IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ijoais/v36y2020ics1467089518300897.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Synthesizing enterprise data to strategically align performance: The intentionality of strategy surrogation

Author

Listed:
  • Reinking, Jeff
  • Arnold, Vicky
  • Sutton, Steve G.

Abstract

Strategic performance measurement systems (SPMS) are employed by senior management as a means of translating strategy into performance measures. Recent research suggests that this translation can lead managers to focus on personal performance measures as opposed to overall organizational strategy—a phenomenon referred to as strategy surrogation. Emerging technologies are increasingly used to operationalize SPMS via smart phone/tablet/laptop formats that inherently promote the use of small subsets of performance measures and have the potential to exacerbate strategy surrogation effects. This study explores executive managers' motivations in deploying dashboards and the resulting effect on operational managers' focus on associated performance measures. An exploratory cross-sectional field study is conducted with 27 executive to mid-level managers to establish a theoretical model explaining how and why organizations deploy dashboards and why managers use dashboards to facilitate their activities and decisions. Despite concerns over the propensity of managers to focus on performance measures and lose sight of strategic objectives (i.e. strategy surrogation), the interview data indicate that executive management intentionally designs dashboards to achieve strategy surrogation. The impact of this intentional surrogation appears to arise through operational managers' beliefs that dashboard measures align with organizational strategy and lead to improved managerial and organizational performance. However, this relationship between perceived alignment of performance measures and managerial and organizational performance is mediated by dashboard quality and information quality. These findings have important implications as the effects of SPMS on strategy surrogation are further explored by researchers, and as system designers consider the side effects of emerging technologies on effective strategic performance measurement.

