The Development of Management Accounting and the Asian Position

Abstract

Introduction At present, management accountants all over the world are facing critical problems concerning intensive competition, increased risk and social responsibility. Although they have recently devised various novel methods and models, they are not yet likely to resolve the problems even if these novelties led to increased efficiency and effectiveness. We should reflect on the future prospects for management accounting with more sincere concern for environmental protection and peaceful and stable society rather than for efficiency and effectiveness. Those who stress only efficiency and effectiveness must actually suffer from their dreadful impact on the environment and public peace, although it is very difficult to integrate them with social considerations. This paper examines the past and contemporary situations of management accounting in order to prognosticate on its future and find ways to promote it into scientific study. In particular, in order to develop their own ways, it is important for Asian countries to decide whether to follow Western management accounting or create their own management accounting; hence the historical and comparative study of management accounting is of particular significance for Asian accounting academics specializing in this field. The paper begins with general view of key concepts that enable a mapping of the development of management accounting: control (feedback and feed-forward), and management standpoint (tactics and strategy). It then charts each stage of development, from drifting management accounting through traditional and quantitative management accounting to integrated management accounting, before turning to an examination of the Asian position within the context of this map. Its final section summarizes the relationship between the development of management accounting and the Asian position, and then raises some unsolved questions.

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