Management accounting and integrated information systems
1. Directions for future research
In the Previous section research on management accounting and IIS has been reviewed. The review was structured on the basis of the theoretical framework developed in Section 3. On the basis of the theoretical framework literature within seven aspects of the relationship between management accounting and IIS was reviewed. Many suggestions for future research can be identified on the basis of the literature review. Rather than developing a comprehensive list of research opportunities, this section will draw attention to a limited number of research opportunities that seem to be the most promising areas of future research.
1.1. Management accounting techniques and the IIS: Analysis-oriented information systems
Unfortunately, it is characteristic of the current literature that to a large extent it focuses on ERP systems. Limited research has been conducted on other components of the IIS. This seems opaque since research on the relationship between ERP systems and management accounting techniques does not find strong relationships between IIS and management accounting. Several of these studies even argue that analysis-oriented information systems such as SEM systems and specialised software seem be better able to support management accounting (see e.g. Malmi,2001; Granlund and Malmi, 2002).Fortunately, some research is beginning to appear that looks at other components of the IIS than ERP systems (e.g. Fahy and Millea, 2001; Hyv?nen, 2003). Much more research, however, is needed. An opportunity for future research exists especially within the relationship between specialised software and management accounting techniques. Examples of such software are ABC, BSC or budgeting software. Examples of research questions are: How is the balanced scorecard
supported by standard BSC software such as Corporater BSC? What variables can explain the different ways that ERP vs. analysis-oriented information systems support management accounting? How does the use of such systems impact the role and decisions of management accountants and other managers? Research in this area should assist in gaining important new insights since management accounting is largely supported with such software (e.g. Malmi, 2001).Survey, case study as well as experimental methods could be applied and each offers different strengths (Birnberg et al., 1990). The choice of research method depends on the research question (Yin, 1994, p. 6). Since several research questions are relevant to ask, several research methods would be applicable. Application of different research methods would strengthen the validity of research (Modell, 2005; Arnold, 2006).
1.2. Management accounting techniques and the IIS: The promise or peril of integration
Integration seems to be the key characteristic of the IIS, apparently the more the better. But,contemporary research indicates that this is not necessarily the case. Case studies such as the ones conducted by Scapens and Jazayeri (2003) and Dechow and Mouritsen (2005) report that ERP systems bring with them such a high degree of integration that it is almost too much. Furthermore,from a functionalist point of view, it is argued that integration must not be strived for at the sacrifice of management accounting (Kaplan, 1990; Cooper and Kaplan, 1998). According to the four-stage model (Kaplan, 1990), information systems that are not fully integrated can actually be better at supporting management accounting in a pilot phase than fully integrated information systems. Finally, research on ERP systems and management accounting techniques find that companies choose lower degrees of integration when they implement, for example, the balanced scorecard using specialised software (Malmi, 2001).
Data integration can also be studied more narrowly. Kaplan (1990) argues that, at present,information produced for financial accounting purposes is used for management accounting purposes as well. Kaplan (1990) would prefer that management accounting was the primary vehicle for cost allocations and that financial accounting then, in turn, used these calculations for inventory valuation, et cetera. In this structure, data for management and financial accounting are integrated.An information system can be integrated along different dimensions. Booth et al. (2000) identify three dimensions of integration: data integration, hard/software integration and information integration. Furthermore, Granlund and Malmi (2002) note that the level of integration is a continuum. Building on these early studies, that integration is not valuable per se, future research should address the issue of optimal levels for integration. Is integration along all dimensions of integration needed? What is the relationship between integration and different aspects of a management accounting techniques such as activity-based costing and the balanced scorecard? Again, several research methods could be applied since the body of knowledge is scarce and different kinds of research questions in relation to management accounting techniques and integration can be posed. Depending on the level of abstraction some current research exists (Booth et al., 2000). The survey or experimental methods would be applicable when building on these studies. When aiming for uncovering variables within the relationship between management accounting techniques and integration, the case study method may be more appropriate. 5.3. The role of the accountant, the organisation of management accounting and the IIS:
The dispersion of management accounting Management accounting is currently conducted by a host of different people from business managers to shop floor personnel. That these new groups of people possess insights
into the 62 A. Rom, C. Rohde / International Journal of Accounting Information Systems 8 (2007) 40–68 techniques of management accounting can be questioned, which leads to two opportunities for future research. First, from a functionalist point of view, research is needed on what skills nonmanagement accountants need and what happens to the design and use of management accounting techniques when shop floor personnel posts to the general ledger and business managers are doing budget revisions. Second, the role of management accounting as a management technology is likely to change.From the perspective of actor-network theory, IIS and management accounting are now taking on new meanings. Management accounting may no longer be the domain of management accountants. How will this impact the way that management accounting is perceived? Will management accounting fuse together with other management domains such as marketing, strategy and organisation? In both cases, case study research seems to be the most appropriate way of uncovering these relationships that seem to be very context dependent and situational. 5.4. Behaviour, use and perceptions and the IIS: Design and use from a functionalist perspective
An in-depth understanding of the relationship between IIS and the design of managementaccounting techniques and their use is lacking. Studies on the relationship between IIS and management accounting techniques have mostly applied survey or field study methods. Only a few case studies applying a functionalist perspective have been conducted (e.g. J?nsson and Gr?nlund, 1988; van der Veeken and Wouters, 2002). More research on specific design considerations is needed. How are the IIS and management accounting techniques designed in practice? What limitations do practitioners experience regarding IIS or management accounting techniques? How do practitioners circumvent these limitations? Similarly, more research on the use of IIS and management accounting
techniques is needed.The insights from J?nsson and Gr?nlund (1988) and van der Veeken and Wouters (2002) are valuable, but much more research like that is needed.When studying design and use of the IS in relation to management accounting, the case study method holds potential for helping inform future research. Using this method, the many aspects of design and use reveal themselves. Experimental methods will be more applicable when a limited set of key variables regarding use are of primary interest.
5.5. Management accounting, IIS and performance: Management accounting as an intermediate
Variable No piece of research was identified that studied the relationship between IIS, management accounting and firm performance. Several frameworks in which business processes intermediate the relationship between investments in IT and performance have been proposed (e.g. Barua et al.,1995; Dehning and Richardson, 2002). Although not a primary business process, management accounting can be considered one of the business processes. Does better management accounting lead to improvements in firm performance? How does better management accounting impact firm performance and under which circumstances? What kind of fit between management accounting and IIS has the largest impact on performance? Inclusion of management accounting as an intermediate variable would enrich the research stream on performance effects. Furthermore, research on how to evaluate performance effects of IISs supporting management accounting is needed.
Alternative research methods should be better able to uncover the many intermediate variables between investments in IT and firm performance. The joint hypothesis needs to be split in smaller Rom, C. Rohde / International Journal of Accounting Information Systems 8 (2007) 40–68 63parts (Dehning and Richardson, 2002). The use of research methods that
expand beyond archival data analysis appear critical to expanding our understanding of the dimensions of performance affected and the key sources of likely performance improvements.
From: Management accounting and integrated information systems
-财务预测管理系统的设计与开发外文翻译
