Presenting a Prediction Model for CEO Compensation Sensitivity using Meta-heuristic Algorithms (Genetics and Particle Swarm)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Candidate, Department of Accounting, Faculty of Humanities, Zahedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran.

2 Assistant Prof., Department of Accounting, Faculty of Humanities, Zahedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran.

3 PhD., Department of Financial and Accounting, Faculty of Humanities, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran.

10.22059/jipa.2024.373930.3482

Abstract

Objective
To reduce the conflict of interests between managers and shareholders, it is crucial to focus on the sharing of benefits. Managerial remuneration is one way to address this conflict and serves as a tool to align managers' perspectives and performance with the goal of increasing shareholder wealth. Cash rewards for managers should be performance-based to ensure their alignment with shareholder interests. When designing the CEO's salary package in companies, the role of institutional investors is significant. Agency theory highlights the problems that arise when owners delegate the management of the company to managers. To mitigate agency conflicts, managerial rewards should be tied to the value created for shareholders. One of the primary methods for measuring managerial performance is through accounting reports, which act as tools for assessing and motivating managerial performance. Given these points, the aim of this research is to provide a model for predicting the sensitivity of CEO compensation using meta-heuristic algorithms, specifically genetic algorithms and particle swarm optimization.
Methods
The statistical population of this research comprises all companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange from 1390 to 1400. To select the sample, a systematic elimination method was employed, resulting in a sample of 110 companies. Based on the classification of research according to its purpose, the current study is applied in nature. Additionally, it is a quasi-experimental study within the domain of descriptive research (non-experimental survey). Data collection methods for this research include document analysis, internet research, and library study, depending on the specific requirements. In this research, 12 parameters influencing the sensitivity of CEO compensation were selected: institutional ownership, family ownership, comparability of financial statements, profit management, conditional conservatism, income and cost matching, market added value, corporate acquisition, debt contracts, and cost behavior (categorized into three types: changes in asset returns, changes in sales revenue, and changes in operating costs). These parameters were used as inputs for the data mining model. The sensitivity of CEO service compensation was chosen as the output parameter. Three data mining models were created by separating the cost behavior parameter, and for comparison, three linear regression models were also employed.
Results
The results demonstrate the superiority of the deep neural network model in terms of the coefficient of determination and MSE index. This superiority holds true for all three data mining models compared to the three linear regression models. Among the data mining models, the third model, which incorporates the cost behavior parameter of changes in operational costs, produced the best results. The second model, which includes the cost behavior parameter of changes in sales revenue, achieved the next best results. Finally, the first data mining model, which uses the cost behavior parameter of asset return changes, delivered the weakest results.
Conclusion
The application of deep neural networks, optimized by meta-heuristic algorithms, can create predictive models based on real data, which can be used for management decisions and enhancing service compensation processes in organizations. These methods offer the potential to improve CEO performance and the quality of services provided by organizations by leveraging existing data and artificial intelligence algorithms. Furthermore, this research can assist investors and economic decision-makers in more accurately analyzing and predicting the sensitivity of CEO compensation using deep neural networks and meta-heuristic algorithms.

