Familjeföretag är den mest förekommande företagsformen i världen och forskningen kring familjeföretag har ökat markant under de senaste årtiondena. I takt med globalisering och företagsmässig tillväxt ställs det allt mer krav på företags ekonomistyrning, vilken oftast har en informell karaktär bland familjeföretag. För att ekonomistyrningen ska behålla sin funktion i detta lyfter forskare fram att den behöver inkludera ett mer strategiskt fokus med strategiska styrmedel som understödjer företagsvisionen, något som kan kräva att familjeföretagen genomgår en professionalisering genom inhämtning av extern kompetens. Huruvida strategiska styrmedel används bland familjeföretag eller inte, saknas det dock kvalitativ forskning om, varpå vi har vänt oss mot en familjeföretagsintensiv region som kännetecknas av hög ekonomisk tillväxt, den så kallade Gnosjöregionen. Studiens syfte är att öka förståelsen för vilken roll strategiska styrmedel har bland familjeföretagen i Gnosjöregionen. Detta har vi ämnat försöka göra genom att fokusera kring tre utvalda strategiska styrmedel, nämligen benchmarking, ABC-kalkylering och balanserat styrkort. Studien har genomförts med hjälp av en kvalitativ metod, där data har samlats in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Detta för att öka möjligheten att skapa en djupare förståelse för det undersökta ämnet. Studiens resultat har påvisat att det enda av de undersökta styrmedlen som används formellt är benchmarking, detta genom kontinuerlig prestationsbenchmarking. Vidare har studiens resultat visat på tendenser att de två övriga strategiska styrmedlen ABC-kalkylering och balanserat styrkort används, men att det sker mer informellt. Emellertid ser vi ett ökat intresse och behov för dessa två strategiska styrmedel till följd av företagsmässig tillväxt. Vår slutsats är dock att för att familjeföretag lyckosamt ska kunna implementera dessa tre strategiska styrmedel, så räcker inte professionalisering genom att anställa en extern ekonomichef, utan det krävs en ytterligare professionalisering genom extern kompetens. / Family firms are the most common type of business in the world and the study of family firms has increased significantly over the recent decades. In line with globalization and business growth, the need for management accounting and control have increased which often has an informal characteristic in family firms. Scholars have warned that if management accounting and control is to maintain its relevance it needs to adapt a more strategic focus, through strategic management accounting and control instruments, to underline the vision of the business, which can create the need of professionalization of the family firm, through hiring external expertise. Whether strategic management accounting and control instruments is something that family firms are using or not, has not been investigated with qualitative research, which is why we have focused on a family firm intensive region characterized by high economic growth, the so-called region of Gnosjö. The purpose with this research is to increase the understanding of what role the strategic management accounting and control instruments have within family firms in the region of Gnosjö. We did so by focusing on three specifically chosen strategic management accounting and control instruments, explicitly benchmarking, activity based costing and the balanced scorecard. The study was conducted using a qualitative approach, in which data was collected through semi-structured interviews. This is to increase the ability to create a deeper understanding of the examined subject. The results show that only one of the three surveyed instruments that is being used formally is benchmarking, which is primarily done through continuous performance benchmarking. Furthermore, the study results show tendencies that the two other strategic instruments, activity based costing and the balanced scorecard, is used but in a more informal way. However, we see an increased interest and a need for these two strategic instruments as a result of business growth. Our conclusion is however that if these three strategic management accounting and control instruments are to be successfully implemented in a family firm, professionalization by hiring an external CFO is not enough; instead it requires a further professionalization through external expertise.

