...is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/0268-6902.htm MAJ 19,4 Control self-assessment as a route to organisational excellence A Scottish Housing Association case study James Sheffield Comhairle, The Scottish Centre for European Public Sector Studies, University of Paisley, Paisley, Scotland, and 484 Siobhan White Division of Accounting and Finance, Glasgow Caledonian University Business School, Glasgow, Scotland Keywords Scotland, Housing, Financial management, Auditing, Corporate governance Abstract Control self-assessment (CSA) has been discussed as an audit technique, but little practical guidance is available in the UK on the subject. A limited number of public sector organisations have implemented it. This paper describes a case study of CSA implementation in a Scottish Housing Association. The case study details the decision processes that led to the choice of CSA as a favoured audit technique, and the development of CSA skills within the organisation. This paper examines the broader benefits of a CSA approach, in terms of performance management and employee empowerment. This paper also uses a cost benefit analysis to examine the efficacy of CSA for small organisations. Managerial Auditing Journal Vol. 19 No. 4, 2004 pp. 484-492 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited 0268-6902 DOI 10.1108/02686900410530493 Introduction West of Scotland Housing Association...
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...management control system targets. Therefore, conventional management control systems focus on getting better operational efficiency. But as operational efficiency is no longer adequate to create sustainable competitive advantages, management control systems must be expanded to managerial practices that cultivate employee cooperation and creativeness in the discovery and development of new business opportunities. This is especially the case in the high-tech industries that are at the faced with the challenges of globalisation and employee teams must combine efficient communication with creativity. ``Project managers and product designers in software and other industries thus need to find ways to divide up products and tasks so that even teams of many of clever people can work and communicate efficiently as well as creatively'' (Cusumano, 1997). Simons (1987 and 1990) argued that control systems is in four categories, namely i. ii. iii. iv. Diagnostic control systems Boundary control systems Interactive systems Belief systems. These four different management control systems are identified recently by companies as effective categories of controlling system, companies must apply them in a way that maximizes operational effectiveness without limiting employee creativity. This task can be accomplished by using diagnostic measures as a way to improve operational effectiveness and the other three types of control measures as a way to mitigate its negative effects on employee creativity...
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...INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH IN BUSINESS Management Control System Hamed Armesh Faculty of Management ,MMU,Malaysia Listed in ULRICH S Dr. Habibollah Salarzehi , Dr.Baqer Kord Faculty of Management, University of Sistan and Baluchestan Abstract A management control systems (MCS) is a system which gathers and uses information to evaluate the performance of different organizational resources like human, physical, financial and also the organization as a whole considering the organizational strategies. Finally, MCS influences the behaviour of organizational resources to implement organizational strategies. Keywords: Management , Control , Systems 1. Introduction To introduce this topic and understanding the importance of management control system we know that In the present globalised world, organisations need to use management control systems that go beyond the strategies that focus on acquisition of technology and logistics which are not sufficient to give the organisation sustained long-term competitive edge over its competitors. Management Control Systems (MCS) as defined by Anthony (cited by LangfieldSmith, 1997) is the process by which managers ensure that resources are obtained and used effectively and efficiently in the accomplishment of the organization s objectives . MCS is a system used in an organization which collects and uses information to evaluate the performance of the organizational resources that will eventually influence the behaviour...
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...fundamentals and arrangements. • Integrated reporting. • CG in other organisations (e.g. public sector, NGOs). • Ethical and CSR theories – applied to scenarios. • Types and forms of CG (e.g. rules based, principles based, insider, outsider systems, UK Corporate Governance Code, Paper P1 LSBF SoX). • Governance: • Agency theory, stakeholders, Mendelow. – Role of Board. – Unitary/two tier. • Board structures, CEO/chairman, directors, NEDs, – Chair role/CEO chair split. committees. – Induction/performance appraisal. – Reward systems. • Internal control and business risk, Turnbull. – Family based structure. • Ethical theories and business codes – Kohlberg, Gray, Owen – Global standards in governance. and Adams, Tucker, AAA. – Stakeholder classifications. • Professions and the public interest. • Control: • Corporate social responsibility, corporate citizen, footprints – Objectives of a sound system. and sustainability. – COSO failures. – Reasons for internal audit. • Integrated reporting, social and environmental auditing. – Internal control disclosure. • Risk management: Paper P1 Kaplan – Risk committee or risk manager. – Strategic/op/static and • Corporate governance comparison of approaches – public v dynamic risk. private sector. – Risk diversification. • Conflict of interest and independence. – ALARP. • Stakeholders and stakeholder claims. • Ethics: • Function and importance of internal audit. – Absolute/relative, consequential. – Grey, Owen and...
