INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT2 Individual Assignment Q1. Three Specific Examples of Different Management Accounting Methods Techniques from The Case The three types of accounting techniques used in the case are Balanced Scorecard (BSC), Just in Time (JIT), and the Total Quality Management (TQM). TQM refers to the continuous process applied in detecting and decreasing or eliminating manufacturing errors. Also, it is used in restructuring of supply chain management, assuring employees have speed in training or improving client experience. Just in Time (JIT) is a methodology purposing at reducing production time and response times from customers or suppliers. The other accounting technique used in the case is the Balanced Score Card technique which is a strategic performance model developed purposing at translating an organization's vision and mission into operational actions. From the case study, it is evident that the three accounting management techniques have been applied by company-A. First, company-A implemented a system which encompasses various business functions. Since it was faced with a decision concerning the MAS to implement, the company picked to hedge and implementing multiple choices. Hence, the company built in its SAP R/3 system various techniques including BSC, TQM, ABC, Benchmarking, Standard Costing, and JIT (Watts et al., 2014. The company perceived ABM as being non-relevant as the BFM mentioned in the case study. Q2i. The relevance of MAS to Contemporary Organizations The management accounting system is relevance to the contemporary organization because it is essential in high-quality decision making for any business. Hence, any weaknesses and efficiencies in MAS reduce productivity and efficiency, leading to creating of various problems within an organization. The MAS, which is an important subset for the system of
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT3 financial or non-financial information offers different information types for users, specifically managers of organizations. Also, management accounting systems seeks at assigning a device where the assignment is done with administration permission and selecting of operational goals. The selected objectives are then distributed across the organization. The contemporaryorganizationsencounter the phenomenon of conflict among the various constituents’ portions of the whole system like the subsystems and subsets. The conflict occurs due to factors like the differences in cognition and perception, norms, ideals, goals, values, and standards of the managers. Consequently, the dependence on regular organization parts, uncertainties in responsibilities and roles are some features which should be managed or resolved through managers tactfulness. From the case study, it is clear that contemporary management tools assist organizations in achieving effective cost managing accounting process for allocating resources to actions. After that, there is the allocation of events to cost items via assigned fundamental relations established on volume or non-volume associated drivers. For instance, it is known that ABC results in various benefits by eliminating misrepresentations from the traditional price accounting system and correct cost info for excellent decision making. Also, ABC leads to more effectual operating act and strategic decision making. Although the ABC theoretical analysis of ABC seems superior, its implementation on various businesses shows mixed results. The ABC technique is excellent in its academic, but enterprises find it challenging in understanding its categories, allocation or resources and interpretation of results. Besides, management accounting systems ensure that the organization achieves strategic objectives. Realizing such goals fulfills customers and stakeholders needs. Hence, MAS enables organizations to find a suitable position and distinguishing themselves from other competitors. In
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT4 satisfying customers and competing with other producers, there are three elements which should be stressed on and includes time, quality, and cost. Such three elements form a strategic triangle which is different from one organization to another or product to another. Furthermore, MAS is relevant to contemporary organizations because their type and provision is a significant decision for various firms. Also, MAS is appropriate because of providingaccurateandtimelyinformationforfacilitatingeffortsincontrollingcharges, measuring and enhancing productivity as well as devising improved manufacturing processes. The MAS should also indicate precise product costs such that the pricing verdicts, introducing new items, abandoning obsolete ones, and responding to making opposing products. Moreover, MAS or the resulting info used in assisting the administration in the decision-making process is knownintheprovisionofcomparativeandadvantageinacompetitiveanddynamic environment. Management accounting systems are pertinent in contemporary organizations which are indicated in the case study. For instance, when Company-A was faced with high competition from rivals, it decided to establish a strategic plan which would make them remain at the forefront of the production efficiency and technology. The company strategized about the acquisition of high-tech firms in similar sector, and that depriving mature division was the core of the tactical direction (Watt et al., 2014). Every new purchase exposed Company-A to new MAS culminated in a different financial reporting system and managing accounting schemes due to tactical path of divestment or acquiring. In this case, it is clear that AS are relevant to contemporary organizations after the incidence of Company-A. Using contemporary management accounting systems is evident in the case because company-Amadetheoperationaldecisionmaking.Forinstance,thecompanysetsKey
