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

Trade globalisation and the reform of customs valuation and VAT on importation of goods: the example of Thailand

PhDThe purpose of this thesis is to reform customs valuation law and VAT on importation of goods under trends in trade globalisation, using Thailand as the example. To achieve this purpose, a number of related topics (e.g. the 'notional' and 'positive' concepts of value, international customs valuation systems - the Brussels Definition of Value and the WTO Customs Valuation Agreement the destination and origin principles, VAT on importation, and the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)) are brought to analysis in a comprehensive way. The research findings indicate that the existing system of customs valuation in Thailand is arbitrary and constitutes a significant barrier to trade. Such problems will be reduced (or eliminated) under the new customs valuation legislation, based on the WTO Customs Valuation Agreement. However, the system of the WTO customs valuation is complicated, creating some difficulties for developing countries like Thailand to apply. In this connection, co-operation among ASEAN customs administrations should be enhanced. The 'regional minimum values' should also be applied for determining the customs value where the transactions within the ASEAN region are between related parties. With regard to VAT on importation, it is found that, in the two countries (the UK and Thailand) surveyed, there is no particular problem inherent in the destination-based VAT. Most problems relate to the administration as well as the base of VAT on importation in Thailand. Reforms on these matters have to be undertaken unilaterally and voluntarily to improve prospects for attracting foreign investment and increasing trade. This thesis is based upon law and agreements in force at 31 December 1999

The Marketing Mix Development of Thai Traditional Food Products: A Case Study of Chiang Mai Traditional Green Chili Paste

    This research aimed to develop a marketing mix guideline of green chili paste for Chiang Mai entrepreneurs. The research scope covered respondents’ opinions and demands on the marketing mix of green chili paste products which consisting of four aspects, namely, product, price, place and promotion. In all, 400 samples were studied of which 200 samples were Chiang Mai residents and another 200 samples were tourists. The result of the research showed that the respondents had an overall opinion at a degree of strong agreement towards the marketing mix of green chili paste products. When considered in detail of the four aspects, they rated each aspect at the degree of strong agreement.Keywords : Marketing Mix, Thai Traditional Food, Green Chili Past

Identification of effective management accounting system characteristics to support sustainable value chains: towards a conceptual model for sustainable development of firms

Sustainable growth organizations that create environmental and social efficiency in the development of economic performance would become highly competitive and strengthen their reputation in the eye of stakeholders and marketplaces. In contrast, companies lacking sustainability perspectives would be faced with difficulty in responding to government regulations, supporting stakeholders’ and the public’s demands, and complying with environmental and social performance disclosures. The study is motivated by the current practice of activity based costing (ABC) which, to date, has not recognized environmental and social costs and/or separated them from overheads to create more accurate cost information for decision-making and sustainability reporting initiatives. The literature review also demonstrates that there is a need for a conceptual model or theoretical framework for environmental management accounting (EMA) and social management accounting (SMA) to be developed for more accurate cost accounting data on environmental and social impacts. Without further research, companies appear to lack a system that accurately captures costs and provides information to support internal decision making and external disclosure initiatives. There is a need for an accounting framework or conceptual model to measure costs of improvements in society and the environment, while adding value to organizations and making them more sustainable. This study, therefore, designed a sustainability management accounting system (SMAS) combining environmental management accounting (EMA) and social management accounting (SMA) concepts and practices as a new conceptual model for sustainable growth organizations. A SMAS is also designed to expand on activity based costing (ABC) application using a cost allocation and analysis approach to create more accurate cost information while fully costing for effective decision-making and external reporting initiatives. In establishing an appropriate conceptual model, the study used mixed methods combining quantitative and qualitative research approaches to collect and analyse data to triangulate findings. Three theories—deep ecology, Marx’s labour theory of value, and stakeholder theory—were fused to examine ethical and moral obligations in identifying cost accounting data of environment and social impacts to support internal decision-making and address stakeholders’ concerns. The results of this study indicate that companies were looking for ways to improve cost identification and measurement of environment and social impacts. Companies were intending to change to new management accounting practices to separately identify and measure these costs for more effective decision-making. A Sustainability Management Accounting System (SMAS) conceptual model designed by this study would support companies to meet data accuracy needs. Applying ABC application in a design of a SMAS creates more accurate cost information, thus fully costing products to effectively enhance internal management decisions and develop tracking and reporting systems. By adopting such a system, it would support companies in becoming strong, sustainable growth organizations capable of creating economic, environmental and social value both immediately and in the future, whilst complying with government regulations and external reporting initiatives such NGER or GRI. Further research is suggested in terms of identifying effective management accounting practices for environmental and social cost dimension in service manufacturing companies to meet sustainability objectives. Further research is also suggested in terms of financial management accounting for more precise financial disclosures in addressing the concerns of stakeholders and the public

Effective Channels for Establishing an Irlen Centre to Help People with Reading Problems in Thailand

Irlen Syndrome was identified in the 1980s as a condition that affects people who cannot see written text on a page properly. Consequently, their ability to learn in a standard educational setting is significantly limited and their future lives constrained. Further, affected people, in common with people with dyslexia, are often accused of lack of intellect or interest in studies and this can be a source of stress and relationship breakdown. The eponymous Irlen method provides a technical solution to the problem involving coloured lenses, which helps some people. Nevertheless, the approach falls between the educational and medical worlds and this provides some credibility issues. This paper examines the possibility of establishing an effective and profitable Irlen Centre in Thailand through personal, in-depth interviews with relevant professionals in a variety of fields. The findings are considered in the light of contemporary Thai culture and the pressure on young people to take an active part in a market-oriented society