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...increasing complexity of modern business and other organisations has created the need for a specialist in various business controls: the internal auditor. We can understand better the nature of internal auditing today if we know something about the changing conditions in the past and the different needs these changes created. What is the earliest form of internal auditing and how did it come into existence? How has internal auditing responded to changing needs? As the operations of an organisation become more voluminous and complex, it is no longer practicable for the owner or top manager to have enough contact with all operations to satisfactorily review the effectiveness of performance. These responsibilities need to be delegated. The Development of the Profession of Internal Auditing Internal auditing has evolved from accounting-oriented to a management-oriented profession. At one time, internal auditing functioned as a junior to the independent accounting profession, and attesting to the accuracy of financial matters was the profession's main concern. Now internal auditing has established itself with a far broader focus. Modern internal auditing provides services that include the examination and appraisal of controls, performance, risk and governance throughout public and private entities. Financial matters represent only one aspect of the purview of internal auditing. Requirement to have Internal Audit Activity In January 2004, the US Securities...
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... Introduction This Risk Management Standard is the result of work by a team drawn from the major risk management organisations in the UK - The Institute of Risk Management (IRM),The Association of Insurance and Risk Managers (AIRMIC) and ALARM The National Forum for Risk Management in the Public Sector. In addition, the team sought the views and opinions of a wide range of other professional bodies with interests in risk management, during an extensive period of consultation. Risk management is a rapidly developing discipline and there are many and varied views and descriptions of what risk management involves, how it should be conducted and what it is for. Some form of standard is needed to ensure that there is an agreed: should be viewed not just in the context of the activity itself but in relation to the many and varied stakeholders who can be affected. There are many ways of achieving the objectives of risk management and it would be impossible to try to set them all out in a single document.Therefore it was never intended to produce a prescriptive standard which would have led to a box ticking approach nor to establish a certifiable process. By meeting the various component parts of this standard, albeit in different ways, organisations will be in a position to report that they are in compliance.The standard represents best practice against which organisations can measure themselves. The standard has wherever possible used the terminology for risk set out by the International...
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...Limitations of the study 8 CHAPTER 02 9 Overview of management control systems 9 2.1Management Control Systems (MCS) 10 2.2Elements of Management Control 11 2.3Boundaries of Management Control 11 2.4 Benefits of management control systems 12 2.5 Limitations of Management control systems 12 CHAPTER 03 13 Management control systems and strategy: 13 A critical analysis 13 3.1 Relationship between Management control systems and strategy 14 3.2 Levels of strategy from organization point of view 14 3.2.1Corporate-Level Strategy 14 3.2.2 Business Unit Strategies 15 3.2.2.1 Business Unit Mission 15 3.2.2.2 Business Unit Competitive Advantage 15 3.4 Responsibility Centers 16 3.4.1 Nature of Responsibility Centers. 16 3.5 types of Responsibility Centers 17 3.5.1 Revenue Centers 17 3.5.2 Expenses Centers 17 3.5.3 Profit Centers 18 3.5.4 Investment center 21 3.6 Concept of Transfer Pricing in relation to Responsibility center 22 CHAPTER 04 23 Budgeting and performance measurement 23 4.1Budgeting as a Control Mechanism 24 4.2Business performance management 25 4.3Balanced Scorecard 26 CHAPTER 05 29 FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION 29 5.1 Findings 30 5.2 Conclusion 30 5.3Bibliography 31 CHAPTER 01 About the report 1.1Introduction To introduce this topic and understanding the importance of management control system we know that in the present globalised world, organizations need to use management control systems that go beyond the strategies that focus on acquisition...
