Science Research Management ›› 2014, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (2): 70-78.

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Management accounting and controls, core competence development and firm performance:A survey based on 293 construction projects of Chinese construction firms

Mao Hongtao1, Zhou Yan1, Ren Xulin2, Zhang Zhengyong3   

  1. 1. School of Accounting, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China;
    2. Human Resource Center, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China;
    3. School of Accounting, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210046, Jiangsu, China
  • Received:2011-09-20 Revised:2012-12-03 Online:2014-02-25 Published:2014-03-10

Abstract: Management accounting and controls (MACs) have being applied more frequently and broadly in Chinese firms in recent years. However, little literature studies the effectiveness of MACs. We conduct a survey of 293 construction projects and adopt the structural equation model to analyze the influence of MACs on firm performance. We find that application of MACs can directly improve firms' financial performance and indirectly affect financial performance through the development of firms' core competence. In its application process, MACs improve firms' core competence and bring sustainable competitiveness through the integration of core competence. Further, we find that the development level of MACs affects their influence on core competence and firm performance. The more developed MACs are, the more obvious the influence on firm performance is. Therefore, this paper provides guidance for understanding, choosing and implementing MACs.

Key words: management accounting and controls, core competence, performance, construction firms

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