About

Professor Hassan Yazdifar is the Head of Research and Innovation at the College of Business, Law, and Social Sciences. In addition to College responsibilities, Hassan has cross-university responsibility for the development, direction and performance of the academic theme of Business, Economic & Social Policy, which is one of the university’s six key academic themes. More specifically, he leads the College’s research agenda to develop, coordinate, and deliver research and innovation activities in assigned subject areas and promote research-informed teaching throughout the College. His role involves developing internal and external networks, utilising them to share data and intelligence concerning the development of new research and innovation opportunities; pursuing research and collaborative partnerships across the University and with other institutions and relevant bodies; and facilitating high-quality research output with far-reaching impact.

Before joining Derby University, Hassan was the Head of the Department (Accounting, Finance, and Economics) at Bournemouth University (UK) and has achieved success in management, consultancy, and leadership roles within industry and academia. Professor Yazdifar has undertaken the responsibility of several research projects funded by the British Council, the National Institute for Health Research (NiHR), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants - CIMA (UK), and several research projects funded by industry. Hassan’s experience is in both developed and developing countries and considers globalisation as an important factor in developing business performance, research and development, developing knowledge transfer and building partnerships.

Professor Yazdifar has published extensively in international accounting and business journals, is proactively involved with organisational learning; organisation change management; and adopting innovative practices to improve performances in commercial and service organisations both in the public and private sectors. His research expertise also expands to higher education, health economics, R&D, digitalisation, the role of MIS, including accounting control and information systems, and the process of organisational change; how MIS can be developed to improve performance, performance measurement systems and how that interacts with other organisational functions.

Teaching responsibilities

• Global Issues in Business & Corporate Accountability - (Level 6)
• MBA - Research Methods (Level 7)

Research interests

Hassan is interested in organisational learning, organisation change management and adopting innovative practices to improve performances in commercial and service organisations both in public and private sectors and also higher education, R&D and Health Economics. He examines the role of MIS, including Accounting Control and Information Systems, in the processes of organisational change; how MIS can be developed to improve performance, performance measurement systems and how that interacts with other organisational functions. He also examines the diffusion and implementation of innovative managerial practices. Hassan is also working on R&D in emerging markets and Health Economics in partnership with emerging economies. His current research funding is from the British Council and the National Institute for Health Research (NiHR). His experience is in both developed and developing countries and considers globalisation as an important factor in developing business performance, R&D and developing Health Economics and knowledge transfer. Hassan is also active in areas such as accounting education, Islamic accounting and ethics in accounting.

Membership of professional bodies

Certified Public Accountant (IACPA)

Qualifications

• PhD in Accounting (2004 - Manchester University - UK)
• MRes in Social Research Methods (1999 - Manchester University -UK) 
• MA in Accounting (1992 - Tehran University - Iran)
• BA in Accounting (1988 - Shahid Beheshti University - Iran)

Recent conferences

Conference presentations:

• “Does Board Diversity Mitigate Risk? The Effect of Homophily and Social Ties on Risk-Taking in Financial Institutions”, ASFAAG first annual conference 2021, with Noora Aljalahma Bernardo Batiz-Lazo, Rasol Eskandari.
• UN Sustainable Development Goals – 17 Summit, June 1-18, 2021.
• “Supply Chain Management: A Review and Reflection”, (invited as A Keynote Speaker). Management Accounting Conference, Tehran (Iran). 24 Dec 2020
• “Accounting Education during Pandemic”, (invited as A Keynote Speaker). Iranian National Conference, Yazd (Iran), 21 Nov. 2020.
• "Cost management through product design and costing",5^th International Conference on Accounting and Finance - ICOAF 2019, Danang City, Vietnam - July 13 - 14, 2019 (with Dr Askarany).
• “Corporate environmental reporting the failure of regulators to hold Corporations to Account”, at African Businesses, Organisations and Society Conference, July 2 2018, Venue: the Centre for African Research Queen Mary University; Queen Mary University London (with Noah A, Oladele R. and Dr. Ogundele B.O).
• “Management Accounting System in a family controlled Financial institution, an institutional perspective”, at African Businesses, Organisations and Society Conference, July 2 2018, Venue: the Centre for African Research Queen Mary University; Queen Mary University London (with Noah A. and Dr Ogundele B.O).
• Fintech – Challenges and opportunities. Iran, Tehran, 01 March 2018.
• “Management Accounting System change; Institutional Perspectives from Nigeria”, BAFA2017, 10-12 April 2017, Edinburgh, UK.
• “Balanced Scorecard implementation and environmental uncertainty: the contingent fit that produces financial performance effectiveness – a case study in Libya”. In: Researching Management Accounting and Control:  Reflections on its impact and implications for the future, 8^th and 9^th of June, University of Groningen, Netherlands (with Dr M. Albergley).
• “Balanced Scorecard Implementation and Environmental Uncertainty: the Contingent Fit and Financial Performance Effectiveness – a Case Study in Libya”, EAA2017, 10-12 May, Valencia, Spain (with Dr M. Albergley).
• “Employee Engagement for Quality Green Behaviour”, UAE, Dubai, 23-25 April 2016.
• “Organizational Factors and the Diffusion of Benchmarking”, American Accounting Association annual meeting, USA, Chicago, 12 Aug 2015.
• “Management Accounting in the Global Context”, International Conference on Management Accounting Development, Iran, May 2015.
• Power, Strategic Responses and Institutionalisation: Agency-Structure Conundrum Revisted. 4th Global Accounting and Organizational Change Conference (GAOC2014), 16-19 Nov 2014, UAE.
• “Channels of Diffusion of Management Accounting Innovations in MNCs and Group organisations”. Meditari Accounting Research Conference 2014. 25-27 June 2014, South Africa.
• “Alternative innovation diffusion channels: The case of sustainable technologies”. APIRA2013, 26-28 August 2013, Japan – Cobe.
• “Diffusion of sustainable technologies in complex organisations”. The 13th International Conference on Knowledge, Culture and Change in Organisations. 13-14 June 2013. Canada.
• “Strategic Management Tools and Organizational Performance”. the 2012 AAA Annual Meeting, August 4–8, USA Washington, DC.
• “Diffusion of sustainable and energy-efficient technology”. 10th CSEAR Australasian Conference (Centre for Social and Environmental Accounting Research). Australia, University of Tasmania, 5-7 December 2011, (with D. Askarany). http://search.utas.edu.au/results.​html?cx=001978779196300580339:​7ti3ky4oiq8&cref=http://​search.utas.edu.au/Library/​cref_​cse.xml&cof=FORID:9&q=yazdifar
• “An Investigation into the Adoption of Benchmarking as a Strategic Management Tool”. The Twenty Third Asian-Pacific Conference on International Accounting Issues, Beijing, China, 16 – 19 October, 2011, (with D. Askarany).