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...ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR Unit- 1. Definition, need and importance of organisational behaviour- nature and scope- frame work – organisational behaviour models. What Managers Do Manager: Individuals who achieve goals through other people. Managerial Activities • • • Make decisions Allocate resources Direct activities of others to attain goals Where Managers Work A consciously coordinated social unit composed of two or more people that functions on a relatively continuous basis to achieve a common goal or set of goals. Management Functions Management Functions Planning: A process that includes defining goals, establishing strategy, and developing plans to coordinate activities. [1] Organizing: It determining what tasks are to be done, who is to do them, how the tasks are tp be grouped, who reports to whom and where decisions are to be made. Leading: A function that includes motivating employees, directing others, selecting the most effective communication channels, and resolving conflicts. Controlling Monitoring activities to ensure they are being accomplished as planned and correcting any significant deviations. Mintzberg‟s Managerial Roles [2] Definition - Organisational Behaviour. OB is a systematic study of the actions and reactions of individuals, groups and subsystems. O.B. is the systematic study and careful application of knowledge about how people- as individuals and as members of groups –act within organizations. It strives to identify ways in which...
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...provided research evidence that are attributable to contemporary management accounting knowledge and designs. It has provided a profound method to adjust to ever changing external environments and the need for changes in internal factors (Otley, 1980, p. 413). Strengths of contingency theory style research Challenging the criticisms of contingency theory for being fragmentary and contradictory due to its methodological limitations, it is the failure of critiques in realising the many different forms of management accounting designs under the contingency approach and the relationships between those design which have perpetuated this idea (Gerdin and Greves, 2004, p.303). Attention should be shifted to the concepts under which contingency theory has been applied. Contingency theory in its simplest form highlights that an organisation’s structure is conditional upon contextual factors such as environment, strategy and size. One of its key strengths is a congruence approach that it represents, whereby assuming context determines the structure of the organisation without any examination of the effects of this relationship on performance. It is implied that performance is determined by a natural selection process. A process where only the best performing organisations will survive at any point of time and those which survive often best acclimatise to its context (Gerdin and...
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...and retaining skilled employees. Internal audit is no different. The numerous career options available to new entrants and the seasoned audit practitioner make it imperative for audit managers to continually re-evaluate their approaches to ensure that the internal audit department is adequately staffed both in terms of numbers as well as skill sets to discharge its functions effectively. The IIA Attribute Standards / and Performance Standards are very clear and definitive on this: i) Attribute Standard 1210 - Proficiency Internal auditors should possess the knowledge, skills and other competencies needed to perform their individual responsibilities. The internal audit activity collectively should possess or obtain the knowledge, skills and other competencies needed to perform its responsibilities. ii) Performance Standard 2030 - Resource Management The Chief Audit Executive should ensure that internal audit resources are appropriate, sufficient and effectively deployed to achieve the approved plan. Professionalism Internal auditing is grounded in professionalism and efficiency. Today's internal auditors are a far cry from the 'fault finders' or 'policeman' role that the profession has long been associated with. Modern day internal auditors are routinely consulted on all aspects of the organisation's activities from strategic planning issues to the standard day-to-day operational issues relating to the risk environment and internal control framework. They are continually on...
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...involving the participation of over 6,000 individuals and organisations – members, students, employers (both existing and potential), CIMA tuition partners, universities and our examiner and marker team – we have designed a professional finance training and development solution that is second to none. I commend this revised CIMA Professional Qualification to you. It will be examined for the first time in 2010, so there is plenty of time to absorb the exciting changes contained in the pages that follow. A qualification focused on the future – fit for purpose, relevant and unique I am honoured to introduce the new 2010 Chartered Management Accounting Qualification to all of our stakeholders. With seismic shifts occurring in the world’s economy, coupled with accelerating concerns about the sustainability of our planet, never before has there been a greater need for organisations to train and develop their people to manage the impact of these changes. With this revised qualification CIMA remains true to its long and proud history of providing finance professionals with a difference – Chartered Management Accountants – who combine management and finance skills in a unique way and who fully understand the businesses they are working in. While we respect and learn lessons from the past, through this qualification we prepare our future members to be focused on the future: driving value; managing performance; understanding how organisations are best led and inspired; and helping to sustain...