Keywords

Main Subjects


 
Abel, A. B. (1983). Optimal investment under uncertainty. The American Economic Review, 73(1), 228-233.
Ahadzadeh, S., Daneshfard, K. & Memarzadeh, G. (2023). Designing a model for the alignment of human resource subsystems with the compensation system. Journal of Human Capital Empowerment, 6(1), 15-30. (in Persian)
Anderson, M. C., Banker, R.D. & Janakiraman, S.N. (2003). Are selling, general, and administrative costs “sticky”? Journal of accounting research, 41(1), 47-63.
Bazrafshan, R., Doaii, H., Haddadi, E., Kikha, A. & Koshtegar, A. A. (2019). Identifying and prioritizing components of service compensation and rewards for customs employees and managers. Journal of Change Management, 12(1), 197-232. doi: 10.22067/tmj.2020.30647 (in Persian)
Black, D. E., Dikolli, S. S., Hofmann, C. & Pfeiffer, T. (2022). Estimating the sensitivity of CEO compensation to gross versus net accounting performance. Contemporary Accounting Research.
Bonabi Ghadim, R., Vaez, S. A. & Montazer Hojat, A. H. (2017). Establishing the forecasting model of board of director’s compensation based on precision, sensitivity and time horizon dimensions of profit in companies listed in Tehran stock exchange. Journal of Iranian accounting review, 4(16), 29-52. Doi: 10.22055/jiar.2018.25068.1194
(in Persian)
Bouteska, A. & Mefteh-Wali, S. (2021). The determinants of CEO compensation: new insights from United States. Journal of Applied Accounting Research, 22(4), 663-686.
Brockman, P., Lee, H. S. G. & Salas, J. M. (2016). Determinants of CEO compensation: Generalist–specialist versus insider–outsider attributes. Journal of Corporate Finance, 39, 53-77.
Brown, M. & Davis, S. (2015). Conservatism and CEO Compensation Sensitivity to Earnings. The Accounting Review.
Burns, N., Jindra, J. & Minnick, K. (2017). Sales of private firms and the role of CEO compensation. Journal of Corporate Finance, 43, 444-463.
Chang, Y., Chen, T. H. & Shu, M. C. (2018). Corporate social responsibility, corporate performance, and pay-performance sensitivity—evidence from shanghai stock exchange social responsibility index. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 54(5), 1183-1203.
Croci, E., Gonenc, H. & Ozkan, N. (2012). CEO compensation, family control, and institutional investors in Continental Europe. Journal of Banking & Finance, 36(12), 3318-3335.
Dai, H., Xing, L. & Khan, Y. A. (2024). Export diversification, CEO compensation and CEO pay-performance sensitivity: lesson from china. Current Psychology, 43(9), 8133-8148.
Dastgir, M. & Rastegar, M. (2011). The association between stock return, earnings quality and magnitude of accruals with accruals quality. Journal of financial accounting research, 3(1), 1-20. https://sid.ir/paper/155046/en (in Persian)
De Cesari, A., Gonenc, H. & Ozkan, N. (2016). The effects of corporate acquisitions on CEO compensation and CEO turnover of family firms. Journal of Corporate Finance, 38, 294-317.
Dolo, M. & Heydari, T. (2016). Prediction of stock index using the combination of artificial neural network and meta-heuristic models of harmony search and genetic algorithm. Financial economics (financial economics and development), 11(40), 1-23. (in Persian)
Faghani Makrani, Kh., Salehnezhad, S.H. & Amin, V. (2016). Forecast earnings management based on adjusted jones model using artificial neural networks and genetic algorithms. Financial engineering and securities management (portfolio management), 7(28), 117-136. (in Persian)
Fakhari, H. & Ramezani, M. (2016). Study of relationship between costs behavior and changes in bonus for directors. Journal of accounting knowledge, 7(24), 41-65. (in Persian)
Foroughi, D. & Nakhba Fallah, Z. (2012). Investigating the impact of corporate governance system mechanisms on conditional conservatism and unconditional conservatism of companies admitted to the Tehran stock exchange. Iran national accounting conference. Sid. https://sid.ir/paper/854046/fa (in Persian)
Ghaderi, E., Amini, P., Noravesh, I. & Mohammadi, A. (2018). Explaining the model of earning management measurement using an intelligent hybrid method of neural networks and Meta heuristic algorithms (genetic and particle swarm optimization). Financial engineering and securities management (portfolio management), 9(36), 99-127. Sid. https://sid.ir/paper/197531/en (in Persian)
Hajiha, Z. & Chenari Bouket, H. (2013). The study of the effect of motivation on the senior managers of wealth creation for shareholders. Investment knowledge, 2(5), 81-98. Sid. https://sid.ir/paper/188137/en (in Persian)
Hassas Yeganeh, Y. & Baghomian, R. (2005). corporate governance and financial reporting quality. Chartered accountant, 45-86. Sid. https://sid.ir/paper/445580/fa (in Persian)
Heidarpoor, F. & Barmcheh, A. (2017). The effect of family control and institutional investors on CEO compensation. The financial accounting and auditing researches, 9(35), 135-155. Sid. https://sid.ir/paper/197935/en (in Persian)
Imani, H., Azar, A., Gholipour, A. & Pourezzat, A. A. (2020). Presenting an Interpretive Structural Model of Employees' Compensation System toward Administrative Integrity in the Public Sector. Journal of Public Administration, 12(3), 427-460. doi: 10.22059/jipa.2020.300130.2727 (in Persian)
