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Theories Of Agency Theory

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The agency theory explores risk sharing among individuals or groups. Risk sharing situation raises a problem when co-operating parties have different attitudes towards risk. Agency theory broadens the risk-sharing concept to include the agency problem which occurs when co-operating parties have different goals and there is division of labour (Kathleen. 1989). According to an audit quality forum (2005), an agency relationship arises when a principal (for example, an owner) engage another person as their agent (or steward) to perform a service on their behalf. This leads to delegation of some duties and responsibilities to the agent. Consequently, the principal has to place some trust in the agent hoping that they will act in their best interests. …show more content…

The consequence of these problems is that the principals may lack trust in their agents and they may therefore need to put in place mechanisms, such as audit, to reinforce this trust. Agency theory is concerned in solving these problems that arise in an agency relationship. A simple agency theory model suggests that, as a result of information asymmetry and self-interest, principals lack reasons to trust their agents and will seek to resolve these concerns by putting in place mechanisms to align the interests of agents with the principals and to reduce the scope for information asymmetry and opportunistic behaviour (Audit Quality Forum, 2005). According to Jensen and Meckling (1976), agency theory attempts to describe the agency relationship in the form of a metaphorical contract. That is, agency theory is a contract in which the principal is represented by management in executing the strategic goals and objectives and the auditors in providing assurance in their

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