• “The Diffusion of Innovation Theory and the Adoption of ABC”, American Accounting Association, 6-10 August, 2011. Denver, Colorado. http://aaahq.org/AM2011/abstract​.cfm?submissionID=638
• “Management Accounting Change – Insights from Theories and Practices”. The 9^th Iranian Accounting Conference. 11-12 May 2011. University of Sistan and Bluchestan (with D. Askarany).
• “Accounting Innovations and Ownership, American Accounting Association”, 2011 Management Accounting Section Research and Case Conference and IMA Doctoral Colloquium, USA, Atlanta (Georgia), 5-8 January 2011 (with D. Askarany).
• “An explanation into the mixed adoption rates for ABC: evidence from Australia, New Zealand and the UK”, The 2010 Annual Conference & Meeting of the American Accounting Association, San Francisco. (with D. Askarany).
• “The Adoption of Managerial Tools and Organizational Satisfaction: Evidence from New Zealand”, 22^nd Asian-Pacific Conference on International Accounting Issues held in Australia on 6-10 November 2010, (with D. Askarany).
• “A comparative study of the adoption and implementation of target costing in the UK”, The 3rd International Accounting Conference, Bali, Indonesia, 25 October - 28 October 2010. (with D. Askarany).
• “Diffusion of Management Accounting in Dependent and Independent Organisations”, British Academy of Management (BAM), 15-16 September 2010, Sheffield, UK. (with D. Askarany).
• “Relationship between Business Size, Organisational Industry and the Adoption of ABC in Australia, New Zealand and the UK”, American Accounting Association, New York (USA), 1-8 August 2009 (with D. Askarany).
• “Supply Chain Management and the Cost Accounting”, 11^th Annual International Conference of the Global Business and Technology Association in Prague, Czech Republic, July 7-11, 2009 (with D. Askarany).
• “The level of satisfaction with current management accounting techniques”, 10^th Annual International Conference of the Global Business and Technology Association (GBATA) in Madrid, Spain, July 8 – 12, 2008 (with D. Askarany).
• “Organisational Size and the Implementation of New Management Accounting Techniques”, 2008 Business & Economics Society International Conference, July 15-19, 2008, Lugano, Switzerland, (with D. Askarany).
• “An investigating into the Adoption of Accounting Changes”, International Management Accounting Conference IV, August 15-17, 2007, Kuala Lumpur (with D. Askarany).
• “Attributes of Innovation and the Diffusion of Management Accounting Changes”, July 10-13, 2007, BAI2007 (International Conference on Business and information), Tokyo (with D. Askarany).
• “Accounting and Trust, a Case Study of an International Joint Venture Relationship in the United Arab Emirates”, May 24-26, 2007, UAE, Management Accounting Workshop.
• “Management Accounting Change in a UK Chemicals Subsidiary Organization: an Institutional Perspective”, Paper presented at European Accounting Association, Dublin, 22-24 March, 2006.
• “Future challenge to management accountants in group organizations”, presented at SABA2005 – Iran, July 2005.
• “The Role of the International Accounting Firms in the Process of Internationalisation of Auditing Practice, A Comparative Survey in the Middle East”, presented at Accounting and Challenges, Iran 2004.
• “Management Accounting Change in a UK Chemicals Subsidiary Organization: an Institutional Perspective”, Paper presented at Management Control Association Workshop, Sheffield Hallam University, 27 Feb 2004.
• “Merger and acquisition: a transition style”, The Fourth International Conference on Knowledge, Culture and Change in Organisations (Greenwich University, 2004).
• “MAS change in a subsidiary organization”, Management Control Association workshop, Sheffield (2004).
• “Reliance on experience rather than management accounting information: a case study”, IPA 2001, (UK, Manchester).

