The changing role of management accounting in the transition from a family business to a non‐family business

Martin R.W. Hiebl, Birgit Feldbauer‐Durstmüller and Christine Duller

Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change, 2013, vol. 9, issue 2, 119-154

Abstract: Purpose - The purpose of the present paper is to investigate whether the transition from a family business to a non‐family business affects the institutionalisation of management accounting. Design/methodology/approach - This paper is based on an online survey among all large and medium‐sized Austrian firms. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were used to test the impact of the level of family influence on aspects of the institutionalisation of management accounting. Firm size is included as the main control variable. Findings - A lower level of influence from the controlling family was found to be correlated with the institutionalisation and intensification of management accounting in medium‐sized firms. For large firms, such a linear relationship could not be drawn. The level of education of management accountants was inversely correlated with the level of family influence in both large and medium‐sized firms. Research limitations/implications - Further research into the reasons, underlying drivers and inter‐organisational promoters of management accounting change in family businesses is needed. Furthermore, the organisational impacts of the transition from family businesses to non‐family businesses deserve further investigation. Originality/value - A framework for assessing the organisational effects of the transition from family businesses to non‐family businesses is provided. The empirical results on the impact of the transition on the institutionalisation of management accounting are presented. The level of family influence was found to act as a significant contextual factor for the organisation of management accounting in medium‐sized firms.

Keywords: Management accounting; Family business; Transition to non‐family business; Management accounting change; Austria; Managers; Accounting; Family firms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:jaocpp:18325911311325933

DOI: 10.1108/18325911311325933

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