Since the end of the 1980’s  Swedish county council managers has been preoccupied with planning and implementing organisational change in order to alleviate the financial problems and to create more efficient production systems. Many of these efforts to change have implied changing the systems for management accounting and control, changes that have been inspired both by market-oriented ideologies and by the governance principles of large corporations in the private sector. Literature on manage­ment accounting and control indicates however, that management is unintentionally contributing to the creation of organisational inertia and conservatism. This contradiction is formulated as a change dilemma; ”How can managerial principles that make organizations subject to  bureaucratization and inertia be used as important strategies for organizational change?” The purpose of the study is thus to analyze the use of management control systems as organizational change strategies in health care, employing a change perspective on management control. When used as a change strategy,  management accounting and control becomes manifest as management control initiatives. Actors handle these control inititatives by organising themselves around the issue at hand. This organising process ends or fades away when there are no need for further attention to the control initiative. Empirical studies were made in the councils of Västerbotten, Sörmland and Upp­sala counties. Management control initiatives investigated were performance-related pay, quality improvement work, systematic planning procedures, provider/purchaser-models, downsizing projects and profit center systems. The systems for management accounting and control appeared to structure health care organisations in terms of spatial structuring temporal structuring and actor categorization. The management control initiatives introduced were structured as extraordinary organising processes delimited in terms of space, time and involved actors. Actors in the administrative norm system participated with the intention to change the organisation, while those in the medical norm system aimed at just handling the initiative. Management control initiatives can therefore be seen as passing opportunities to change, passing in the sense that the organising processes are temporary by nature, opportunities in the sense that temporary re-coupling can be used to  achieve long-term change. One such opportunity is the formulation of control initiatives; the possibility of using simple and standardized change strategies can be useful, but only if they are also linked to the medical norm system. A second opportunity is the temporary organising processes; if the project form of organising change can also be conveyed to the medical norm system, management control initiatives could result in short, intense courses of events that actually change things. The third opportunity  s the recurrent  cyc ica  pro­ perties  of  management  accounting  and control  systems, enabling  recurrent  activities around the same themes, thereby keeping them alive. / <p>Diss. av båda förf. Umeå : Umeå univ., 1998 ; Framlägges för vinnande av filosofie doktorsexamen respektive ekonomie doktorsexamen.</p> / digitalisering@umu

Empresas familiares são o principal tipo de empresa ao redor do mundo. No Brasil são responsáveis por 50% do PIB e geram 85% dos empregos formais. Por possuírem a influência da família no negócio, os mecanismos de controle gerencial adotados por essas empresas tendem a ser informais e baseados em confiança. Estudos na área de contabilidade gerencial em empresas familiares demonstram que a adoção de sistemas de controle gerencial trazem benefícios econômicos e podem auxiliar na implementação de estratégias e facilitar processos de sucessão. No entanto, falta compreensão na academia sobre como ocorre o processo de adoção de sistemas de controle gerencial em empresas familiares e qual a influência da família e dos valores familiares neste processo. Este estudo buscou entender como os valores familiares, a presença da família na gestão e a interação entre os atores organizacionais influenciam o processo de adoção de SCG em empresas familiares. Para atingir este objetivo, foi conduzido um estudo de caso em uma empresa familiar que possui membros da família na gestão e passou por um processo de adoção de sistemas de controle gerencial. Foram realizadas entrevistas com gestores familiares e não familiares e coletados documentos considerados relevantes para o entendimento do fenômeno estudado. A análise foi feita utilizando-se a técnica de análise de conteúdo temática à luz do quadro teórico proposto por ter Bogt e Scapens (2014), baseado na Velha Economia Institucional (Old Institutional Economics). Os resultados evidenciados neste estudo demonstram como o contexto organizacional, os valores familiares no negócio e a racionalidade dos atores organizacionais direcionaram a escolha, o processo de adoção e