Experience in industry

I have been working in industries in different capacities including:

• Auditing Partner
• Member of Board and Financial Director
• Consultant

Recent publications

Selected publications in refereed journals:

• “Applying Prospect Theory to Improve the Performance of Capital Asset Pricing Models in an Emerging Mark”, International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets. (with A. Rahrovi Dastjerdi and N. Hamidian). (forthcoming, 2023).
• “Corporate reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals: A structured literature review and research agenda”, Journal of Accounting and Organisational Change. (with B. Awuah and H. Elbardan) (2023, forthcoming).
• “Transparency, accountability, and the role of control mechanisms during the COVID-19 pandemic: a future research agenda in the context of emerging economies”. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Markets. (with J. Siddiqui and T. G. Arun). (forthcoming, 2023).
• “The Level of Islamic Religiosity of the Local Community and Corporate Environmental Responsibility Disclosure: Evidence from Iran”. Journal of Business Ethics, (2023, forthcoming). (with M. Khodakarami, A. Faraji Khaledi, Bagheri Kheirabadi and A. Sarlak).
• “IPO valuation in an emerging market – a study in Iran”. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management. (2023, forthcoming). (with H. Hekmat and A. Rahami).
• “Bank failure prediction: corporate governance and financial indicators”. Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting. (With Alzayed, N., Eskandari, R.). 
• “Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Disclosure: Ethical consideration and implications”, International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics. Guest editor for special issue. (2023, forthcoming). (with H. Elbardan).
• “SMEs respond to climate change: Evidence from Developing countries”, Technological Forecasting & Social Change (2022). 185, 122087, (with MD A. Alam, A. Min Du, M. Rahman and K. Abbasi).
• “Smart city development, blockchain for the vehicle registry: a study in Romania”. International Journal of Financial Technology Perspective, (2023, forthcoming). (with Amer Fakhri Abdoun). 
• “A systematic literature review of performance measurement systems in health sector of Pakistan”. International Journal of Management Research and Emerging Sciences (2023, forthcoming). (with Asdullah, M.A., Khatoon, O and UL Haq Subhani, I).
• “The Fit between GLOBE Cultural Dimensions, Budget Transparency and Performance Management across Emerging Economies”, International Journal of Emerging Markets, (Forthcoming), (with H. Zarei, A. Nasseri & M. Dahmardeh Ghaleno).
• “Audit qualification paragraphs and audit report lag: evidence from Iran”, Spanish Journal of Finance and Accounting, (Forthcoming, 2022), (with O. Faraji, F. MohammadRezaei, K. Ahmed and Y. Najafi Gadikelaei).
• Editorial for Special Issue: ”Institutions and R&D investment: Prospects and Challenges”, Journal of Applied Accounting Research. (forthcoming, 2022) (with M. Uddin and A. Alam).
• “Investigating the factors affecting accountants' behavioral intentions in accounting information system adoption: empirical evidence of Unified Theory of Acceptance and use of technology, and Task -Fit Model”, Iranian Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Finance. (2022, forthcoming) (with F. Pourghanbari and M. Faghani).
• “The combined network effect of sparse and interlocked connections in SMEs’ innovation”. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 2021, 163, (with L. Liang, Md A. Alam, G. Sorwar and R.  Eskandari),
• “Terrorism, Innovation and Venture Capital”. Journal of Economic Studies. (2021, forthcoming), (with Uddin, A. Alam and M. Shubita).
• “Contextual Factors and the Diffusion of MAIs in Manufacturing and Non-Manufacturing Sectors in Libya”. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 2021, 14(9), 415. (with A. Boukr and D. Askarany).
• “The Perceived Impact of Working Agreements toward Employed Female in the Accounting Profession: Evidence from Iran”. Journal of Applied Accounting Research, (2021, forthcoming). (with H. Zarei and F. Soofi),
• “The B2B Networking, Renewable Energy and Sustainability”, Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 2021, 14(7), 290. (with D. Askarany and K. Dow).
• “Corporate environmental accountability in Nigeria: An example of regulatory failure and regulatory capture”, Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies. 2021, 11(1). 70-93. (with Noah, P. Adhikari and B. Ogundele).
• “Corporate Governance and Earnings Management Nexus: Evidence from the UK and Egypt Using Neural Networks”, International Journal of Finance & Economics. 2020, 1-31, (with H. A. Abdou, N. N. Ellelly, A. A. Elamer, with K. Hussainey).
