Heuristics are short-cuts and deliberately ignore information, for instance through examining fewer cues or integrating less information. However, this collides with a view on management accountants and controllers as rational agents which seems to suggest that all available information should be considered. As their role as information supplier is often accompanied with the task to assist managers in their judgment and decision making, they have huge influence on these processes. Therefore, it is of high relevance to know if, how, and which heuristics management accountants and controllers use. Furthermore, we need to know which individual and situational factors influence their usage of heuristics. With a series of five empirical studies, applying a mixed-methods research design, the author sheds light to these research questions and addresses some central claims of the potential biases but also the stunning benefits of relying on heuristic reasoning. Central to his discussion are dual-process-approaches which are debated in cognitive psychology. Scholars of these approaches claim that we should distinguish between two distinct processes (or systems) of the human mind. Following this interpretation, heuristics are processes which are described as intuitive, automatic, fast, and unconscious. They are routinized cognitive processes which are based on experience in certain social environments and thus often exhibit ecological rationality. Overall, this book picks up an up-to-date topic in behavioural accounting research, which not only is of relevance for researchers but as well for practitioners.

The objective of this paper is to provide a fresh look at use of heuristics in management accounting from a process-oriented perspective. In experimental study 1 participants facing an accounting decision mostly ignored advice to decide rationally (e.g. in the sense of strictly following the instructions of the equal weights rule) and instead used heuristics in an ostensibly rational decision task. A detailed process analysis of these heuristics is provided through a verbal protocol analysis in study 2, which showed the typically involved phased strategy. Accountability, as introduced in study 3, is however one external factor that is strongly linked with the use of available cues and departing from (at least reported) non-compensatory rules. Overall, it is suggested that participants facing a management accounting task may not always act according to the laws of (economic) rationality, but under certain circumstances, their decision making can be seen as an adaptive strategy to cope with a complex and uncertain environment. A theoretical framework of this sort of heuristic reasoning in management accounting is suggested, together with possibilities of future research.

Accounting estimates are developed in a bottom-up fashion; subordinates generate estimates that are reviewed by managers. The anchoring heuristic suggests managers may be highly influenced by subordinates initial estimates. However, motivated reasoning theory predicts that reporting incentives will bias managers review in favor of estimates that are incentive consistent, and managers will selectively attend to information that supports their preferred conclusion, including their perceptions of the subordinate. Using experimental methods I manipulate the consistency of the subordinate estimate with management reporting incentives, and the narcissistic description of the subordinate. Consistent with motivated reasoning theory, I find that managers anchor on incentive consistent subordinate estimates, regardless of subordinate narcissism, but anchor less on incentive inconsistent subordinate estimates, especially when the estimate comes from a narcissistic subordinate. I also find evidence that managers believe narcissistic subordinates act strategically in their own self-interest, and selectively attend to this belief to adjust away from incentive inconsistent subordinate estimates, but not incentive consistent subordinate estimate. My results reveal two potential weaknesses in the management review process: susceptibility to subordinate anchors, and bias created by reporting incentives.

A fundamental challenge that management faces in the twenty-first century is how to exercise adequate control, i. e. how to guide and direct the behaviour of their subordinates. With increasing globalisation firms witness a cross-cultural impact too. Of particular interest is the question of whether to use the standardized form of control similar to the home base of firms or whether to adapt their control practices to the local specificities. Given the meagre state of the literature in management control with a cross-cultural emphasis, this study addresses a real world problem, namely the question whether management control practices are configured similarly or differently across cultures. Relying on a generalized industry sample across four countries (Belgium, Canada, Germany and Poland), this study sought to shed light on one of the more intriguing questions – “does culture matter” – for specific control areas, in particular for performance measurement, performance evaluation and reward systems. The theoretical foundations are grounded in the cultural framework of the GLOBE project accompanied by thoughts of new institutionalism, stakeholder theory and contingency thoughts. Hypotheses are tested by mean comparisons (ANOVA, ANCOVA). The empirical findings highlight cultural differences for a broader set of control practices and deliver new insights into the intersection of culture and management control. This dissertation crafts a novel topic with high relevance for both researchers and practitioners. The study demonstrates areas for which management control practices should be adapted to the local needs and areas for which those practices could be harmonized in the whole company. This monograph stresses some areas in which future empirical cross-cultural research can benefit, and some areas where conceptual thoughts could be advanced.

Psychology Models of Management Accounting analyzes the contributions of psychology-based research to explaining patterns in individuals' management accounting related decision-making.

The world's economy has suffered like never before first by COVID-19 and then by the Russia-Ukraine war. In such a difficult time, the role of Management Accounting and Performance Measurement Systems increases because the organizations have to quest for alternative cost management practices in order to reduce and control costs and improve profitability. Organizations in the 21st century have been witnessing rapid changes in expanded regulatory requirements and technological advances. These changes also impact accounting, it is essential to understand how Management Accounting and Performance Evaluation Systems are transforming locally and globally in order to reap proper opportunities. Environmental factors and organizational factors are believed to be an underpinning theory for challenges faced by management accountants in the 21st century. Needless to state that the role of Management Accounting and Performance Measurement Systems has been transforming the structure and processes of organizations and its acceptability has increased among internal stakeholders in improving the organizations’ decision-making processes and performance. This important subject has been embracing new avenues taking place both in theory and practice in view of emerging technologies. The usage of data analytics by accountants to support value creation is increasing. As a part of ethical practices and corporate social responsibility (CSR), organizations are obliged to report on incurring their environmental costs for mitigating the effects of pollution, climatic change, waste disposal, energy, and fuel consumption. Transformation in management accounting and control practices, adoption of innovative techniques such as activity-based costing and management, target costing, performance measurement systems, etc. particularly in the context of developing countries need to be researched in the twenty-first century in order to enhance our knowledge base in the context of competitive advantages of Management Accounting. Value-based management (VBM) helps in making decisions that are helpful for the long-term financial performance. Target Costing (TC) enforces the management to transform their ways of thinking regarding the relation between product cost, selling price, and profitability in the organizations. Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is to prepare a firm-wide strategy to identify and manage overall risks in all operational areas. Justifying investments with the capital budgeting process is of high importance for future growth and profitability for any organization. In this context, the cognitive heuristics and attendant biases that are likely to colour judgments pertaining to the selection and post-audit stages of investment decisions need to be considered.

Susanne Rauscher and Annika Zielke provide an in-depth analysis of the relevance of nudging as a potential solution approach for behavioral issues within the area of Management Accounting. It challenges whether learnings from already successful applications of nudging especially in the social and political context can be transferred to the corporate environment of management accounting. This study contributes to the increasing interest in behavioral economics in the corporate context. Its findings have the potential to impact both academic research and practitioners’ work.