Suggested Citation

  • Reinking, Jeff & Arnold, Vicky & Sutton, Steve G., 2020. "Synthesizing enterprise data to strategically align performance: The intentionality of strategy surrogation," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ijoais:v:36:y:2020:i:c:s1467089518300897
    DOI: 10.1016/j.accinf.2019.100444
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1467089518300897
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.accinf.2019.100444?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Granlund, Markus, 2011. "Extending AIS research to management accounting and control issues: A research note," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 12(1), pages 3-19.
    2. Langfield-Smith, Kim, 1997. "Management control systems and strategy: A critical review," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 207-232, February.
    3. Chapman, Christopher S. & Kihn, Lili-Anne, 2009. "Information system integration, enabling control and performance," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 151-169, February.
    4. Jongwoon (Willie) Choi & Gary W. Hecht & William B. Tayler, 2013. "Strategy Selection, Surrogation, and Strategic Performance Measurement Systems," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1), pages 105-133, March.
    5. Widener, Sally K., 2007. "An empirical analysis of the levers of control framework," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 32(7-8), pages 757-788.
    6. Peters, Matt D. & Wieder, Bernhard & Sutton, Steve G., 2018. "Organizational improvisation and the reduced usefulness of performance measurement BI functionalities," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 1-15.
    7. Peters, Matt D. & Wieder, Bernhard & Sutton, Steve G. & Wakefield, James, 2016. "Business intelligence systems use in performance measurement capabilities: Implications for enhanced competitive advantage," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 1-17.
    8. William H. DeLone & Ephraim R. McLean, 1992. "Information Systems Success: The Quest for the Dependent Variable," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 3(1), pages 60-95, March.
    9. Robert Simons, 1994. "How new top managers use control systems as levers of strategic renewal," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(3), pages 169-189, March.
    10. Chapman, Christopher S., 2005. "Not because they are new: Developing the contribution of enterprise resource planning systems to management control research," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 30(7-8), pages 685-689.
    11. Henri, Jean-Francois, 2006. "Management control systems and strategy: A resource-based perspective," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 529-558, August.
    12. Kaplan, Robert S., 1986. "The role for empirical research in management accounting," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 11(4-5), pages 429-452, July.
    13. Miller, Amy & Cioffi, Jennifer, 2004. "Measuring Marketing Effectiveness and Value: The Unisys Marketing Dashboard," Journal of Advertising Research, Cambridge University Press, vol. 44(3), pages 237-243, September.
    14. Banker, Rajiv D. & Chang, Hsihui & Pizzini, Mina, 2011. "The judgmental effects of strategy maps in balanced scorecard performance evaluations," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 259-279.
    15. Robert Simons, 1991. "Strategic orientation and top management attention to control systems," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(1), pages 49-62, January.
    16. Yigitbasioglu, Ogan M. & Velcu, Oana, 2012. "A review of dashboards in performance management: Implications for design and research," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 41-59.
    17. Burney, Laurie L. & Henle, Christine A. & Widener, Sally K., 2009. "A path model examining the relations among strategic performance measurement system characteristics, organizational justice, and extra- and in-role performance," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 34(3-4), pages 305-321, April.
    18. Bisbe, Josep & Otley, David, 2004. "The effects of the interactive use of management control systems on product innovation," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 29(8), pages 709-737, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Maël Schnegg & Klaus Möller, 2022. "Strategies for data analytics projects in business performance forecasting: a field study," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 33(2), pages 241-271, June.
    2. Caraiman Adrian-Cosmin, 2020. "CoCo PATTERN IN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 6, pages 131-137, December.
    3. Koreff, Jared & Weisner, Martin & Sutton, Steve G., 2021. "Data analytics (ab) use in healthcare fraud audits," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    4. Jochen Fähndrich, 2023. "A literature review on the impact of digitalisation on management control," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 9-65, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Reinking, Jeff & Arnold, Vicky & Sutton, Steve G., 2020. "Synthesizing enterprise data through digital dashboards to strategically align performance: Why do operational managers use dashboards?," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    2. Walid Cheffi, 2008. "Etude Des Roles De La Comptabilite De Gestion Pour Les Managers : Le Cas D'Un Grand Groupe Automobile," Post-Print halshs-00522472, HAL.
    3. Peters, Matt D. & Wieder, Bernhard & Sutton, Steve G. & Wakefield, James, 2016. "Business intelligence systems use in performance measurement capabilities: Implications for enhanced competitive advantage," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 1-17.
    4. Habib Mahama & Zhichao (Alex) Wang, 2023. "Impact of the interactive and diagnostic uses of performance measurement systems on procedural fairness perception, cooperation and performance in supply alliances," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(3), pages 3253-3296, September.
    5. Peters, Matt D. & Wieder, Bernhard & Sutton, Steve G., 2018. "Organizational improvisation and the reduced usefulness of performance measurement BI functionalities," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 1-15.
    6. Claire Dambrin & Hélène Löning, 2008. "R.Simons, un piagétien qui s'ignore ? Systèmes de contrôle interactifs et processus de formation de l'intelligence et d'accès à la connaissance," Post-Print halshs-00522503, HAL.
    7. Chenhall, Robert H. & Moers, Frank, 2015. "The role of innovation in the evolution of management accounting and its integration into management control," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 1-13.
    8. Widener, Sally K., 2007. "An empirical analysis of the levers of control framework," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 32(7-8), pages 757-788.
    9. Christophe Herriau & Lionel Touchais, 2012. "Changement et système de contrôle : une perspective dynamique," Post-Print hal-03135230, HAL.
    10. Erkki K. Laitinen & Aapo Länsiluoto & Soila Salonen, 2016. "Interactive budgeting, product innovation, and firm performance: empirical evidence from Finnish firms," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 27(4), pages 293-322, November.
    11. Norio Sawabe, 2015. "Value-driven responsibility accounting - dynamic tensions generated by competing values embedded in the management control system," Discussion papers e-14-020, Graduate School of Economics Project Center, Kyoto University.
    12. Acquaah, Moses, 2013. "Management control systems, business strategy and performance: A comparative analysis of family and non-family businesses in a transition economy in sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 4(2), pages 131-146.
    13. Journeault, Marc & De Rongé, Yves & Henri, Jean-François, 2016. "Levers of eco-control and competitive environmental strategy," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 316-340.
    14. Berry, A.J. & Coad, A.F. & Harris, E.P. & Otley, D.T. & Stringer, C., 2009. "Emerging themes in management control: A review of recent literature," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 2-20.
    15. Essid Moez & Nicolas Berland, 2011. "Les impacts de la RSE sur les systèmes de contrôle," Post-Print halshs-00637633, HAL.
    16. Belete J. Bobe & Ralph Kober, 2020. "Does gender matter? The association between gender and the use of management control systems and performance measures," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(3), pages 2063-2098, September.
    17. Ana Filipa Roque, 2018. "Control Systems and Strategy: A Literature Review," GATR Journals jmmr201, Global Academy of Training and Research (GATR) Enterprise.
    18. Mundy, Julia, 2010. "Creating dynamic tensions through a balanced use of management control systems," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 499-523, July.
    19. Stefan Hofmann & Andreas Wald & Ronald Gleich, 2012. "Determinants and effects of the diagnostic and interactive use of control systems: an empirical analysis on the use of budgets," Metrika: International Journal for Theoretical and Applied Statistics, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 153-182, December.
    20. Margaret A. Abernethy & Henri C. Dekker & Jennifer Grafton, 2021. "The Influence of Performance Measurement on the Processual Dynamics of Strategic Change," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(1), pages 640-659, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ijoais:v:36:y:2020:i:c:s1467089518300897. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-accounting-information-systems/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.