IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jecomi/v10y2022i9p211-d905602.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of Environmental Uncertainty on Accounting Information Relevance and Performance: A Contingency Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Rui Pires

    (Departamento de Ciências Empresariais e Jurídicas, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal)

  • Maria-Ceu G. Alves

    (NECE-UBI Research Unit in Business Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal)

Abstract

This paper examines the association between environmental uncertainty, accounting information relevance, and organizational performance. From a contingency approach, this paper attempts to contribute to a stream of research that investigates the relationship between accounting information relevance and organizational performance. The presence of environmental uncertainty in this relationship has not been fully established. This paper contributes to this area by suggesting a framework to study and explain this connection. An online questionnaire-based survey was conducted, which produced 119 valid responses (a response rate of 23%) from large manufacturing companies operating in Portugal. The results suggest that in contexts of environmental uncertainty, the relevance of non-financial information increases. However, the relevance of financial information continues to outstrip that of non-financial information. The results also suggest that financial information and non-financial information are complementary, and not substitutes, and can be used simultaneously in different situations. These results have several implications for professionals involved in decision-making activities. It offers findings which are potentially useful for both theory and practice. The study addresses an identified gap in the literature and adds to the existing body of work analyzing the association between environmental uncertainty, accounting information relevance for decision-making purposes, and organizational performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Rui Pires & Maria-Ceu G. Alves, 2022. "The Impact of Environmental Uncertainty on Accounting Information Relevance and Performance: A Contingency Approach," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jecomi:v:10:y:2022:i:9:p:211-:d:905602
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/10/9/211/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/10/9/211/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Adetayo Olaniyi Adeniran & Oluwabukunmi Eunice Obembe, 2020. "The significance of strategic management accounting on the performance of transport businesses in Nigeria," Post-Print hal-03271851, HAL.
    2. Adetayo Olaniyi Adeniran & Oluwabukunmi Eunice Obembe, 2020. "The significance of strategic management accounting on the performance of transport businesses in Nigeria," Insights into Regional Development, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 2(3), pages 677-688, September.
    3. Chenhall, Robert H. & Langfield-Smith, Kim, 2007. "Multiple Perspectives of Performance Measures," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 266-282, August.
    4. Hanna Czaja-Cieszyńska & Dominika Kordela & Beata Zyznarska-Dworczak, 2021. "How to make corporate social disclosures comparable?," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 9(2), pages 268-288, December.
    5. Chong, Vincent K., 1996. "Management accounting systems, task uncertainty and managerial performance: A research note," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 21(5), pages 415-421, July.
    6. Massicotte, Steeve & Henri, Jean-François, 2021. "The use of management accounting information by boards of directors to oversee strategy implementation," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(3).
    7. Vincent Chong & Kar Chong, 1997. "Strategic Choices, Environmental Uncertainty and SBU Performance: A Note on the Intervening Role of Management Accounting Systems," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(4), pages 268-276.
    8. Holm, Morten & Kumar, V. & Plenborg, Thomas, 2016. "An investigation of Customer Accounting systems as a source of sustainable competitive advantage," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 18-30.
    9. Chenhall, Robert H., 2003. "Management control systems design within its organizational context: findings from contingency-based research and directions for the future," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 28(2-3), pages 127-168.
    10. Nimnual Visedsun & Kanitsorn Terdpaopong, 2021. "The Effects of the Strategy and Goal on Business Performance as Mediated by Management Accounting Systems," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-17, October.
    11. Toomas Haldma & Kertu Laats, 2002. "Influencing Contingencies On Management Accounting Practices In Estonian Manufacturing Companies," University of Tartu - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Working Paper Series 13, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Tartu (Estonia).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ana Catarina Santos & Rui Pires & Maria-Ceu Alves, 2023. "An Analysis of the Use of Accounting Information by Portuguese SMEs," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-17, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Teerooven Soobaroyen & Bhagtaraj Poorundersing, 2008. "The effectiveness of management accounting systems: Evidence from functional managers in a developing country," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 23(2), pages 187-219, January.
