Costa, Simone Alves da (2015) Strategic cost management: Overview of teaching and research by the view of actor-network theory. PhD thesis, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate how has been built the process of generation, dissemination and use of the body of knowledge of Strategic Cost Management (SCM), from the perspective of Actor-Network Theory (ANT). It is known that, in translating the concepts of ANT to understand the construction of SCM, it is opened up a precedent for other situations within the Financial or Management Accounting that can be benefited by using the same approach. Besides, getting an overview of the SCM in terms of teaching and research, the expansion of its applications methods from other areas to the accounting environment (ANT comes from Sociology) is beneficial to the development of the field. In this sense, the theoretical framework addressed the main concepts of ANT and earlier studies that related areas have used. In addition, strategy concepts were taken up in order to understand the basis on which the SCM is set. Discussions on ANT regarding the current concept and stage, as well as studies that mix approaches of SCM and ANT, complement the theoretical framework of support. The proposed research methodology, focused on capture the network by following the actors (Latour, 2000), used semi-structured interviews, participant observation and analysis of content related to periodicals, courses and reference books in the area. It has been interviewed 22 individuals among teachers, researchers, coordinators, editors, reviewers etc. Out of these, seventeen are Brazilian, five coming from Germany, USA, England, Italy and Portugal. It was also recorded 80 hours of participant observation in events along with eight journals, sixteen books and seven reference courses. From this material emerged three categories that aid in the preview of the field construction: Domain, Context (subdivided into Professional Market, Education, Research and Administrative Functions) and Concept. The analysis of the categories helped to understand the difficulties to establish a definition of SCM, among others. What is seen is a decrease of researchers in the field, induced by the mainstream and by the feasibility on other research themes, with easier access to data, less expenditure of time and no need to displacement. The management themes in general within the Accounting, have seen their scope decrease, over the Financial Accounting. The absence or low expression of specific mechanisms to promote SCM as journals, institutions, written material and courses, turn it into another factor that has hindered its diffusion process. What is seen is an area built on various arguments of authority and rhetorical consistency, expressing a network of low convergence in its entirety (Callon, 1991). The Actor-Network Theory proved effective in aiding understanding of the construction of the GEC as an academic field. The general analysis confirmed the majority of previous studies in the area, highlighting Shank (2006). The controversial basis, on which SCM is set, outlines difficulties in reaching cohesion, while it expands research possibilities, especially if it explores relations with other fields of knowledge. Anyway, the network has persisted and mobilized different actors, even if at different levels of consistency and interest.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Rocha, Welington |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | economic engineering; information networks; management accounting; strategic cost management |
| Index terms: | financial accounting, research methodology, accounting, cohesion, periodical, cost management, interview, Italy, sociology, journal, dissemination, body of knowledge, England, management accounting, observation, actor-network theory, strategy, Germany, Portugal |
| Subjects: | knowledge management, knowledge translation, Geography, social theory, professional development, data collection methods, management, accounting and finance, research dissemination and communication, economic analysis, theoretical framing, structural engineering, research design and methodology |
| Topics: | Cost Management, Information Management, Geographical Context, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here