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Corporate governance (CG) has recently received much attention because of the wave of financial scandals in the early 2000s and the more recent global financial crisis. CG reforms, including laws, codes and listing rules have been established to protect shareholders’ rights and restore investors’ confidence in the capital market. These reforms have largely contributed to the evolution of internal and external governance mechanisms that are aimed at mitigating agency conflicts between managers and shareholders. However, overemphasis has been placed on the monitoring and control dimensions of governance, which may hinder entrepreneurial activities, obscure business prosperity and contribute to a narrow perspective on CG. It has been argued that there is a need to broaden CG beyond compliance (conformance) to a set of rules and laws, to include the performance aspects of governance that focus on strategy and value creation. In other words, governance should not only focus on monitoring managerial performance to ensure accountability to shareholders, but also on mechanisms that motivate management to optimise shareholders’ wealth. Enterprise governance (EG) framework has been introduced to keep the balance between the conformance and performance dimensions of governance. However, few studies address the possible tension between conformance and performance. Moreover, there is no agreement among these studies on the relationship between conformance and performance in the governance context. Arguably, Value-based Management (VBM) is an appropriate approach to address the issue of EG. VBM adopts value creation as an overall objective, develops a strategy that contributes to value creation and integrates it into decision-making. In this way, VBM can act as an effective mechanism for motivating management to maximise shareholder wealth, which works in parallel with other CG mechanisms, to mitigate agency conflicts resulting from the separation between ownership and management. This study aims to develop a contingency framework of EG through operationalising the conformance using CG and performance using corporate entrepreneurship (CE). This framework examines the inter-relationships between VBM, compliance with the Combined Code on Corporate Governance (CCCG), CE and the ultimate effect on organisational performance. More specifically, the study empirically examines the effect of compliance with the CCCG on CE, and whether VBM can achieve a balance between compliance with the CCCG and CE, should a conflict exist. The study also examines whether a fit between contingency variables (company size, agency conflicts, uncertainty, strategy and decentralisation), VBM, compliance with the CCCG codes and CE is associated with organisational performance. To achieve the aim of this study a cross-sectional survey, based on a questionnaire, is conducted to identify the level of VBM implementation, contextual and organisational factors in the large and medium quoted companies in the UK. The questionnaire targets the Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) in these companies as key informants. In addition, a content analysis of the annual reports of the sampled companies is undertaken to measure the level of compliance with the CCCG. Financial data (e.g. organisational performance) have been obtained from the DataStream, Fame and Thomson One Banker databases. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) is adopted for data analysis and hypotheses testing. The results suggest that VBM implementation is positively associated with agency conflicts, low cost strategies and decentralisation. Compliance with the CCCG is positively associated with agency conflicts and company size. CE is positively associated with company size, uncertainty and differentiation strategies. In addition, the fit between compliance with the CCCG and contingency factors significantly predicts the marketbased performance. The fit between CE and the contingency factors significantly predict the perceived performance. However, the results regarding the effect of VBM on organisational performance are mixed. While VBM has no significant direct effect on the market-based performance, VBM has indirect positive effect on the market-based performance acting through compliance with the CCCG as an intervening variable. VBM is significantly associated with compliance with the CCCG but not with CE. No evidence is found for negative association between compliance with the CCCG and CE. The results support a large number of the proposed relationships between the contingency factors, VBM, compliance with the CCCG and CE. The results also suggest that using both compliance with the CCCG and CE as intervening variables in the relationship between VBM and organisational performance contributes to explaining the mixed results in the VBM literature. In terms of the EG framework, VBM does not keep a balance between conformance and performance. VBM emphasises the compliance with the CCCG (conformance) at the expense of CE (performance). The results did not provide significant evidence of a conflict between compliance with the CCCG and CE, the area which lacks empirical evidence. This study contributes to the literature at different levels. At the theoretical level, this study develops a theoretical model that links a performance management system (PMS), i.e. VBM, to CG practices and CE. This model attempts to bridge the gap between different disciplines, including management accounting, CG and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, combining both the contingency theory and the agency theory lenses contributes to the development of a comprehensive model of EG. At the methodological level, unlike previous studies, this study measures VBM practices on a continuum, rather than categories. Multiple data collection methods are used, and a powerful statistical technique (PLS-SEM) is adopted for data analysis. At the empirical level, the study is conducted in the UK. Though it is different from the US in many aspects, very few studies have been conducted in this context in many research areas such as VBM, CG and CE.