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...the opportunity to improve my work. Assessor I declare that I have issued the relevant resource material. I ensured that the student understood the requirements for the completion of this course. The student named above completed the work that is submitted and the work is their own. Student Signature | Assessor Signature | Date | Date | Unit 2 – Business Resources At the core of every organisation are the human, physical, technological and financial resources that enable it to function. This unit will give learners a broad understanding of the importance organisations place on managing their resources efficiently in order to achieve their objectives. It is important that learners are able to relate their understanding of resource management to a real organisation. This will provide an essential link between theory and practice. Understanding how these resources are managed is one of the keys to assessing how well the organisation is performing. The first part of this unit explores the range of human, physical and technological resources for a selected organisation. Learners will investigate the importance of managing these resources efficiently. The...
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...Internal audit’s role in modern corporate governance Thought leadership series Risk and Advisory Services Internal audit’s role in modern corporate governance Recent events have highlighted the critical role of boards of directors in promoting good corporate governance. In particular, boards are being charged with ultimate responsibility for the effectiveness of their organisations’ internal control systems. An effective internal audit function plays a key role in assisting the board to discharge its governance responsibilities. Yet how does the board – and its audit committee – satisfy itself that internal audit is functioning effectively and efficiently? The board’s responsibility for internal controls Through working with a broad range of organisations in Hong Kong and internationally, KPMG has identified a number of best practices in relation to the role played by the board audit and/or risk management committees. s Recent events have highlighted the critical role of boards of directors in s s s s s s s Assessing the scope and effectiveness of the systems established by management to identify, assess, manage and monitor the various risks arising from the organisation’s activities. Ensuring senior management establishes and maintains adequate and effective internal controls. Satisfying itself that appropriate controls are in place for monitoring compliance with laws, regulations, supervisory requirements and relevant internal policies....
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...externally. TQM, combined with effective leadership, results in an organisation doing the right things right, first time. People Culture Communication Customer Supplier Systems Processes Commitment The core of TQM is the customer-supplier interfaces, both externally and internally, and at each interface lie a number of processes. This core must be surrounded by commitment to quality, communication of the quality message, and recognition of the need to change the culture of the organisation to create total quality. These are the foundations of TQM, and they are supported by the key management functions of people, processes and systems in the organisation. This section discusses each of these elements that, together, can make a total quality organisation. Other sections explain people, processes and systems in greater detail, all having the essential themes of commitment, culture and communication running through them. From to Quality Excellence www.dti.gov.uk/quality/tqm page 1 of 5 What is quality? A frequently used definition of quality is “Delighting the customer by fully meeting their needs and expectations”. These may include performance, appearance, availability, delivery, reliability, maintainability, cost effectiveness and price. It is, therefore, imperative that the organisation knows what these needs and expectations are. In addition, having identified them, the organisation must understand them, and measure its own ability to meet them. Quality...
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...programmes to embrace the digital world by transforming itself to deliver information and services electronically. In public sector audit and accounting practices, the Malaysian Government has experienced local reform aimed at escalating transparency, streamlining accountability and improving overall financial management in line with international standards and practices. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of computer-based accounting systems (CBASs) on the effectiveness of performing accounting tasks by Malaysian public sector agencies (PSAs). This study focuses on the impact of performancebased outcomes at three levels: individual task, accounting-related task, and organisational level performance. With regard to accounting-related task performance outcomes, this study aims to analyse the impact of CBASs on the typical processes, which are related to budgeting, financial reporting, auditing and financial controlling. This study also seeks to investigate the influence of driving factors comprising management support and organisational resources and capabilities on the...
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