IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jecomi/v10y2022i4p74-d778176.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Strategic Management Accounting in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Emerging Countries and Markets: A Case Study from China

Author

Listed:
  • Lindong Ma

    (Xingzhi College, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321000, China
    School of Management, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China)

  • Xihui Chen

    (School of Management, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China)

  • Jiawen Zhou

    (Xingzhi College, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321000, China)

  • Luigi Aldieri

    (Department of Economic and Statistical Sciences, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy)

Abstract

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play an increasingly important role in global economic development, and they have encountered many unique problems (such as resources and strategic choice). Strategic management accounting (SMA) techniques can help SMEs allocate limited resources rationally and integrate internal and external information to help managers make strategic decisions. However, how and what is the SMA applied in the reality of SMEs, especially in developing countries today. This paper aims to explore the extent to which SMEs of developing countries use SMA. This article used the qualitative research method and the data were collected by interviewing five managers and two employees in M company. The findings indicated that: (1) The senior managers of SMEs do not have an understanding of accounting nor pay enough attention to it, and the role of SMA is even worse; (2) Although the chief financial officers obtain the knowledge of SMA, they cannot fully involve it in their strategic decision making. (3) SMEs have realized that enterprise culture is very important for a company to achieve strategic goals, but it is far from enough to attach importance to and create it. (4) The general managers of SMEs believe that the operating department is the core of the company and all resources should be prioritized to meet their needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Lindong Ma & Xihui Chen & Jiawen Zhou & Luigi Aldieri, 2022. "Strategic Management Accounting in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Emerging Countries and Markets: A Case Study from China," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jecomi:v:10:y:2022:i:4:p:74-:d:778176
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/10/4/74/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/10/4/74/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ahrens, Thomas & Chapman, Christopher S., 2006. "Doing qualitative field research in management accounting: Positioning data to contribute to theory," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 31(8), pages 819-841, November.
    2. Robin Roslender & Susan J Hart, 2010. "Strategic Management Accounting: Lots in a Name?," Accountancy Discussion Papers 1005, Accountancy Research Group, Heriot Watt University.
    3. Bruno Cohanier, 2014. "What qualitative research can tell us about performance management systems," Post-Print hal-01153332, HAL.
    4. Bromwich, Michael, 1990. "The case for strategic management accounting: The role of accounting information for strategy in competitive markets," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 15(1-2), pages 27-46.
    5. Phuong Anh Nguyen & Thuy Anh Tram Uong & Quang Dung Nguyen, 2020. "How Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise Innovation Affects Credit Accessibility: The Case of Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-17, November.
    6. Bruno Cohanier, 2014. "What qualitative research can tell us about performance management systems," Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 11(4), pages 380-415, November.
    7. Baines, Annette & Langfield-Smith, Kim, 2003. "Antecedents to management accounting change: a structural equation approach," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 28(7-8), pages 675-698.
    8. Sikandar Ali Qalati & Wenyuan Li & Naveed Ahmed & Manzoor Ali Mirani & Asadullah Khan, 2020. "Examining the Factors Affecting SME Performance: The Mediating Role of Social Media Adoption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-24, December.
    9. Wenquan Shi, 2021. "Analyzing enterprise asset structure and profitability using cloud computing and strategic management accounting," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-21, September.
    10. Monica Rosavina & Raden Aswin Rahadi & Mandra Lazuardi Kitri & Shimaditya Nuraeni & Lidia Mayangsari, 2019. "P2P lending adoption by SMEs in Indonesia," Qualitative Research in Financial Markets, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 11(2), pages 260-279, June.
    11. Rajagopal, 2014. "Organizations and Innovation," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Architecting Enterprise, chapter 3, pages 58-86, Palgrave Macmillan.
    12. Martin Carlsson-Wall & Kalle Kraus & Johnny Lind, 2015. "Strategic management accounting in close inter-organisational relationships," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(1), pages 27-54, January.
    13. Parker, Lee D., 2012. "Qualitative management accounting research: Assessing deliverables and relevance," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 54-70.
    14. Martin Quinn, 2011. "Routines in management accounting research: further exploration," Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 7(4), pages 337-357, 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. Anca Antoaneta Vărzaru & Claudiu George Bocean & Mădălina Giorgiana Mangra & Gabriel Ioan Mangra, 2022. "Assessing the Effects of Innovative Management Accounting Tools on Performance and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-16, May.
    2. Gu, Zhouyi & Chen, Xihui & Parziale, Anna & Tang, Zhuoyuan, 2024. "Evaluation of primary-level credit environment, indicator system and empirical analysis: A case study of credit construction in China county and district," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).

