Sustainability management accounting system (SMAS): towards a conceptual design for the manufacturing industry

[Abstract]: The study reported in this paper aims to identify an effective management accounting system using sustainability accounting concept for environmental and social cost measurement to add value to organizations. The motivation for undertaking this research is driven by the current practice of activity based costing (ABC), which has not identified and allocated costs of environment and social impacts to a single production activity. This has resulted in inaccuracies in cost accounting information when preparing environmental and social performance disclosures for internal management decisions, as well as external disclosures. This study therefore develops a conceptual model for a Sustainability Management Accounting System (SMAS) to improve the identification and measurement of environmental and social impact costs. A SMAS also provides sustainable organizations with a way to enhance cost allocation and analysis efficiently, thus creating more accurate cost accounting information for management decisions and reporting disclosure purposes. This paper describes preliminary work undertaken to date. Currently, it would appear that most Australian firms fail to report on their environmental performance, however, social indicators make it increasingly important for organisations to embrace corporate social reponsibility in their financial reporting and disclosure. Further, the results of quantitative data anlaysis will be used to identify an effective management accounting of sustainable organizations while supporting the development of a SMAS conceptual model

Supply chain intelligence: benefits, techniques and future trends

Supply Chain Management is a philosophy to manage logistical processes in complex systems, that are very difficult to integrate and analyze. Such systems can be effectively analysed by the use of Business Intelligence applications. The capability to make the right decision at the right time in collaboration with the right partners is the definition of the successful use of BI. This paper explains the need for Supply Chain Business Intelligence and introduces the driving forces for it’s implementation. New technologies such as data mining, and their role in BI systems are also discussed. Finally, key BI trends and technologies that will influence future systems are described.supply chain, business intelligence, data mining

Strategic enterprise management systems : tools for the 21st century

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/aicpa_guides/1228/thumbnail.jp

An Exploratory Study of Patient Falls

Debate continues between the contribution of education level and clinical expertise in the nursing practice environment. Research suggests a link between Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) nurses and positive patient outcomes such as lower mortality, decreased falls, and fewer medication errors. Purpose: To examine if there a negative correlation between patient falls and the level of nurse education at an urban hospital located in Midwest Illinois during the years 2010-2014? Methods: A retrospective crosssectional cohort analysis was conducted using data from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) from the years 2010-2014. Sample: Inpatients aged ≥ 18 years who experienced a unintentional sudden descent, with or without injury that resulted in the patient striking the floor or object and occurred on inpatient nursing units. Results: The regression model was constructed with annual patient falls as the dependent variable and formal education and a log transformed variable for percentage of certified nurses as the independent variables. The model overall is a good fit, F (2,22) = 9.014, p = .001, adj. R2 = .40. Conclusion: Annual patient falls will decrease by increasing the number of nurses with baccalaureate degrees and/or certifications from a professional nursing board-governing body

Kaizen costing in delphi technologies

Background: This study investigates how Kaizen Costing can aid in the cost savings process in material for Delphi Technologies, where a complete breakdown of the general process is given, as well as a real-life example. Methods: The paper consists of an interventionist research case study. Qualitative and quantitative data was gathered to outline the exact cost saving process. Results: The design change boosted company’s savings by $ 761,249 for a period of twelve months. Conclusion: Findings offer unique insights to the impact Kaizen Costing has on material cost savings, which augments its competitiveness in the fierce automotive industry

The role of environmental accounting in strategic cost management

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-87).Environmental issues in the world today and often seen in the media are causing a stir in the business world. The effect is that the environment in which businesses operate has significantly changed over the past two decades and businesses are faced with new risks and challenges as well as new opportunities in addressing the needs and claims of stakeholders. Environmental accounting is now on an expansion path with increasing focus on the environment. In order to benefit from the accounting data, strategic cost management can be used as a philosophy to provide competitive strategies. This research paper will describe the environmental component of business and describe the role of environmental accounting in strategic cost management. Furthermore, an assessment will be performed on a South African organisation. The assessment will demonstrate how a South African organisation has reacted and integrated environmental business aspects into their organisation

The impact of integrated information systems on management accounting: Case of Croatia