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INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT5 Performance Indicators (KPIs) for every production amenity. From the fact, the BFM indicates that they did not apply ABM and ABC in their operations because they considered it generally irrelevant or non-existent (Watt et al., 2014). Also, company-A executed a system involving functionality and which incorporated various business functions. Since it was confronted with thechoiceconcerningtheMASforimplementation,company-Adecidedtohedgeor implementing different techniques. Hence, the company built into its SAPR/3 system techniques, including TQM, ABC, JIT, Benchmarking, BSC, and standard costing. The company could not apply ABC/ABM in standard form because they perceived it as being too complicated for their own needs. In ensuring that it applies MAS company-A generalized their process and utilized various critical aspects for each of their systems. Hence, it shows that they used different action drivers in allocating overheads, running several scorecards, doing rare internal and external systematic benchmarking. Also, activity drivers were applied in utilizing some provisions and distributions just in time and developing their TQM iteration that incorporated wellbeing. Q2 ii. Comparing and Contrasting the Findings with Another Journal Article The finding of this case study shall be compared and contrasted with a Journal article by Behery et al., 2013, which discussed adopting a contemporary PMS. The journal explored the issues or characteristics which are related to transitioning of a UAE-founded fast-growth SMEs from the old PMS to a modern MAS through designing a balanced scorecard (BSC) and strategies for the map. The second article is similar to the first one because it was a performance management case study conducted in among the UAE FGSMEs serving above 16, 000 farmers all over the country (Behery et al., 2014). On the other hand, the first journal article discussed contemporary MAS in a firm designated as company-A. From both journal articles, it is indicated that
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT6 Management Accounting systems are considered a crucial element for the improvement of business performance in any organization. Watts et al., 2014 and Mohamed et al., 2013 journal articles indicate that management accounting systems are recognized as a means of gaining competitive advantage or even continuously adapting and reacting to external changes. Both articles show that implementing suitable MAS ensures aligning of organizational actions to objectives and strategies. Organizations are open systems meaning that they are subjected to serious effects of their ambient and internal environment. Factors and aspects like increased technological advancement, economic development, challenges in attaining market needs, and transitioning from winding competition path have led to much strict regulations and laws. Such stern laws and actions govern the development of organizational goals and objectives, meaning that they have impacts on management accounting systems. Being productive requires management accounting systems to be dynamic and modified according to changes in the organization’ssurroundingsuchthatperformanceindicatorsremainrelevant.Hence,the structures should be inspected in three diverse levels which include an individual, whole system as well as the context in which it operates. Nevertheless, less organizations seem to have orderly processes for sustaining their systems. Both of the journal articles indicate that new accounting managing systems advanced in responding to performance measurement issues which are faced by organizations. In ensuring that its operations are effective and there were better means of measuring organizational, the UAE FGSMEs used Activity-Based Costing (ABC). The ABC is among the methods which have been acknowledged as the solution to changing requirements of businesses. The FGSMEs used ABC as a management technique because they considered it as a substitute pattern to old volume-built cost models (Behery et al., 2014). Also, ABC is an accounting method which seeks
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT7 understanding causativeness and giving decision makes a likelihood of running costs at the origin instead of focusing on the product cost only. Although ABC doesn't need to offer related prices for all situations and decisions, it regularly provides a close estimation. The case for FGSMEs is different from that of company-A because the later did not utilize ABC or ABM in its functions. Company-A opted to utilize internal benchmarking with other global or regional plants regarding a specific product that was being manufactured. The company chose to scrutinize variances and seek explanations. Company-A, together with the UAE FGSMEs known as gazelles, have a similar thing because they both used the BSC technique to improve their operations. In this case, Gazelles company understood that full approach for an elegant performance manufacturing system is reinforced by three primary criteria resulting in succeeding of a system including BSC. Utilizing of balanced scorecard in its Gazelles company operations was driven by the need of adopting a new scheme which represented elements of standard performance scope and managing system. The initiatives were integrated and affiliated with general strategies and objectives of the firm in facilitatingchangestotheBSCstructureandmaximizingpossibilityofattainingbetter management and measuring of organizational outcomes. Balanced Scorecard financial perspective was significant to company-A and Gazelles organization. The management technique addressed how they performed financially while using traditionaloutcomeslike profit, ROE, ROI, cash flow, as well as customer and project profitability. Besides, the two companies used BSC to pursue strategieswhich aimed at achievingobjectives.First,theGazellescompanyaimedatincreasingrevenuethrough expanding its geographical sales area, meaning that it relied more on sales exportation and reaching new customers. Also, the company created new products which could attract customers.