In dynamic landscape of global business, the role of Management Accounting Practices (MAPs) has become increasingly pivotal, especially in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This thesis investigates the utilization and frequency of MAPs within SMEs, focusing on a comparative analysis between a developed country, and a developing country. Drawing upon existing literature, this study delves into the similarities and differences in MAP adoption and frequency of implementation between the two countries. The findings reveal significant distinctions in the adoption rates and sophistication of MAPs between Swedish and Indian SMEs. Swedish SMEs demonstrate a more mature and comprehensive integration of advanced MAPs, facilitating strategic decision-making, cost control, and performance evaluation. In contrast, Indian SMEs exhibit lower adoption rates and face challenges in fully integrating these practices into their operations, primarily due to external factors such as infrastructure limitations and economic instability. Despite these differences, the study underscores the importance of standardizing and adapting MAPs to suit diverse economic contexts. By understanding the unique challenges and adoption patterns in different regions, SMEs can better leverage these tools to enhance their sustainability and overall business performance.

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2018-09-21T12:01:48Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliane de Castilhos Spanholi_.pdf: 1043640 bytes, checksum: 13a504e27c0711974289be4759122d6d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-21T12:01:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliane de Castilhos Spanholi_.pdf: 1043640 bytes, checksum: 13a504e27c0711974289be4759122d6d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-04 / Nenhuma / Ao longo dos anos as empresas industriais foram desenvolvendo atividades cada vez mais complexas, tornando necessárias mais informações de qualidade para fins de gestão. A contabilidade de gestão e seus artefatos foram se aprimorando de forma a lidar com as dificuldades impostas por esse ambiente empresarial, buscando novas formas de atender à crescente necessidade de informações de forma a suportar o processo de tomada de decisão. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste estudo é analisar a adoção dos Artefatos da Contabilidade de Gestão (ACG) por empresas de pequeno porte do Rio Grande do Sul do segmento industrial. Com a finalidade de construir o instrumento de pesquisa com base nos ACG mais pesquisados em estudos anteriores, os ACG foram investigados em 26 publicações nacionais. Para realização deste estudo, aplicou-se uma survey aos gestores de pequenas empresas industriais do Rio Grande do Sul, se obtendo um retorno de 155 respondentes. Os principais achados evidenciam que as pequenas empresas analisadas tendem a adotar mais os métodos de custeio por absorção, ABC e variável, enquanto que o BSC e o EVA foram os menos adotados, sendo que a escassez de recursos financeiros para a implantação e manutenção dos ACG foi a principal dificuldade identificada. Por meio da regressão múltipla foi identificado que o custeio variável e o EVA apresentaram evidência significativa de relação positiva com a percepção de desempenho. Enquanto que o custo meta apresentou evidência significativa de relação negativa, no entanto, deve ser avaliado com cautela visto que a literatura aponta que todos os artefatos tendem a aumentar o desempenho, em virtude de fornecer mais informações para tomada de decisão, melhorando os controles das empresas. / Over the years industrial companies have been developing more and more complex activities, requiring more quality information for management purposes. Management accounting and its practices have been improved in order to deal with the difficulties imposed by this business environment, seeking new ways to meet the growing need for information in order to support the decision-making process. In this context, the objective of this study is to analyze the adoption of Management Accounting Practices by small companies in the industrial segment of Rio Grande do Sul. The practices were investigated in 26 Brazilian publications, with the purpose of constructing the research instrument based on the most researched practices in previous studies. For this study, a survey was applied to managers of small industrial companies in Rio Grande do Sul, obtaining a return of 155 respondents. The main findings show that the small firms analyzed tend to adopt more absorption costing, variable costing and activity based costing, while BSC e EVA were the least adopted, and the scarcity of financial resources for the implementation and maintenance of the practices was the main difficulty. Through multiple regression it was identified that variable costing and EVA presented significant evidence of a positive relation with performance perception. On the other hand, target costing presented significant evidence of a negative relation to performance, however, this result should be evaluated with caution because all practices tend to increase performance, by providing more information for decision making, improving control of companies.