The main aim of this study is to analyze how implementation of integrated information systems (IIS) effects management accounting. Findings based on data collected from 108 Croatian firms confirmed that IIS implementation caused significant management accounting changes. Estimated regression models revealed that the most important IIS characteristic were the analytical capabilities since it positively influenced management accounting changes in four dimensions: internal reporting, budgeting, application of modern accounting techniques and management accounting employees’ jobs. The quality of IIS implementation statistically significantly and positively influenced changes related to data collection and internal reporting. In the segment of budgeting, the quality of implementation of specialized budgeting software had significant and positive influence. The only negative correlation found was the one between the uncertainty of business environment and adoption of modern accounting techniques. Findings from this study provide unique insight into effects of IIS implementation in Croatian firms and can be used by different stakeholders. Firms and IIS vendors should put special focus on implementation of business analytics modules in order to achieve comprehensive benefits in management accounting practices. Providers of accountant’s education should consider the fact that contemporary IIS systems’ environment calls for development of additional skills in the area of information technology, business processes and business communication

New Business Initiatives and Financial Performance

This dissertation examines the relationship o f improvement in financial performance with use o f new business initiatives such as JIT, TQM, and ABC. The investigation is organized into three areas o f inquiry that telescope from the general to the specific to reach a conclusion regarding the efficacy of initiatives. The first two studies contain regression analyses o f the association between the use of the initiatives and change in industry mean-adjusted ROI. The third study develops and test a comprehensive structural model that incorporates factors postulated by previous researchers to affect the efficacy of ABC. Data are obtained through a cross-sectional mail survey o f 1,058 internal auditors for the first and third studies, and o f 1,100 motor carriers for the second. Use o f initiatives is common and consistent across both samples with 78 percent and 72 percent, respectively, of firms reporting that they are significant users o f at least one initiative. Most firms use multiple initiatives concurrently and only 22 percent (21 percent) use a single initiative in isolation There is empirical evidence that initiative use is associated with improvement in financial performance. Findings include that ABC, TQM, CIM, Value Chain Analysis, and Flexible Manufacturing Systems are significantly associated with ROI improvement for manufacturers. Concurrent use o f JIT with TQM, JIT with CIM, BPR with TQM, and JIT with ABC in manufacturing create a positive synergy. Partnerships with Suppliers (PWS), EDI, Satellite Tracking Systems (STS) and ABC are significantly associated with ROI improvement in the motor carrier industry. Concurrent use of PWS with STS and of EDI with ABC generate a positive synergy. The third study concludes that positive synergies are obtained from concurrent use o f other initiatives with ABC. There is a positive association between ABC and improvement in ROI when implemented in complex and diverse firms, in environments where costs are relatively important, and when there are limited numbers o f intracompany transactions to constrain benefits. Finally, there is evidence that the measures “satisfaction” with cost system, “success” o f ABC, and “financial benefit” obtained from ABC that have been used in previous research are predictors o f improvement in financial performance

Antecedents and moderators of the state of supply chain logistics measurement and consequential perceived competitiveness

The purpose of this research was to describe the state of logistics measurement in corporate America and to explore relationships between it and various antecedents, moderators, and perceived competitive advantage. This research, conducted in 1998- 1999, builds on previous studies published by the Council of Logistics Management, validates previous findings about the state of logistics measurement, and provides exploratory insights into the current state. In addition, theory regarding the quality of logistics measures was tested. The design of the research included the use of the Delphi technique, several case studies, and a mailed questionnaire completed by senior logistics and supply chain executives from 355 companies. Twenty-eight hypotheses were tested. Considerable post hoc analysis was performed to enhance the understanding of logistics measurement in the supply chain. Major findings include: (1) Logistics measurement is generally not considered to be one of the important issues facing the organization. (2) Key logistics performance measures are not captured by a large percentage of firms, even though they are perceived to be important to the firm and to its customers. (3) Even though a logistics performance measure is captured, organizations often fail to take action based upon the value of the measure. (4) The quality of measures captured is often perceived to be deficient. (5) Firms are more focused on measurement of activities or processes within the firm than on activities or processes between firms. (6) The position of the firm in its dominant supply chain influences what it measures. (7) Existing technologies that would facilitate measurement are not being considered for implementation by a large percentage of companies. (8) Large firms are more likely to measure logistics processes/capabilities than small firms. (9) Top management support is seen as the greatest enabler of logistics performance measurement. Major conclusions of the research include: (1) Most firms represented by respondents to the survey do not comprehensively measure logistics performance. (2) Even the best performing; firms fail to realize their productivity and service potential available from logistics performance measurement. (3) There is a need for collaboration between trading partners on definitions of processes and measures of performance. (4) Opportunities exist for improving the alignment of business strategies and logistics strategies. However, such alignment does not appear to affect the state of logistics measurement. (5) Supply chain management is a theory under development and not currently practiced