measure Performance and Control Costs of Production Cells. Journal of Cost Management. 16(6).

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Kimmel, P and Kren, L., "Dual-Rate Cost Assignment: A Better Way to Evaluate Performance." CPA Journal. 72(7).

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Kren, L. "Common Uncertainty Effects on the Use of Relative Performance Evaluation for Corporate Chief Executives." Advances in Accounting 19. pp. 119-138.

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Kren, L., and P. Kimmel. "Capacity Management: Avoid Suboptimal Decisions." Journal of Corporate Accounting & Finance 12(6). pp. 55-59.

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Kren, L., "The Relation Between Chief Executive Compensation and Financial Performance: The Information Effects of Diversification." Advances in Management Accounting 10. 2001. pp. 141-169.

 

Kren, L. and J. L. Kerr, "The Effects of Outside Directors and Board Shareholdings on the Relation Between Chief Executive Compensation and Firm Performance." Accounting and Business Research 27(4). pp. 297-309.

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Kren, L., "The Role of Accounting Information in Organizational Control: The State of the Art." in Behavioral Accounting Research: Foundations and Frontiers. ed. by S. Sutton and V. King, American Accounting Association. pp. 1-48.

 

Munter, P., and L. Kren, "The Impact of Uncertainty and Monitoring by the Board of Directors on Incentive System Design." Managerial Auditing Journal 10(4). pp. 23-34.

 

Kimmel, P., L. Kren, and M. Schadewald, "The Effect of Risk on the Use of Outcome-Contingent Incentives." Managerial Finance 21(3). pp. 36-51.

 

Kimmel, P., and L. Kren, "The Effect of Divisional Interdependence on the Use of Outcome-Contingent Compensation." Advances in Management Accounting 4. pp. 179-192.

 

Kren, L., "Control System Effects on Budget Slack." Advances in Management Accounting 2. pp. 109-118.

 

Kren, L., K.W. Tatum, and L.C. Phillips, "Separate Accreditation of Accounting Programs: An Empirical Investigation." Issues in Accounting Education 8(2). pp. 260-272.

 

Kren, L., and J.L. Kerr, "The Effect of Behavior Monitoring and Uncertainty on the Use of Performance-Contingent Compensation." Accounting and Business Research 23. pp. 159-167.

 

Kren, L., "The Moderating Effects of Locus of Control on Performance Incentives and Participation." Human Relations 45(9). pp. 991-1012.

 

Kren, L., "Budgetary Participation and Managerial Performance: The Impact of Information and Environmental Volatility." The Accounting Review 67(3). pp. 511-526.

 

Kerr, J.L., and L. Kren, "The Effect of Relative Decision Monitoring on Chief Executive Compensation." Academy of Management Journal 35(2). pp. 370-397.

 

Kren, L., and B.G. Greenstein, "Performance Effects of Incentives, Participation, and Monitoring: Experimental Evidence." in Accounting Communication and Monitoring, ed. by S. Moriarity, Oklahoma Center for Research in Accounting. Norman Oklahoma. pp. 1-23.

 

Kren, L., "Performance in a Budget-Based Control System: An Extended Expectancy Model Approach." Journal of Management Accounting Research 2(1). pp. 100-112.

 

Kren, L., and W.M. Liao, "The Role of Accounting Information in the Control of Business Organizations: A Review of the Evidence." Journal of Accounting Literature 7. pp. 280-309.

 

Refereed Proceedings and Presentations

Kren, L., “Participation and Uncertainty as Antecedents of Job Relevant Information (JRI) in Organizations.” American Society of Business and Behavioral Sciences. Las Vegas, NV.

Kren, L., and T. Tyson. "Using Cycle Time to Measure Performance and Control Costs of Production Cells." Northeast Regional Meeting, American Accounting Association. Providence, Rhode Island.

Kren, L. "Effects of Uncertainty, Participation, and Control System Monitoring on Create Budget Slack and Actual Slack Created." International Business and Economics Research Conference. Reno, Nevada.

Kren, L. "The effects of Control System Monitoring and Participation on Budget and Segment Slack." Management Accounting Conference, Mesa, AZ. American Accounting Association.

Kren, L. "Effects of Uncertainty, Participation, and Control System Monitoring on the Propensity to Create Budget Slack and Actual Budget Slack Created." Proceedings of the Southwest Regional Meeting. American Accounting Association. (Best Paper Award)

Kren, L. "Diversification Effects on Chief Executive Compensation." Proceedings of the Southwest Regional Meeting. American Accounting Association.