    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. Fabio Caputo & Stefania Veltri & Andrea Venturelli, 2017. "Sustainability Strategy and Management Control Systems in Family Firms. Evidence from a Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-23, June.
    2. Lai Ken Tan & Matthew Egan, 2018. "The Public Accountability Value of a Triple Bottom Line Approach to Performance Reporting in the Water Sector," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 28(2), pages 235-250, June.
    3. Franco Cescon & Antonio Costantini & Luca Grassetti, 2019. "Strategic choices and strategic management accounting in large manufacturing firms," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 23(3), pages 605-636, September.
    4. Chenhall, Robert H. & Hall, Matthew & Smith, David, 2013. "Performance measurement, modes of evaluation and the development of compromising accounts," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 51294, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Iwona Posadzińska & Małgorzata Grzeszczak, 2022. "Management Accounting System in the Management of an Intelligent Energy Sector Enterprise," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-17, October.
    6. Liem Tan Vo & Nhi Van Vo & Toan Ngoc Pham & Nguyen Ngoc Hien, 2023. "The Impact of Historical Performance and Managerial Risk-taking Propensity on the Behavior of Choosing Prospector Strategy and Using Strategic Management Accounting Information in Viet Nam Manufacture," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    7. George Angelakis & Nikolaos Theriou & Iordanis Floropoulos & Athanasios Mandilas, 2015. "Traditional and Currently Developed Management Accounting Practices - A Greek Study," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(3), pages 52-87.
    8. Francesca Manes-Rossi & Alessandra Allini & Rosanna Spanò & Riccardo Macchioni, 2018. "Performance management change in archaeological sites: The case of Herculaneum Conservation Project," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 22(4), pages 947-979, December.
    9. Tucker, Basil P. & Parker, Lee D. & Merchant, Kenneth A., 2016. "With a little help from our friends: An empirical investigation of co-authoring in accounting research," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 185-205.
    10. Ahmad Mohammed Alamri, 2018. "Strategic Management Accounting and the Dimensions of Competitive Advantage: Testing the Associations in Saudi Industrial Sector," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 8(2), pages 48-64, April.
    11. Cadez, Simon & Guilding, Chris, 2008. "An exploratory investigation of an integrated contingency model of strategic management accounting," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(7-8), pages 836-863.
    12. Wouters, Marc & Wilderom, Celeste, 2008. "Developing performance-measurement systems as enabling formalization: A longitudinal field study of a logistics department," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(4-5), pages 488-516.
    13. Pfister, Jan A. & Jack, Sarah L. & Darwin, Solomon N., 2017. "Strategizing open innovation: How middle managers work with performance indicators," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 139-150.
    14. Martin Quinn & Desmond Gibney, 2018. "Accounting at an Irish maltster – the accounting practices of Bennetts of Ballinacurra in the 1920s and 1930s," Accounting History Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1-2), pages 61-84, May.
    15. Fasshauer, Ingrid, 2012. "Les interactions entre contrôle et stratégie : redéfinition du rôle des cadres intermédiaires et du levier interactif de contrôle," Economics Thesis from University Paris Dauphine, Paris Dauphine University, number 123456789/11150 edited by Berland, Nicolas.
    16. Federica Palazzi & Francesca Sgrò & Massimo Ciambotti & Nick Bontis & Lorenzo Gelsomini, 2023. "The moderating effect of corporate size on the relationship between prospector strategy and management accounting practices," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 135-165, June.
    17. Henri, Jean-François & Boiral, Olivier & Roy, Marie-Josée, 2016. "Strategic cost management and performance: The case of environmental costs," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 269-282.
    18. Rúben Silva Barros & Ana Maria Dias Simões da Costa Ferreira, 2023. "Management control systems and innovation: a case study grounded in institutional theory," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 109-133, March.
    19. Ilse Svensson de Jong, 2021. "Misfit? The Use of Metrics in Innovation," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-20, August.
    20. Sumit Lodhia, 2019. "What about your qualitative cousins? Adapting the pitching template to qualitative research," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 59(1), pages 309-329, March.

    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:gam:jecomi:v:10:y:2022:i:4:p:74-:d:778176. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.