Financial performance measurement plays an important role in leading decision-makers through strategic innovation, such as business model innovation. To convey relevant information, it is important that the practices used to measure financial performance are appropriate to what is being measured. This thesis focuses on the financial performance measurement supporting the transition towards circular business models (CBMs), which has been under-researched. More specifically, this thesis aims to identify the key practices that enable the financial performance measurement of CBMs and support the transition from linear business models to CBMs. Additionally, it seeks to contribute with insights about the financial outcomes of CBMs in the context of sustainable-oriented technologies. This thesis consists of a compilation of three papers, a systematic literature review and two empirical studies. The outset of this thesis lies in the systematic literature review, which examines the financial aspects addressed in CBM literature and in relation to the transition towards CBMs. The empirical studies examine the financial performance measurement practices that support the transition towards two different types of CBMs, namely result- oriented CBMs and sufficiency-driven CBMs. Both studies are based on an action case study, which involved collaborative development of financial performance measurement tools with practitioners from the manufacturing industry. The results of this thesis emphasize the customer-centric aspect of financial performance measurement of CBM. The key practices identified by this thesis suggest considering costs involved in customer-value creation when measuring performance. The findings also highlight the importance of taking the offering perspective for defining the cost structure and engaging with customers early in the transition to reduce uncertainty about future cash flows and hidden costs. Life Cycle Costing (LCC) is proposed as a measurement technique. However, the results suggest adapting the LCC perspective, by addressing providers’ or users’ cost, to satisfy the different needs of decision makers. To cover the long-term returns of the CBM offering, multiple use cycles of the offering and of its underlying assets should be considered in the LCC. In terms of cost management, the findings of this thesis suggest an outside-in approach to reduce costs while enhancing customer value creation and re-creation. Finally, this thesis underscore the necessity of employing the recommended practices from various evaluation perspectives to bolster the iterative transition process toward CBMs. Regarding the financial outcomes of CBMs, this thesis shows that the transition towards CBMs in the context of sustainability-oriented technologies holds promising financial advantages for both providers and customers. Technological innovation and retained product ownership contribute to improving the financial performance of CBMs. / Finansiell prestationsmätning spelar en viktig roll när det kommer till att vägleda beslutsfattare genom strategiska innovationer. Avhandlingen syftar till att identifiera de viktigaste praktiker som möjliggör finansiell prestationsmätning av cirkulära affärsmodeller och som stödjer övergången från linjära affärsmodeller till cirkulära affärsmodeller. Dessutom strävar avhandlingen efter att bidra med insikter om lönsamhet för företag som introducerar cirkulära affärsmodeller i samband med införandet av hållbara teknologier. Denna avhandling består av tre artiklar och en kappa. Artiklarna utgörs av en systematisk litteraturöversikt samt två empiriska studier. Avhandlingens utgångspunkt är den systematisk litteraturöversikten, som granskar de ekonomiska aspekter som behandlas i litteraturen om cirkulära affärsmodeller samt i relation till övergången från linjära till cirkulära affärsmodeller. De empiriska artiklarna undersöker de praktiker för finansiell prestationsmätning som stödjer övergången till två olika typer av cirkulära affärsmodeller. Dessa är resultatorienterade cirkulära affärsmodeller och suffiency-driven cirkulära affärsmodeller. Båda studierna bygger på aktionsbaserade fallstudier som involverar samarbete med stora tillverkningsföretag. Avhandlingens resultat framhäver ett kundcentrerat perspektiv vid finansiell prestationsmätning av cirkulära affärsmodeller. En av de viktigaste praktikerna för prestationsmätning som identifierats betonar vikten av att hänsyn tas till kostnader som är involverade i att skapa kundvärde. Resultaten understryker också vikten av att överväga hela erbjudandet som perspektiv när kostnadsstrukturen definieras. Beräkning av livscykelkostnaden (LCC) föreslås som mätmetod. Resultaten visar dock på vikten av att LCC anpassas genom att ta hänsyn både till leverantörers och användares kostnadsstrukturer för att tillgodose beslutsfattares olika behov. För att möjliggöra en långsiktig lönsamhet i en cirkulär affärsmodell bör flera användningscykler för den