a institucionalização do sistema de controle gerencial no caso estudado. Este estudo contribui para a literatura demonstrando que o uso do quadro teórico proposto por ter Bogt e Scapens (2014) é apropriado para entender como ocorre o processo de adoção de SCG por empresas familiares e fornecendo explicações para resultados conflitantes (Songini & Gnan, 2015; Speckbacher &Wentges, 2012), sugerindo que além da presença de membros da família na gestão, as instituições internas (como os valores familiares) e externas precisam ser considerados quando se busca entender a adoção de SCG em empresas familiares. / Family firms are the most prevalent type of companies in Brazil and throughout the world, contributing to 50% of the brazilian GDP and 85% of the employment rate. Given that the family is involved in the business, control mechanisms in these firms are more likely to be informal and trust-based. Academic research shows that the use of management control systems can result in better economic performance, promote strategy implementation and support succession processes. Nevertheless, there is a gap on the understanding of how management control systems adoption process happen and what is the influence of the family values on this process. Drawing on a case study carried out on a family firm managed by family members that recently adopted a management control systems this studies aims to shed light on how family values, the presence of family managers and the interaction between organizational actors influences management control systems adoption. Interviews were conducted with family and non-family managers and relevant documents were collected. The collected data was analyzed guided by ter Bogt e Scapens (2014) framework, based on Old Institutional Economics. The results shows how the presence of a family manager e the family values can influence adoption process and the institutionalization of management control systems in family firms. The organizational context, family values and the agency of organizational actors directed management control systems choice and the adoption process on the family firm studied. This study contributions to the academic literature are twofold: Firstly, the use of ter Bogt e Scapens (2014) framework is suitable to understand how MCS adoption processes occurs on family firms. Secondly, providing explanations for conflicting results (Songini & Gnan, 2015; Speckbacher & Wentges, 2012), suggesting that in addition to family managers presence both internal (family values) and external institutions must be accounted for when seeking to understand the adoption of MCS in family firms.

Purpose; this thesis is purposed to investigate Strategic Management Accounting and Control process in supporting Sustainable Integration between Strategic Supplier Relationship Management processes and Strategic Customer Relationship Management processes. Methodology; based on the purpose, the study has conducted a literature review of presenting theories to define Sustainable Integration, Strategic Management Accounting and Control process, Strategic Supplier Relationship Management process, and Strategic Customer Relationship Management process. Furthermore, the study defined how Sustainable Integration can be accomplished, which tools, techniques, and procedures are suited for supporting Sustainable Integration, and how controlling process supports the Sustainable phenomenon between business processes. The reasonable methods of conducting qualitative and exploratory studies have been employed to handle empirical gathering data by interviews with strategic business process managers in industrial Swedish Manufacturing cases. Then the data has been analyzed in a Within-case analysis and Cross-case synthesis following by interpretation and implications. Using the regressive method and advanced method, the study sent the manuscript to interviewees and went back from results to theory to add observed and found out knowledge to the theory. Findings; the study found out that Sustainable Integration is accomplished by supporting and controlling processes of harmonized and continuous flows of information, product, technology, and financial resources through strategic close inter-organizational relationship which are conducted by Strategic Management Accounting and Control process. Sustainable and competitive tools, techniques and procedures are employed to support the Sustainable Integration phenomenon between strategic sub-business processes in case of SSRM and SCRM processes. Various levels of Sustainable Integration regards the extent of harmonization and close long-term relationship are occurred based on openness, innovativeness, trust, commitment and transparency between industrial manufacturing Swedish companies. Developed and reconfigured Strategic Management Accounting and Control process supports Sustainable Integration by the aim of achieving Sustainable Competitive Advantages and Sustainable Sourcing.