• “R&D investment, firm performance and moderating role of system and safeguard: Evidence from emerging markets”, Journal of Business Research, 2020, 106, 94-105 (with Alam, M. Uddin, S. Shafique and T. Lartey).
• “Predicting auditors’ opinions using financial ratios and non-financial metrics: evidence from Iran”, Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 2020, 10(3), pp.425-446, (with H. Zarei, M. Dahmarde Ghaleno and R. Azhmaneh).
• “Assessing the fraud risk factors in the financial statements with Benford's Law”, Journal of Accounting and Taxation Studies, 2020, 13(3), pp.543-569, (with Özevin Onur) https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/muvu.
• “Evaluating the performance of over-the-counter companies in developing countries using a stochastic dominance criterion and PSO-ANN hybrid optimization model”. Journal of Applied Accounting Research, 2020, 21(3), pp.563-582, (with A. Nasseri, S. Jamshidi, D.F. Percy and M.A. Alam).
• “Business challenges and opportunities, management. Leadership and innovations: insights from emerging markets”, Special Issue Preface, Journal of Global Business Advancement (JGBA), 2019, 12(5), 99. 601-603.
• “A review of the relationship between leadership style and innovation”. Journal for Global Business Advancement (JGBA), 2019, 12(5), pp.625-647(with L. Rastogi, A. Alam, R. Eskandari, M. Albahloul).
• “The effect of managers’ optimism on competitive strategy and final cost models”, “El efecto del optimismo de los gerentes sobre la estrategia competitiva y los modelos de costos finales”, RELIGACIÓN: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Journal of Social Sciences and humanities, 2019, 4(20), pp.432-440 (with H. Farajpour).
• “Institutional determinants of R&D investment – evidence from emerging markets”, Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 2019, 138, 34-44 (with A. Alam and M. Uddin).
• “The diffusion of management accounting innovations in dependent (subsidiary) organisations and MNCs”, The International Journal of Accounting, 2019, 54(1), pp.1-42, (with D. Askarany, D. Wickramsinghe, A. Nasseri and A. Alam).
• “The impact of propagating management accounting innovations on organizational culture”. International Journal of Finance and Managerial Accounting (IJF&MA), 2019, 4(13), pp.1-9 (with K. Nakhaei and M. Faghani).
• “The Effects of Intra- and Extra-Organizational Factors on Management Accounting Practices in the Privatization Processes: Evidence from Iran”. International Journal of Finance and Managerial Accounting (IJF&MA), 2019, 4(15), pp.97-113, (with F. S. Sarchah and A. Pifeh).
• “The diffusion of balanced scorecard from the perspective of adopters: evidence from Australia”, Review of Economics and Finance, 2018, 14 (4), pp. 71-82, (with D. Askarany).
• “Applying change management models to the revalidation of an undergraduate Accounting & Finance programme – a study in the UK higher education”, International Journal of Finance and Managerial Accounting (IJF&MA), 2018, 2(8), pp.1-7, (with Sheikh and B. Leigh).
• “The Relation between the Producer and Consumer Price Indices: A Two country study”, Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, 2018, 17(3), pp 122–130. (with V. Topuz and S. Sahadev).
• “Causality between Cash Flow and Earnings – Evidence from Tehran (Iran) Stock Exchange”, Journal of Emerging Market Finance, 2018, 17(2), pp. 210-228, (with A. Nasseri, M. Sayyadi, R. Eskandari and M. Albahloul).
• “Explaining the mutual relationship between board gender diversity and corporate social responsibility using the simultaneous equations system”. International Journal of Finance and Managerial Accounting (IJF&MA), 2018, 3(11), pp.1-10, (M. Kazempour, M. Kashanipour and A. Hamidizadeh).
• “Financing behaviour of R&D investments in the emerging markets: The role of alliance and financial system”, R&D Management, 2017. 49(1), Pp.21-32. (with A. Alam and M. Uddin).
• “Management accounting and the shortcomings of current performance measurement systems”, International Journal of Accounting Research, (2017), 5(1), pp.2-4 (with D. Askarany).
• “A heuristic model for predicting bankruptcy”. International Journal of Finance and Managerial Accounting (IJF&MA), 2017, 2(5), pp.1-7 (with A. Nasseri, S. Abdipour, S. Aghabeigzadeh).
• “Management accounting education for the 21^st Century firms”, International Journal of Finance and Managerial Accounting (IJF&MA), 2016, 1(1), pp.75-77 (with A. Nasseri and D. Askarany).
• “Evaluation of Corporate Governance practices in emerging markets (A case study of Nigerian Banking industry)”, International Journal of Finance and Managerial Accounting (IJF&MA), 2016, 1(3), pp.1-27 (with Ogundele and A. Nasseri).
• “Evaluation of factors influencing youth towards Islamic banking in Pakistan”. ICTACT Journal of Management Studies (2016), 2 (1), pp. 217-223, (with A. Asdullah).