Religious Diversity and Political Change in Thailand

Thailand continues to undergo a process of political modernization, moving from a feudal to a fully-fledged and modernized capitalist society. This is a process that has involved numerous missteps and backward turns – most recently the 2006 military coup and the 2010 massacres – and the dissolution of previously existing cultural and social bonds. Marketization of all regions of the country has brought about changes in land ownership, social relations and gender relations but has not, as yet, brought about changes in religious beliefs or in the relationships between people of different belief systems. The majority Buddhist philosophy has been invigorated by emphasis placed on figures such as the goddess Guan Yin, who is eminently appropriate for the age of plenty, while animist hill tribes people incorporate new ways of life into a flexible and accommodating belief system. Only in the southern provinces bordering Malaysia, where the majority of people are ethnic Malay Muslims, is there a division between people based on religion. A faction of people in the border regions have been agitating for autonomous rule or, at least, an end to unfair and unpleasant treatment by high-handed representatives of the Thai state and their mandate to enforce the longstanding triumvirate of Thai language, Buddhist belief and respect for the monarchy as defining characteristics of citizens. Agitation has led to acts of terrorism and suppression including atrocities on both sides. These divisions are not reflected in any other part of the country, although plenty of other symptoms of division are

Food Insecurity in Thailand during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Food insecurity is a reality for millions of people around the world and affects even relatively affluent populations such as those found in urban Bangkok in Thailand. It is anticipated that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic will have intensified the presence of food insecurity both in the initial closedown that prevented food from entering the city but, also, in the longer term as the economic damage has intensified across the country. This raises questions about the extent to which people are experiencing food insecurity and how are they dealing with it. In particular, what level of resilience are people showing in response to the crisis? A qualitative research program of personal interviews was organized to explore these issues. Content analysis revealed that the sample was responding to these issues in a manner generally predicted by the existing research but with the addition of a non-technical form of mindful meditation we have called ‘everyday fatalism.’ The paper contributes to awareness of food insecurity in Thailand during the coronavirus period and an understanding of the adaptability of people in a Buddhist society dealing with hardship. The spiritual element of life is present in becoming resilient according to how respondents describe their experiences

Can Environmental and Social Performance of Thai-listed Companies Create Sustainable Value?

This study explores an integrated reporting system of Thai-listed companies disclosing environmental and social performance in Thai context, and how integrated reports create sustainable value to stakeholders and users. A set of questionnaires is created to conduct Fifty-two of Thai companies listed in the Stock Exchange of Thailand. The samples are selected from five sectors including Transport, Machinery, Metal product, Electricity, Finance and banking, Food and beverage, Petroleum, and Telecommunication. Environmental and social performance indicators in annual reports and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are targeted for investigation. Correlation analysis methods are employed to test hypotheses. This study found that Thai-listed companies incorporated environmental and social performance in reporting system to satisfy information needs of stakeholders and users. Environmental and social performance integrated in the reports aims to create sustainable value in the eye of stakeholders and investors. Keywords: Integrated reporting system, Environmental performance, Social performance, integrated reporting perspectives, sustainable value DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/10-10-23 Publication date:May 31st 2019

DWT/ MFCC Feature Extraction for Tile Tapping Sound Classification

Tile tapping sound inspection is a process of construction quality control. Hollow sound, for instance, indicate low quality tessellation and thus voids underneath that could lead to future broken tiles. Hollow-sounding inspection was often carried out by construction specialists, whose skills and judgment may vary across individual. This paper elevates this issue and presents a Deep Learning (DL) classification method for computerized sounding tile inspection. Unlike other existing works in the area, where structural details were assessed, this study acquired tapping sound signals and analyzed them in a spectral domain by using Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and Mel-frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC). The dull versus hollow sounding tile were then classified based on these features by means of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The experiments carried out in a laboratory tessellation indicated that the proposed method could differentiate dull from hollow-sounding tiles with very high accuracy up to 93.67%. The developed prototype can be used as guideline for devising a tiling inspection standard

Marketing Competency Development Guidance for Rural Women Entrepreneurs : A Case Study of Small Enterprises in Knitted & Embroidered Cotton Product

    The purpose of this research was to present guidance to develop women entrepreneurs’ marketing competency of knitted & embroidery cotton product small enterprises in Sankhamphang community of Chiang Mai province.    The research covered women entrepreneurs’ information; personal information, types of enterprises, motivation factors in starting up business, production and marketing operation. The research also covered personal information, attitude and behavior of customers toward knitted and embroidery cotton products.    In collecting data of women entrepreneurs, the author used a structured questionnaire as a research tool in interviewing the representatives of both small enterprises in the community.     In collecting data of customers, the samples were 400 customers who have bought knitted and embroidery cotton products. Quota sampling was used in regard to main location of customers; Chiang Mai 200 samples and Bangkok 200 samples. The self administered questionnaire was used as a research tool. The data was analyzed using several statistical techniques including frequency, percentage, t-test, Ftest and Chi-Square test by using SPSS.Keywords : Marketing Competency, Women Entrepreneurs, Small Enterprises, Knitted & Embroidery Cotton Produc