Abstract This dissertation investigates the use of management accounting and control systems in R&amp;D intensive firms in different organizational life-cycle stages. The thesis consists of four essays focusing on two categories of management accounting and control systems: capital budgeting decisions and management control systems. First, we investigate the evaluation and financing of investment projects in R&amp;D intensive firms. Second, we moreover investigate how R&amp;D intensive firms themselves use management control systems and how investors control their investments in R&amp;D intensive target firms. The survey method within a contingency framework is used in the first three essays while the last essay represents the case study method. However, the dissertation as a whole is based on two main contexts, i.e. the organizational life-cycle and the field of high technology. The results indicate that more sophisticated capital budgeting methods are used in large-sized R&amp;D intensive firms while small-sized firms are not so likely to use these methods. The results indicate that firms understand the nature of R&amp;D investment on the level of strategic management, because they have adopted strategic management tools in order to achieve better financial performance. We conclude that high R&amp;D intensity plays an important role in management accounting, suggesting that large-sized high R&amp;D intensity firms take note of special characteristics of R&amp;D investments when taking strategic capital budgeting decisions. The comparison of the growth and revival stages extends the earlier life-cycle literature indicating that the information produced by management accounting and control systems is at least as important in the revival firm as it is during the first growth stage.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore how AI could influence the controller function inmanufacturing industries. This study will investigate whether AI could influence the daily tasksor routines of a controller, as well as whether AI helps controllers with financial- andsustainability reports. The study further aims to investigate aspects such as changes inmanagement accounting, and if AI would be supporting the controllers as a tool or if it controlsthe work. One important key takeaway is that the study highlights the controllers as a functionand not as an individual. This means that the thesis will focus on the controller profession as afunction and not on the level of the individual. Theoretical perspective The selected theories are collected from previous research and literature regarding AI as wellas the controller profession that is relevant for this study. From the collected data and previousresearch, the authors discovered a research gap and thereafter developed a research question. Methodology In this study, the authors chose an exploratory inductive qualitative research method. The authors will conduct interviews with Swedish controllers from different companies who have varying knowledge regarding AI and AI within their role. Interviews will be conducted with alight semi-structure to allow flexibility for participants to bring forth new perspectives. Collected data will be analysed with a thematic analysis method since it allows for flexibility and makes analysing large amount of data manageable. From the analysis, the authors will beable to gather relevant information that will be helpful to answer the research question and fulfilthe purposes. The empirical finding was gathered through interviews with 11 controllers and 2data analysts from different types of manufacturing firms in Sweden. These interviews wereexamined and connected with literature when answering the research question which thereforefulfilled the purposes of the thesis. Empirical findings The most important empirical finding from this thesis is that all types of controllers are familiarwith AI and uses it to some extent, however, how advanced the integration is does varyimmensely. Most controllers see a bright future for AI within the function since it can be utilisedto mitigate risk by replace human errors with AI precision. A few new aspects were uncoveredsuch as the hardships that the sustainability controller faces and the possible implications ofpolitics and cybersecurity. New knowledge created was the importance of both organisationaland data structure, as well as education for employees to connect the economic aspects to thedata science. Conclusions The controller function has already seen a lot of changes in references in how the function usedto be just one-two year ago, and all participants underlined that this will continue to change andevolve, which was a predicted key finding. Another finding was that AI could be seen as acontrol tool while BI is more towards a support tool. The sustainability controller is a newprofession and will develop during the upcoming years when new EU legislation presents. Fourmajor findings were the importance of the future of EU legislation, the hidden costs ofimplementation, such as the cost of tools and time for education, the implication oforganisational structure, and the essential bridge between economics and data scientists.

This paper justified, theoretically, the interest to conduct a comprehensive study from a gender perspective onthe design, presentation and perception of the Management Accounting and Control Systems (MACS). As a first step toward this goal, the main objective of this paper is to identify gender-related aspects present in accounting journals over the past four decades. In this work were registered 74 studies published in 10 impact journals in accounting between 1983 and the first half of 2013. The review includes an analysis of the research topic, the sector, the theoretical framework, methodology, data analysis technique and a description of the elements addressed gender. The results shows the current status of this perspective in accounting research and allows to identify gapsand opportunities for developing future works on the accounting environment and gender. / En este artículo, se justifica, de forma teórica, el interés de realizar un estudio amplio, desde una perspectiva degénero, sobre el diseño, presentación y percepción de los Sistemas de Contabilidad y Control de Gestión (SCCG). Como primer paso hacia esa meta, el objetivo de este trabajo consiste en identificar los aspectos relacionados con el género, presentes en revistas contables de las últimas cuatro décadas. Se registraron 74 estudios publicados en 10 revistas de referencia en contabilidad entre los años 1983 y el primer semestre del año 2013. La revisión incluye un análisis del tema de investigación, el sector, el marco teórico, la metodología de recogida de datos, la técnica de análisis de datos y una descripción de los elementos de género que abordados. Los resultados muestran la situación actual de esta perspectiva en la investigación contable, y permite identificar lagunas y oportunidades para plantear futuros trabajos en torno a la contabilidad y el género. / Neste trabalho justifica-se, de forma teórica, o interesse de realizar um estudo abrangente, desde a perspetiva do género,sobre o desenho, apresentação e perceção dos sistemas cantábiles e de controlo de gestão (SCCG). Como primeiro passo para alcançar essa meta, u objetivo deste trabalho consiste na identificação dos aspetos relacionados com o género presentes em revistas de contabilidade nas últimas quatro décadas. Registam-se 74 estudos publicados em 10 revistas de referência na área da contabilidade entre o ano 1983 e o primeiro semestre de 2013. A revisão inclui uma análise do tema de investigação, do setor, do marco teórico, a metodologia de recolha de dados, a técnica de análise de dados e uma descrição dos elementos de género abordados. Os resultados mostram a situação atual desta perspetiva na investigação contabilística e permite identificar falhas e oportunidades para planear futuros trabalhos sobre a contabilidade e o género.