    2. Abdel-Kader, Magdy & Luther, Robert, 2008. "The impact of firm characteristics on management accounting practices: A UK-based empirical analysis," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 2-27.
    3. Adrien Bonache & Philippe Chapellier & Zouhour Ben Hamadi & Abdallah Mohammed, 2015. "Determinants of the complexity of accounting information systems of managers of SMEs: cultural contingencies and endogeneity [Los factores determinantes de la complejidad de los sistemas de informa," Post-Print halshs-01288141, HAL.
    4. Ewelina ZARZYCKA & Justyna DOBROSZEK & Cristina CIRCA & Alina ALMASAN, 2017. "The perceived suitability of management accounting information: a contingency based investigation," The Audit Financiar journal, Chamber of Financial Auditors of Romania, vol. 15(147), pages 395-395.
    5. Soon-Yau Foong & Neilson Anak Teruki, 2009. "Cost-system functionality and the performance of the Malaysian palm oil industry," Asian Review of Accounting, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 17(3), pages 212-225, September.
    6. Rui Pires & Maria-Ceu Gaspar Alves & Catarina Fernandes, 2023. "The Usefulness of Accounting Information and Management Accounting Practices under Environmental Uncertainty," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-21, February.
    7. Franco Cescon & Antonio Costantini & Luca Grassetti, 2019. "Strategic choices and strategic management accounting in large manufacturing firms," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 23(3), pages 605-636, September.
    8. Gerdin, Jonas & Greve, Jan, 2008. "The appropriateness of statistical methods for testing contingency hypotheses in management accounting research," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(7-8), pages 995-1009.
    9. Hao Shi, 2006. "L'évolution du "calcul économique en équipe" : un processus de légitimation des changements institutionnels en Chine," Working Papers 2006-4, Laboratoire Orléanais de Gestion - université d'Orléans.
    10. Mirna Indriani & Nadirsyah, 2015. "Interaction Effect Of Budgetary Participation And Management Accounting System On Managerial Performance: Evidence From Indonesia," Global Journal of Business Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 9(1), pages 1-13.
    11. Paolo Perego & Frank Hartmann, 2009. "Aligning Performance Measurement Systems With Strategy: The Case of Environmental Strategy," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 45(4), pages 397-428, December.
    12. Amizawati Mohd Amir, 2011. "The indirect effects of PMS design on Malaysian service firms' characteristics and performance," Asian Review of Accounting, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 19(1), pages 31-49, May.
    13. Adrien Bernard Bonache & Philippe Chapellier & Zouhour Ben Hamadi & Abdallah Mohammed, 2015. "Determinants of the complexity of accounting information systems of managers of SMEs: Cultural contingencies and endogeneity [Les déterminants de la complexité des systèmes d'information comptables," Post-Print hal-03822778, HAL.
    14. Ali Uyar & Cemil Kuzey, 2016. "Contingent Factors, Extent of Budget Use and Performance: A Structural Equation Approach," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 26(1), pages 91-106, March.
    15. Cadez, Simon & Guilding, Chris, 2008. "An exploratory investigation of an integrated contingency model of strategic management accounting," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(7-8), pages 836-863.
    16. Jihene Ghorbel, 2019. "A Study of Contingency Factors of Accounting Information System Design in Tunisian SMIs," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 10(1), pages 74-103, March.
    17. Hoque, Zahirul, 2014. "20 years of studies on the balanced scorecard: Trends, accomplishments, gaps and opportunities for future research," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 33-59.
    18. Jafar Ojra & Abdullah Promise Opute & Mohammad Mobarak Alsolmi, 2021. "Strategic management accounting and performance implications: a literature review and research agenda," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-17, December.
    19. Hall, Matthew, 2008. "The effect of comprehensive performance measurement systems on role clarity, psychological empowerment and managerial performance," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(2-3), pages 141-163.
    20. Tuan Zainun Tuanmat & Malcolm Smith, 2011. "The effects of changes in competition, technology and strategy on organizational performance in small and medium manufacturing companies," Asian Review of Accounting, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 19(3), pages 208-220, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jecomi:v:10:y:2022:i:9:p:211-:d:905602. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.