Abstract Malmi et al. (2004) argue that the cost of quality (COQ) literature typically deals with manufacturing or service organizations in continuous or repetitive business processes in which identical or similar activities and work phases are repeated in the same sequence or order, batch after batch or customer after customer. Many modern businesses, such as the software business, are outright project based, or operate like a string of semi-independent projects characterized by unique resources, customized activity or work sequence order, and a predefined start and finish. COQ measuring and reporting are traditionally based on ex post calculations. In this study, an idea of real-time quality cost measurement will be developed and tested. The literature on real-time quality cost accounting is limited or even non-existent. The dissertation investigates whether it is possible to measure quality costs as a real-time basis in the software industry. The purpose is to develop a model for measuring quality costs on a real-time basis in software development. This is achieved by seeking answers to the research question how to measure quality costs on a real-time basis in the software industry. The research extends the current literature in three main respects. First, the study presents the idea of measuring quality costs in real-time basis. Second, a contribution is made by investigating how the characteristics of software business impact on the accounting of quality costs by presenting the nature and distinction of software business as well as its implications for software quality and applying quality cost measurement to the software business. Third, this study is expected to make a contribution by investigating how to use quality cost measurement as a management accounting tool in modern software business environment. The constructive research approach (CRA) proposed by Kasanen et al. (1993) is used in a case company, A, that develops and produces packaged software used in embedded products. Since it is not typically possible to pass semi-strong or strong market tests within a medium-term time span, the construction is tested by using more detailed nuances within the weak market test category suggested by Labro and Tuomela (2003) in order to analyse the level of progress of the construct. The possibility of constructing a real-time cost of quality measurement system developed in Case A is also tested in another case company (Case B) to make the weak market test stronger, and the boundary conditions how to construct such a system in a totally different working environment are charted. The results indicate that such a system could be constructed irrespective of the cost accounting environment or the software used. The anticipated contribution arises from the fact that the construct is a novelty that leads to a new means of quality cost accounting in software business (cf. Lukka 2000).

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:32:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Janaina Macedo Calvo.pdf: 1828256 bytes, checksum: 92996865c87ad6c738c8e2e0a8bcd7f2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-06 / This study was qualitative in nature, presents research conducted in a constructive Supervisory Authority of Professional Practice, Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy of the State of São Paulo - CREA - SP, with the goal of developing indicators for implementation of the Balanced Scorecard in the area surveillance CREA - SP so this may contribute to the enforcement activities of that agency. To achieve the general objective three specific objectives were established : 1 ) Identify the Strategic Map of CREA - SP , 2 ) Identify the BSC indicators for the area 's Supervisory CREA - SP, aiming to align the activities of the area to the strategic planning of the Council Guidance given : "Recovery Professional" and 3 ) internally validate these indicators . The study is situated within the institutional approach and involves two areas of knowledge: Organizational Strategy and Management Accounting. The implementation of the Balanced Scorecard is justified by the need to align the Strategic Planning CREA - SP with current legislation to introduce transparency in the management and monitoring aspects to society. The specific objectives were met and that the proposed validated indicators and their deployment is scheduled to start in 2014 , at which time it should complete the constructive research proposal. / Este estudo, de natureza qualitativa, apresenta pesquisa construtiva desenvolvida em uma Autarquia de Fiscalização do Exercício Profissional, Conselho Regional de Engenharia e Agronomia do Estado de São Paulo CREA-SP, com o objetivo de desenvolver indicadores para implantação do Balanced Scorecard na área de fiscalização do CREA-SP de modo que esse possa contribuir para as atividades de fiscalização da referida autarquia. Para atingir o Objetivo Geral foram estabelecidos três objetivos específicos: 1) Identificar o Mapa Estratégico do CREA-SP, 2) Identificar os indicadores do BSC para a área de Fiscalização do CREA-SP, visando alinhamento das atividades da área ao planejamento estratégico do Conselho atendendo a Diretriz: Valorização Profissional e 3) Validar internamente esses indicadores. O estudo se situa dentro da abordagem institucional e envolve duas áreas de conhecimento: Estratégia Organizacional e Contabilidade Gerencial. A implantação do Balanced Scorecard se justifica pela necessidade de alinhamento do Planejamento Estratégico do CREA-SP com a legislação vigente visando apresentar à sociedade a transparência nos aspectos de gestão e fiscalização. Os objetivos específicos foram cumpridos sendo que os indicadores propostos, validados e a sua implantação está programada para o inicio de 2014, ocasião na qual se deve completar o ciclo da pesquisa construtiva proposta.