Research Proposal: Evaluating Management Accounting's Role

This research proposal aims to evaluate the role of management accounting in business activities. It begins with an introduction outlining the research overview, aims, objectives, and research questions, followed by a rationale for the study. The literature review section discusses the concept of management accounting, its role in strategic management, performance management, and risk management. The methodology section details the research approach, data collection methods (primary and secondary), data analysis techniques, and ethical considerations. The proposal includes a Gantt chart and a network diagram to illustrate the timeline for completing the research. References from various authors like Kaplan, Atkinson, and Drury are provided to support the research's theoretical framework and provide a solid foundation for the study.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL:
To evaluate the role of
management accounting in the
functioning of the business
activities

Table of Contents
RESEARCH TOPIC........................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Research overview......................................................................................................................1
Research aims and objectives......................................................................................................2
Research questions......................................................................................................................2
Research Rationale......................................................................................................................2
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................4
TIME SCALE..................................................................................................................................4

RESEARCH TOPIC
To evaluate the role of management accounting in the functioning of the business
activities
INTRODUCTION
Research overview
Globalization has regulated the rigidity of the economies to submerge the regional market
into one big market which can integrate the business operations to attain significant success
measures within the economy (Zimmerman and Yahya-Zadeh, 2011). Vast market has increased
the level of competitiveness in the economies. Companies are focusing on developed effective
and well defined measures toe analyse business performance within the economy to take
corrective business decisions for organizational development (Kaplan and Atkinson, 2015).
Management accounting is the process of identifying, measuring, analysing, interpreting and
communicating information for the pursuit of an organization's goals. It helps the business unit in
analysing and developing competitive strategies for sustaining harsh market challenges in the
present era (Anandarajan, Anandarajan and Srinivasan, 2012)..
Baldvinsdottir, Mitchell and Nørreklit, (2010) claimed that in the present competitive era
managers are pressurised to seek effective and well defined measures to enhance business
growth and attain high market profitability. Management accounting as per Ward, (2012)
develops effective ideas for manufacturing and service sector organizations to attain effective
strategies for managing operational efficiencies while attaining cost effectiveness for enhancing
growth aspects for the businesses (Anandarajan, Anandarajan and Srinivasan, 2012).. It is a
powerful approach which has helped organizations in specifically analysing the performance
efficiency of different departments and analyse the gap in actual and standard performance
criteria (Parker, 2012). The framework drives the business operations towards high profitability,
sustainability and cost effectiveness.
The present study will focus on analysing the role and functions of management
accounting for different business activities. The study will evaluate different theoretical
frameworks of management accounting process which helps the businesses in making effective
business decisions. In addition to this a detailed analysis of present functions of management
accounting will be undertaken to investigate about the actual role played by the discipline in
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enhancing business development within the market. The critical evaluation of traditional
accounting system with management accounting development will help in understanding the
conceptual gaps the selected aspects and the impact of the same on performance of the business.
Research aims and objectives
Research aims and objectives are the significant part of research analysis. It helps in
developing a detailed overview of the research topic and strategies to overcome the same. The
aim of the present study is “To evaluate the role of management accounting in the functioning of
the business activities”. Research objectives to attain the sated aim will be:
 To critically evaluate the framework of management accounting in actual business
prospect
 To examine the functions of management accounting in actual business activities
 To analyse the role of management accounting in growth and success of business
activities
Research questions
Research questions helps in effectively analysing and structuring the research analysis to
attain effective and well defined results for the study. It helps in analysing the research issue in a
specific and accurate manner to attain business results definitely. The research questions for the
present study will be:
 What are the different functions of management accounting in manufacturing and service
sector units?
 What is the role of management accounting in making effective business decisions?
 How does management accounting helps in business functioning for different
organizations?
Research Rationale
Management accounting is an effective analytical tool of the business unit which focuses
on evaluating the performance of the business units from different perspective. It also helps in
developing well defined business ideas for further growth and development of business units.
Increasing competition in the present market conditions have posed wide challenges for the
business units to analyse performance measures and outcomes for the company. Management
accounting helps in enhancing the analytical skills and attributes of the business unit. It one of
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the most significant need of every business enterprise for creating a competitive edge within the
economy. The present study will focus on analysing the development aspects in accounting
aspects of businesses and will help the companies in analysing the critical issues regarding
management accounting discipline. It will demonstrate a detailed understanding regarding use
and accessibility of management accounting aspects in actual business conditions.
LITERATURE REVIEW
This section is developed with a motive to conduct discussion over existing literature so