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INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT8 The other strategy for Gazelles company in achieving its strategy was productivity. The plan aimed at decreasing company administrative expenses and costs linked to marketing products via samples and gifts (Behery et al., 2014). Similarly, company-A used BSC technique aiming at focusing more of their attention on strategic matters. Hence, the company aimed at satisfying the requirements of customers, shareholders, community, and employees. Thus, its strategic managers focused on externally obtained information somewhat depending more on the internally abounding information. Company-A use of BSC technique was sparing because the model appeared fundamentally impractical. Although the company used various elements of BSC and ABC, the whole method was considered impossible and cumbersome due to manufacturing process simplicity. Q3. Conclusion on the Relevance of MAS in Today’s Competitive and Uncertain Business Environment From the case study, significantly, MAS is relevant in today's business environment, which is competitive and uncertain. The Company-A and Gazelles case study indicates that businesses function in an enduring-dynamic environment. Hence, they should always adapt or adjust to environmental vitality through various strategic alignments. Therefore, the strategy is fundamental to surviving of any company. Firms are still internally preoccupied with quality planning by looking innermost for determining of hindrances to ensure eminence in output. This is clear from the case study as the two formulate strategies and objectives through using the contemporary management accounting systems. Despite being useful in seeking solutions for quality problem in any organization, the search cannot be only limited to the organization alone due to inefficiencies. Also, attention should be accorded to external aspects like suppliers, competitors, customers, and technology.
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT9 Theabove-listedfactorsaresignificantbecausetheyareconventionallyconsideredby administration in decision making or planning for an organization to deal with excellence issues. From the case study, both company-A and Gazelles firm accorded attention to exterior elements, including customers, opponents, and technology. The case study of the two companies is a clear indication that the extent, and nature of ecologicaluncertaintyimpactsqualityobjectivesandmanagementoffirms.Adopting management accounting systems and applying relevant techniques in their situation enabled company-A and Gazelles to solve the challenges which they encountered. This led to company-A using various methods, although it did not fully utilize a comprehensive contemporary MAS (Watt et al., 2014). Combining the management levels utilization, category, and degree of the operation or the prompts established in implementing provides a basis of suggesting that company-A management accounting holds some relevance. However, the significance attached by the management system for company-A is not at a strategic level. Gazelles FGSMEs also utilized the importance of management accounting systems. Gazelles company used the balanced scorecard to refine its strategy while ensuring its expression into operational terms. Q4. Lessons Learned from The Two Articles Research Findings The two articles have provided comprehensive knowledge concerning the application of management accounting systems as well as the existing techniques. Since both cases have applied different management accounting methods, they offer useful information and skills where Australian management accountants can acquire comprehensive knowledge concerning MAS. The first lesson learned from the case studies is that contemporary MAS cannot develop in seclusion of environmental variations. Hence, they should understand that the catalysts for
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT10 management accounting come from developing of other methods in the company. The most important thing to acknowledge is that administration accounting develops in combination with implementing World Class Manufacturing. Management accountants should understand that World Class Manufacturing cannot provide stronger modest position but only when joint with MAS methods. Also, managementaccountantshould knowthat the variousmanagement accounting option and increased computer use offers opportunities for businesses to polish pricing and quantify systems promptly. Hence, there is a need for identifying main areas of concern or interest when adopting management accounting systems. The two-case study provides a good incidence that management accounting systems cannot develop if there is the isolation of environmental changes. From the case of Gazelles FGSMEs, it is indicated that effectiveness in the company's operations requires PMS to be dynamic and be modified. The modification should be according to changes in organizational