A research study into furthering the understanding of management accounting in practice with specific reference to the practices utilised in the North Derbyshire area of the NCB.

The primary purpose of this study is concerned with providing improved
understanding of both accounting and management systems through the use of
case study based research. To provide this improved understanding, this
research study is based upon several key assumptions which are also key
conclusions. Firstly, that management and accounting systems and practices
exist in organisation contexts. Secondly, that these systems and practices
obtain their meaning, in part, from the organisation contexts in which they
are situated. Thirdly, that accounting knowledge and management theory,
to-date, has failed to provide adequate descriptions and prescriptions for the
organisations. Fourthly, that the key problem in accounting knowledge and
management theory which has prevented adequate understanding is to do with the
ontological issues which underlies such knowledge.
The contents of this study can be seen to be divided into three parts. The
first outlines the nature of management accounting knowledge paying particular
attention to the ontological and epistemological assumptions. Through
analysis of these assumptions, the importance of understanding the complexity
of social reality is introduced. A model of a 'temporal-spatial' reality is
introduced and described. The conclusion from this part is that the main
problem in understanding accounting practices is linked with the ontological
issues and that a more complex subjective reality needs to be explored.
Part two provides the description of the case-study utilised to understand
accounting practices in an organisational context. Part three provides an
analysis of the use of the management and accounting systems by providing an
understanding of the social-reality of the dominant decision-makers within the
case-study.
The conclusion forthcoming from this study is four-fold and stated in
paragraph one. However, these have major considerations to the development of
accounting knowledge and require major shifts in the dominant methodology of
accounting thought.
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