ingående tillgången ingå i erbjudandet till kund redan vid affärsmodellens designstadium. Cirkulära erbjudanden kan medföra både ökade och reducerade kostnader samt kassaflödesförändringar på systemnivå. Dessa förändringar föreslås att inkluderas i mätningen av cirkulära affärsmodellers finansiella prestation. Vidare framhåller resultaten behovet av att använda föreslagna praktiker utifrån olika utvärderingsperspektiv för att stödja en övergångsprocess mot cirkulära affärsmodeller. Slutligen, när det gäller lönsamheten för cirkulära affärsmodeller indikerar avhandlingens resultat att övergången från linjära till cirkulära affärsmodeller medför potentiella ekonomiska fördelar för både leverantörer och kunder. Teknologisk innovation samt behållande av produktägande i en cirkulär affärsmodell kan bidra till att förbättra en industriell tillverkares ekonomiska prestation. / <p>Funding agencies: MISTRA REES, VINNOVA, Division of Business Administration at Linköping University</p>

Bakgrund: Forskning kring familjeföretag har på senare år fått mer och mer uppmärksamhet eftersom familjeföretagen utgör en stor del av företagen världen över. I Sverige finns det totalt 450 000 aktiva företag och av dessa är runt 90% familjeföretag. De svenska familjeföretagen är idag den största arbetsgivaren och bidrar med ca 30% av Sveriges BNP. Styrningen av familjeföretag skiljer sig ofta från icke-familjeföretag vilket har skapat ett intresse hos många forskare. Främst visar forskning på att familjeföretagen präglas av en stark företagskultur och mer sociala och emotionella typer av styrverktyg. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att med ett explorativt angreppssätt bidra med kunskap om hur ekonomi- och verksamhetsstyrningen är utformad i svenska familjeföretag. Detta görs med hjälp av ett formellt och informellt perspektiv på styrningen. Metod: Studien har genomförts genom en kvantitativ metod med en deduktiv ansats. Det teoretiska materialet innefattar teori om vad ett styrpaket kan vara, vad informell och formell styrning är samt tidigare forskning om familjeföretagen. En tvärsnittsstudiedesign användes med hjälp av enkäter för att samla in det empiriska materialet från ett slumpmässigt urval av familjeföretag i Sverige. Slutsats: Denna studie bidrar till indikationer på att svenska familjeföretag har en styrning som främst är utformad på ett informellt vis. De använder samtliga delar av ett typiskt styrpaket: Kulturstyrning, planering, prestationsmätning, belöningssystem och administrativ styrning. Kulturstyrningen är mest framträdande och anses vara hjärtat i de svenska familjeföretagen. Resultatet visar att den tidigare forskningen om vilka styrverktyg som används i familjeföretag även kan appliceras på de svenska familjeföretagen till stor del. Resultatet kunde däremot inte påvisa att styrningen skiljer sig beroende på ifall ägare eller anhörig till ägare har en chefsposition eller inte i svenska familjeföretag. / Background: Research about family firms have recently got more attention since family firms are a large part of the companies around the world. In Sweden there are 450 000 active companies in total and about 90% of them are family firms. The Swedish family firms are today the largest employer and contributes with about 30% of Sweden’s GDP. Management control in family firms usually differ from those of non-family firms which has created an interest for more research in the subject. Research shows mainly that family firms has a strong corporate culture and use more social and emotional types of control practices. Purpose: The purpose of this study is that with an exploratory approach contribute with knowledge about how management control is formed in Swedish family firms. This is made with the help of a formal and informal perspective on control. Method: This study was conducted with a quantitative method with a deductive approach. The theoretical material included management control as a package, definitions of informal and formal management control and previous research about family firms. A cross-sectional study design was implemented together with a survey instrument to collect the empirical data from a random sample of family firms in Sweden. Conclusion: This study contributes with indications about the management control in Swedish family firms and shows it is mainly informal. They use all parts of a typical control package: Cultural control, planning, performance measurement, reward systems and administrative control. The cultural control is most prominent in the package and is considered to be the heart of the Swedish family firms. The result shows that the previous research about which management control practices are used in family firms also could be applied to the Swedish family firms to a large extent. The result could on the other hand not prove that the management control differs depending on whether the owner or owner’s relative is a part of the leadership or not in Swedish family firms.