Jaiswall, S.S. K. & Bhattacharyya, A. K. (2016). Corporate governance and CEO compensation in Indian firms. Journal of Contemporary Accounting & Economics, 12(2), 159-175.
Jensen, M. C. & Meckling, W. H. (2019). Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure. In Corporate governance (pp. 77-132). Gower.
Jones, A. & Smith, B. (2016). Earnings Management and CEO Compensation Sensitivity to Earnings. Journal of Financial Economics.
Karimi, M. & Roshani Gilvaii, M.R. (2022). Investigating the effect of conflict of interests between shareholders and managers on the relationship between company risk-taking and financial performance of companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. The first conference of applied humanities research in management, industrial engineering, Economics and Accounting. https://civilica.com/doc/1625449 (in Persian)
Kazempour, M. & Sepasi, S. (2016). Cost stickiness concept and a comprehensive overview of studies in Iran. Accounting and auditing studies, 5(19), 38-55 (in Persian)
Kurdestani, Gh. & Mortezavi, S.M. (2011). Investigating the effect of managers' considered decisions on cost stickiness. Accounting and auditing reviews, 19(67), 73-90. (in Persian)
Li, C., Tseng, Y. & Chen, T. K. (2016). Top management team expertise and corporate real earnings management activities. Advances in accounting, 34, 117-132.
Li, X. & Zhang, Y. (2018). The Impact of Financial Statement Comparability on CEO Compensation Sensitivity to Earnings. Journal of Accounting and Economics.
Liu, C. & Yin, C. (2023). Institutional investors’ monitoring attention, CEO compensation, and relative performance evaluation. Finance Research Letters, 56, 104121.
Maham, K. & Bak Mohamadi, S.. (2016). The relationship between income smoothing current performance, future performance and CEO Job security. The financial accounting and auditing researches, 8(29), 19-38. (in Persian)
Mehrazzin, A., Qobdian, B., Forootan, O. & Taghipour, M. (2012). Family ownership, non-family companies and profit management. Auditing knowledge, 13(52). (in Persian)
Mohammadnia, S. (2015). Examining the relationship between accounting profit, economic profit and operational profit with the amount of board of directors' bonus. Master's thesis. Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch. (in Persian)
Namazi, M. & Sayrani, M. (2004). Experimental investigating of important structures in identifying contracts, indexes and parameters for bonus of ceo's and compensation plans. Empirical studies in financial accounting, 2(5), 25-60 (in Persian)
Namazi, M. Ghafari, M.J. & Faridouni, M. (2011). Fundamental analysis of the sticky behavior of costs and cost with emphasis on the scope of changes in the Tehran stock exchange. Advances in accounting (Shiraz social and human sciences), 4(2), 151-177. (in Persian)
Naqdi, S., Arab Mazar Yazdi, M. (2018). Combination of neural network, genetic algorithm and particle aggregation algorithm in predicting profit per share. Accounting knowledge quarterly, 8 (3). (in Persian)
Noti Zahi, A., Bagheri Mohebi, S. (2022). Designing a compensation system model for employees and managers. Islamic lifestyle based on health, 5, 298-311.
Osmani, B., Nezhad Irani, F., Rahimi, Gh., Beikzad, J. (2022). Pathology of human resources compensation system and providing a suitable model in Melli Bank of Iran. Scientific Quarterly Journal of Iranian Islamic Development Model Studies. (in Persian)
Pourali, M.R. & Hajjami, M. (2014). Relationship between social responsibility disclosure and institutional ownership in companies listed in Tehran stock exchange. Knowledge of Management Accounting and Auditing, 3(10), 135-150. (in Persian)
Rezazadeh, J., Rahimpour, M. & Nasiri, M. (2011). Role of temporary accounting distortions in reducing persistence of accruals. Journal of Accounting Knowledge, 2(4), 49-64. Sid. https://sid.ir/paper/163510/en (in Persian)
Sajjadi, S.H. & Zarezadeh Mehrizi, M.S. (2011). Investigating the relationship between managers' bonus plans and economic performance evaluation criteria in companies listed on the Tehran stock exchange. Financial accounting research, 3(4), 41-54. (in Persian)
Saki, M. (2016). Investigating the relationship between debt contracts and the company's political sensitivity with the ceo's compensation sensitivity. Master thesis, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University. (in Persian)
Sephovand, R., Bagherzadeh Khodashahri, R. & Sepahvand, M. (2018). Political sensitivity and compensation of senior managers: analysis of the mediating and moderating role of political networking and institutional pressure in Iran's government ministries. Public Administration, 11(3), 431-454. doi: 10.22059/jipa.2019.286531.2603 (in Persian)
Sidi, A. (2016). Investigating the relationship between the board of directors' characteristics and profit management in companies listed on the Tehran stock exchange. Master's thesis, University of Tehran. (in Persian)
Zahiri Abdol-Vand, S., Moghaddam, A. & Tamaradi, A. (2020). The effect of CEO power on the relationship between managerial transactions and financial reporting quality. Journal of Financial Accounting Research, 13(1), 87-108. doi: 10.22108/far.2021.123312.1641 (in Persian)