Bakgrund: Under senare år har cirkulär ekonomi fått allt större uppmärksamhet som ett lovande koncept för att öka den globala hållbarheten och motverka resursbrist. På organisationsnivå handlar arbete mot en cirkulär ekonomi, cirkulärt arbete, om att följa nya principer för att bedriva hållbarhetsarbete och en möjlighet att förena detta med ekonomiska fördelar. Cirkulärt arbete kan därför förväntas skilja mellan offentliga och privata organisationer. Konceptet innebär också att nya mål formuleras och nya strategier används för att nå dessa, varför den formella ekonomistyrningen kan komma att behöva anpassas till det cirkulära arbetet. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att förklara hur offentliga respektive privata organisationer kan arbeta cirkulärt samt hur och varför formell ekonomistyrning anpassas till cirkulärt arbete. Detta för att bidra med kunskap till organisationer som vill utveckla en mer cirkulär verksamhet samt för att göra ett teoretiskt bidrag till forskningen om cirkulär ekonomi i organisationer och formell ekonomistyrning i cirkulärt arbete. Metod: Studiens metod är en tvåfallsstudie i en offentlig respektive en privat organisation. Slutsatser: Studiens slutsatser är att cirkulärt arbete i offentliga organisationer riktas mycket mot utveckling av cirkulär ekonomi i samhället samt att privata organisationer försöker förena hållbarhetsansvar med ekonomiska fördelar genom att utnyttja resurser i högre utsträckning samt förbereda sig inför ett samhälle som stödjer cirkulär ekonomi. Det cirkulära arbetet kan också skilja på grund av organisationens förutsättningar. Den formella ekonomistyrningen anpassas främst genom man försöker påverka medarbetare till att engagera sig i cirkulärt arbete. Vidare krävs tydligare planering samt nya mått för att driva och utvärdera det cirkulära arbetet. Planering och beslutsfattande kräver också en ökad detaljnivå och ett längre tidsperspektiv i styrning mot cirkulärt arbete. / Background: In recent years, circular economy has gained increased attention as a promising concept for global sustainability and solution for resource scarcity. Moving towards a circular economy in organizations is about following new principles for increased sustainability which can lead to economic benefits. The work towards a more circular organization may differ between public and private organizations. The concept also leads to new goals and strategies, which may lead to a need for the formal management accounting and control to be adapted in organizations that adopt the concept. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to explain how public and private organizations can work towards a circular economy and how and why formal management accounting and control is adapted to this work. This can lead to a contribution of knowledge for organizations that want to adopt the concept and a theoretical contribution about circular economy in organizations and formal management accounting and control. Method: The method is a case study in two cases: one public and one private organization. Conclusions: The conclusions of this study are that public organizations aim for a development of circular economy on a societal level and private organizations try to accommodate social responsibilities with economic benefits by increasing recourse utility and prepare for a society where circular activities are supported. Preconditions in organizations determines what circular activities are possible. The formal management accounting and control has been adapted mainly in cultural controls to engage co-workers. Clear goals and measures are developed to drive and evaluate the circular work. Planning and decision-making are also more detailed and have longer time perspectives.