performancemeasuresremainingrelevant.Also,thecaseofcompany-Asuggeststhat contemporary management accounting systems cannot develop when environmental changes are isolated. Hence, Company-A chose to combine various management techniques, including BSC, TQM, and JIT (Watt et al., 2014). The company eliminated some techniques because it considered them impractical. The process was a clear indication that management accounting system cannot develop in the isolation of other factors like customers, competitors, and suppliers. The second lesson learned is that management accounting systems are relevant in decision making. The most important thing to note in this incidence is that the information from managementaccountingsystemscreatesmuchoftheinformationinwhichoperational administration should base decisions. At this level, management starts emphasizing external data together with the information which is provided by the supervision accounting systems. From the
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INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT11 case study, it is shown that strategic managers encounter demands from various shareholders relying on outward evidence. In company-A, internal administration accounting is relatively inconsequential and used in obtaining financial reports. In this case, the managers perceive the MAS as lacking any relevance. The incidence is a clear indication that management accounting systems are relevant in decision making. For instance, it is only the tactical and operational decisions which could ensure that the operations and activities of Company are proper. The third lesson learned is from Company-A and shows that it is significant in identifying business problem areas and using the right management accounting system technique in handling such challenges. Company-A used various management accounting techniques when compared to Gazelles FGSMEs. The management accounting which company-A adopted revealed different challenging results. The company had several management accounting techniques like TQM, ABC, JIT, and BSC, although there is none of them which was utilized as initially prescribed. For instance, ABC was banned as an effective technique in spite of academic rhetoric about ABC's manufacturer's appropriateness. Likewise, BSC was sparingly used, making it appear fundamentally impractical. For instance, in the company-A situation, each MAS method seems to have had selected elements for the use which left most methods unimplemented or not used. Regardingthecasestudy,thecriticalthingwasacquiringseveralcontemporary management accounting techniques. Hence, the users could utilize whichever MAS method was believed as being convenient in their desires. The challenge arising from the Company-A was a failure of the static managers to rarely work on evidence which was coming from management accounting systems. Therefore, the lesson learned here is that management accounting systems are essential in the identification of challenges and should be relied upon for proper operations and functioning of any organization.
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT12 The fourth lesson learned is from Gazelles FGSMEs, suggesting that organizational strategiesshouldbeformulatedthroughaleadershipstyle.Hence,whenenactingany organizational goals or objectives, there is a need for utilizing leadership to ensure that such strategies do not become a challenge. The case study offered a clear illustration that leaders face a critical role during the introduction of organizational changes like BSC, ABC, TQM, and JIT, among others. Thus, it is essential to apply transformational leadership to not only introducing management accounting techniques but also in their implementation and maintenance. The case sets an excellent example because the company faced an unbalanced internal setting with changes in administration which impacted implementing of new performance management systems.In suchincidence,itissuggested thatthefirm’supper managementfacilitates implementing of BSC through the creation of awareness concerning the method importance. Also, the company's senior management might facilitate MAS implementation through linking performance and recompence or finally supporting the philosophy of the organization. Therefore, from the case of Gazelle's FGSMEs, Australian management, accountants should learn that it is good that MAS should be mobilized through a transformational leadership style.
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT13 References Behery, M., Jabeen, F., and Parakandi, M., 2014. Adopting a contemporary performance managementsystem:Afast-growthsmall-to-mediumenterprise(FGSME)inthe UAE.International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management,63(1), pp.22-43. Watts, D., Yapa, P.W., and Dellaportas, S., 2014. The case of a newly implemented modern managementaccountingsysteminamultinationalmanufacturingcompany.Australasian Accounting, Business and Finance Journal,8(2), pp.121-137.