Kren, L. "The Effect of SFAS 106 on Chief Executive Compensation." Presented at the American Accounting Association/ ABO Research Conference. Pittsburgh, PA.

Kimmel, P., and L. Kren, "Common Uncertainty Effects on the Use of Relative Performance Evaluation for Corporate Chief Executives." Proceedings of the Southwest Regional Meeting. American Accounting Association.

Kimmel, P., L. Kren, and M. Schadewald, "The Effect of Risk on the Use of Outcome-Contingent Incentives." Proceedings of the Southwest Regional Meeting. American Accounting Association

Kren, L., and S. Whitecotton, "The Relationship of CEO Compensation and Firm Performance: The Effects of Diversification Strategy." Proceedings of the Midwest Regional Meeting. American Accounting Association. (Best-Paper Award).

Kren, L., and J.L. Kerr, "The Effect of Behavior Monitoring and Uncertainty on the Use of Performance-Contingent Compensation." Proceedings of the Southwest Regional Meeting. American Accounting Association.

Kren, L., and J.L. Kerr, "The Influence of Board Characteristics on Chief Executive Compensation." Proceedings of the Southwest Regional Meeting. American Accounting Association.

Tatum, K.W., L.C. Phillips, and L. Kren, "Separate Accreditation of Accounting Programs: An Empirical Investigation." Proceedings of the Annual Meeting. American Accounting Organization.

Kren, L., and P.H. Munter, "The Relationship of Incentives to Performance: Some Preliminary Findings." Proceedings of the Southwest Regional Meeting. American Accounting Association.

Kren, L., "Performance Effects of Incentives, Participation, and Monitoring: Experimental Evidence." the University of Oklahoma Accounting Research Conference.

Kren, L., "The Impact of Monitoring on Control System Effectiveness." Proceedings of the Annual Meeting. American Accounting Association.

Kren, L., "The Moderating Effects of Locus of Control on Incentives and Budget Participation." Proceedings of the Northeast Regional Meeting. American Accounting Association.

 

Other Proceedings and Presentations

Kren, L. "The Effect of SFAS 106 on Chief Executive Compensation." Invited Presentation. University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Kren, L., "The Influence of Board Characteristics on Chief Executive Compensation." invited presentation, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Accounting Research Workshop.

 

Research Grants, Awards, and Fellowships

Faculty Instructional Development Grant: Integration of the SAP System into the Accounting Curriculum. University of Wisconsin System.

Best Paper Award: Kren, L. "The effects of Control System Monitoring and Participation on Budget and Segment Slack." Proceedings of the Southwest Regional Meeting. American Accounting Association.

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company grant for a year-long research project on the motivational and financial reporting implications of deferred executive compensation plans funded through life insurance (with P. Fischer and P. Kimmel)

Best-Paper Award. Midwest Regional Meeting: "The effects of Control System Monitoring and Participation on Budget and Segment Slack."

Graduate School Summer Research Grant: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, to conduct research entitled: "The Effects of Firm- and Industry-Specific Volatility on the Incidence of Performance-Contingent Compensation for Corporate Executives."

Several School of Business Research grants: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Max Orowitz Summer Research Grant: University of Miami, to conduct research entitled: "The Effect of Behavior Monitoring and Uncertainty on the Use of Performance-Contingent Compensation."

Corporate Affiliate Research Grant: University of Miami, to conduct research entitled: "Budgetary Participation and Managerial Performance: The Impact of Information and Environmental Volatility."

Corporate Affiliate Research Grant: University of Miami, to conduct research entitled "The Impact of Monitoring Ability on the Effectiveness of Incentives and Participation on Individual Performance in the Organization."

Dean's Distinguished Dissertation Fellowship: University of Houston, to conduct dissertation research entitled "The Effect of Incentive Employment Contracts on Revelation of Private Information and Performance: Empirical Evidence."

Business School Advisory Council Research Award: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. (Annual monetary award given to recognize the research contribution of one assistant professor within the School of Business.)

Best-Paper Award, Midwest Regional Meeting, American Accounting Association: "The Relationship of CEO Compensation and Firm Performance: The Effects of Diversification Strategy."

Doctoral Consortium Fellow. American Accounting Association.

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