that insight about the subject matter can be attained. It will focus on undertaking the secondary
research analysis for attaining a detailed information about the topic and researches conducted on
the topic. In this context, books, journals and online content have been used to collect necessary
secondary information.
Concept of management accounting
Cinquini and Tenucci, (2010) stated that management accounting as an integral part of
business activities. It helps an organisation in identifying, measuring, accumulating, analysing,
preparing, interpreting and communicating the crucial information used in developing the
management plan for the company. Van Helden and Northcott, (2010) stated that management
accounting is significant as it helps business in optimum utilization of economic resources.
Management accounting has also been analysed as the practical science for value creation within
the business unit. The extensive roles and functions of management accounting focuses on
financial and non financial actions for the business enterprise which is efficiently communicated
to different stakeholders of the business such as investors, shareholders, creditors, regulatory
bodies etc (Nandan, 2010). it helps the companies in attaining high and effective success
measures for enhancing business growth and development issues.
The role of management accounting in actual business practices is to analyse objectives
to be attained by the business and effectively work for the same in order to attain high success
and growth measures. Kaplan and Atkinson, (2015) evaluated the three major areas covered by
management accounting includes: Strategic management: This is one of the significant and most crucial aspect of business
management which focuses on attaining and analysing the business needs and developing
effective measures to attain the same (Anandarajan, Anandarajan and Srinivasan, 2012).
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This aspect of management accounting area deals with creating a competitive edge for
the companies in the economy. Performance management: This aspect of business unit focuses on analysing the
performance gap of the business in different aspects of performance functions.
Management accounting as per Soh and Martinov-Bennie, (2011) focuses on identifying,
analysing and communicating the performance gap to management of the business unit in
order to attain well defined business growth aspects.
 Risk management: This is another significant aspect of business functioning and goal
attainment. This aspect of business operations focuses on minimizing the risk aspects for
the company which is an effective demand of the business unit (DRURY, 2013). It
creates a wide impact on business performance and growth measures for the business unit
by effectively analysing risk factors and developing strategies to minimize the same.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This section of the study demands effective and well defined analysis of research
methods, tools and techniques implemented in the study. This will help in developing a well
structured analysis for the current study. The study will adopt the positivism approach in order to
attain effective and well defined analysis of the study. Research approach for the study helps in
analysing the data collection aspects. Inductive research approach will be adopted for the study
which will demand the researcher to develop effective research objectives (Myers, 2013). Data
collection for the study will be done on the basis of primary basis. The descriptive research study
will be carried out for the present topic. Data collection will be done on the secondary and
primary method. For secondary data analysis books, Journals, past researches and news articles
will be applied in the study. Primary data will be collected from 10 managers of the company
(Marks and Spencer). This will help in attaining an effective and well defined results for the
study. Data analysis of the study will be carried out on the qualitative basis. The researcher will
adopt the thematic method of DA which will help in attaining detailed and structured means of
data collection. The study will adopt an ethical aspect for conducting the research analysis. This
will help in attaining valid and reliable results for the study for the current research topic.
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TIME SCALE
The duration of all the activities related with the research is presented with the help of
following Gantt chart.
Sr.
No.
Activities List of activities Weeks Preceding activities
1 A Fixing meeting with supervisors 1
2 B Finalising proposal 1 A
3 C Submitting the proposal 2 B
4 D Seeking supervisor's aaproval 1 C
5 E Critical review of past literature 5 D
6 F Collection of data 4 D
7 G Data analysis 4 E,F
8 H Data interpretation 3 G
9 I Developing draft of competed project 4 E,G
10 J Reviewing project 2 I
11 K Finalizing the Study 1 J
12 L Submission and review 1 K
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Figure 1: Gantt chart
Figure 2: Network Diagram
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REFERENCES
Anandarajan, M., Anandarajan, A. and Srinivasan, C.A. eds., 2012. Business intelligence
techniques: a perspective from accounting and finance. Springer Science & Business
Media.
Baldvinsdottir, G., Mitchell, F. and Nørreklit, H., 2010. Issues in the relationship between theory
and practice in management accounting. Management Accounting Research, 21(2),
pp.79-82.
Cinquini, L. and Tenucci, A., 2010. Strategic management accounting and business strategy: a
loose coupling?. Journal of Accounting & organizational change, 6(2), pp.228-259.
DRURY, C.M., 2013. Management and cost accounting. Springer.
Kaplan, R.S. and Atkinson, A.A., 2015. Advanced management accounting. PHI Learning.
Kaplan, R.S. and Atkinson, A.A., 2015. Advanced management accounting. PHI Learning.
Myers, M.D., 2013. Qualitative research in business and management. Sage.
Nandan, R., 2010. Management accounting needs of SMEs and the role of professional
accountants: A renewed research agenda. Journal of applied management accounting
research, 8(1), p.65.
Parker, L.D., 2012. Qualitative management accounting research: Assessing deliverables and
relevance. Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 23(1), pp.54-70.
Soh, D.S. and Martinov-Bennie, N., 2011. The internal audit function: Perceptions of internal
audit roles, effectiveness and evaluation. Managerial Auditing Journal, 26(7), pp.605-
622.
Van Helden, G.J. and Northcott, D., 2010. Examining the practical relevance of public sector
management accounting research. Financial Accountability & Management, 26(2),
pp.213-240.
Ward, K., 2012. Strategic management accounting. Routledge.
Zimmerman, J.L. and Yahya-Zadeh, M., 2011. Accounting for decision making and control.
Issues in Accounting Education, 26(1), pp.258-259.
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