Quality in management accounting: approach by activities in large companies

• Main Author: Machado, M. J. C. V.
• Publication Date: 2017
• Other Authors: Alves, P. C. R.
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Download full: http://hdl.handle.net/10071/14370
• topic: Large companies; Management accounting; Portugal; Quality; TDABC; Time driven activity-based costing

This study intends to contribute to the knowledge about the approach by activities, a management accounting method that promotes the quality of information. As specific objectives we have identified the following: to analyze the knowledge rate regarding the approach by activities, and identify whether there is a link between it and the financial officers’ characteristics; to analyze the utilization rate of the approach by activities, and the factors conditioning it; to analyze whether there is a link between a company’s features, and the use of the approach by activities. The data collection method used was the application of a survey to the financial officers of the largest Portuguese companies, which yielded 61 valid responses. The results found allowed us to conclude the following: the Time Driven Activity Based Costing is very little known and used in Portugal; there is a link between the knowledge of the approach by activities and the financial officers’ gender, age and educational background; there is a link between the use of the approach by activities and two company features: the legal form and the capital holding.