Management Accounting Change and ERP, an Assessment of Research

25 Pages Posted: 10 May 2007

See all articles by Roeland H. R. M. Aernoudts

Roeland H. R. M. Aernoudts

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE)

Ed G. J. Vosselman

Radboud University Nijmegen

Ton Van Der Boom

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)

gert van der pijl

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)

Date Written: August 2005

Abstract

Extant accounting literature shows that there is increasing research interest into effects of ERP systems on management accounting and control practices (c.f. Granlund, Mouritsen, 2003). This paper provides a review of the literature and identifies knowledge gaps and shows opportunities for research. The review reveals that there are two main streams of research. The first uses a structural approach, while the second uses a process approach. The structural stream adopts a functional approach to technology and is deterministic in nature. It implies the assumption that ERP is the driver of organizational performance improvement. The process approach stream on the other hand seeks to explain how processes of change unfold and how outcomes develop over time (see for example Granlund and Mouritsen, 2001, Granlund and Malmi, 2000, Scapens and Jazayeri, 2003, Caglio, 2003, Quattrone and Hopper, 2004). The focus in this stream is on several different issues, such as hybridization of the accountants' work due to the adoption of ERP and the impacts of ERP on introducing innovative accounting practices. The review of extant literature reveals that there is no cumulative body of research. In this paper several causes for this lack of accumulation are identified. Furthermore, there proves to be very limited coherence among the different studies. Finally, our review shows that although there is some attention for effects of ERP on Management Control, research on this particular subject is still very much lagging behind.

We extend our literature review by going through literature from the Information Systems field. It proves that there are some similarities between the two different fields. Based on the findings of our literature review the following recommendations for further research are given: (1) Focus on studying the Management Control aspects of ERP, using a process approach, (2) Build on the results of earlier results of research in Accounting, and (3) Build on the results of earlier research in the IS field.

Keywords: Management Accounting Change, ERP systems, management control theory, Information Systems

JEL Classification: M41

Suggested Citation

Aernoudts, Roeland H. R. M. and Vosselman, Ed G. J. and Van Der Boom, Ton and pijl, gert van der, Management Accounting Change and ERP, an Assessment of Research (August 2005). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=984201 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.984201

Roeland H. R. M. Aernoudts

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
Rotterdam, 3000 DR
Netherlands
+31104081286 (Phone)

Ed G. J. Vosselman

Radboud University Nijmegen ( email )

Thomas van Aquinostraat 3
P.O. Box 9108
Nijmegen, 6500HK
Netherlands

Ton Van Der Boom

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) ( email )

Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
3000 DR Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland 3062PA
Netherlands

Gert van der Pijl

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) ( email )

Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
3000 DR Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland 3062PA
Netherlands

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