A study of the factors that could influence the duration of the accounting lag as applied to United States manufacturers.

摘要

In the late 1970's, extensive changes in production methods occurred in the US as manufacturers modernized factories to compete in the global economy. Traditional management accounting, which had existed for nearly 60 years, failed to meet the challenge created by these changes. As a consequence manufacturers that adopted advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs) without revising their management accounting systems (MASs) experienced an "accounting lag." During the accounting lag, management is no longer provided with relevant information necessary for decision making.;The purpose of this research was to empirically test situational dimensions: (1) the financial resources of the firm, (2) the organizational structure of the firm, (3) management's degree of risk aversion, and (4) the firm's technology, as well as MAS factors: (1) management's level of support, (2) the role of MAS, and (3) management's perceptions of newly implemented MASs. These could possibly influence the duration of the manufacturer's accounting lag.;The innovative nature of AMTs necessitated new and innovative MASs. Therefore this research applies innovation theory literature and theories in management accounting research in examining slow MAS responses to AMTs.;First, the set of adopters was bootstrapped to provide a larger set for multiple regression analysis of the accounting lag on the situational dimensions and MAS factors. Secondly, logistic regression with an extreme group analysis compared adopters of the new MAS with the shortest accounting lag to nonadopters with the longest time span between adoption of an AMT and the date of the survey.;Management's perceptions of MAS, its role in strategy, and the technology of the firm all affect the decision to adopt. Once a firm adopts a new MAS, implementation is faster for firms that lack formal rules and in which the MAS plays an integral role, while viewing a new MAS as risky impedes progress.;Understanding the conditions that influence the accounting lag may facilitate reducing the lag and alleviate problems in the future. Anticipating the next challenge as a shift in emphasis from reporting costs to valuing resources and having the knowledge to respond will enhance the role of management accountants in the well managed firm.