Management Control Association

The Management Control Association is involved in organising several events each year:

16 and 17 November 2023, Management Accounting Research Group (MARG) Conference in association with the MCA

‘Research on using MACs to address ‘social’ objectives in turbulent times’

This year our area of focus will be on how management accounting and control systems (MACS) have helped or could be adapted to support organisations in performing better in their social objectives (arguably the most neglected of the 3 pillars of ESG). This is in the context of the current high level of industrial unrest in delivery services (such as Royal Mail and private companies like Amazon), the NHS, social care and other public services, schools, and universities. The wellbeing, working conditions, pay and terms of employment for people struggling to cope with the rising costs of living are of heightened concern.

Plenary speakers:

Professor Stewart Smyth, University of Cork

Professor Chandana Alawattage, University of Glasgow

Associate Professor Orthodoxia Kyriacou, Middlesex University

Professor Henri Dekker, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Research in various stages of development will be presented in a mix of plenary and parallel sessions. PhD-students and early career researchers are particularly encouraged to present their work in this setting. The conference will be at the Aston Business School, Birmingham, UK.

Extended Abstract /Full paper submissions now open until 25th September 2023,

Please visit Sway Information page: https://sway.office.com/lbYaqcvc6v4zxXp0?ref=Link

Submission link:  https://www.conftool.com/marg2023

 

 20-21 June 2023, 12th International Management Control Conference

is a network of researchers who are interested in the broad area of control in organisations.

The ethos of the MCA is to develop critical insights into control processes and encourage research that recognises the organisational, personal and social contexts of control.

The MCA is a registered charity whose aim is to encourage and sponsor research and scholarship. A Council is responsible for MCA affairs, and it has a particular interest in developing new academics.

The activities of the MCA revolve around the aim of encouraging research.

 Each year we are involved in organising various events in Europe and the UK. Anyone is welcome to attend either to give a paper or to discuss the work presented (membership is a condition). The papers might be ‘finished’ work or work in progress. Sometimes people bring their research ideas to seek help in developing a tighter focus. Both new and established researchers make presentations. The aim is to have diversity and to provide a rigorous yet supportive environment.

Every three years the MCA holds an international conference to bring together researchers in Management Control from around the world. The last conference was at the University of Durham UK in June (2023).   Previous conferences have been held at the University of Roehampton, UK in June (2019), University of Antwerp, Belgium in September (2016), Nyenrode University in the Netherlands (2013), University of Greenwich, London (2010), ESPC- EAP Paris (2007), Herriot-Watt, Edinburgh (2004), Royal Holloway University of London (2001), the University of Reading (1998) London (1995, 1989) and at HEC Jouy-en-Josas, France in 1992 (with the help of Professor Michel Lebas).

 The MCA provides seedcorn funding for its members for research projects, subject to funds being available. Amounts of funding are small ( up to £3,000) and the MCA Council makes decisions on a case by case basis.

 Members of the MCA have edited/contributed in scholarly publications, including the books below:

Jack, L 2019, Accounting and Social Theory: An Introduction. Kyoyookkwahaksa Publishing.Accounting and Social Theory: An introduction – 1st Edition – Lisa Ja (routledge.com)

Harris, E. ed., 2017. The Routledge companion to performance management and control. Routledge.The Routledge Companion to Performance Management and Control – 1st Ed

Management Control and Uncertainty, David Otley & Kim Soin (eds), Palgrave Macmillan (2014), ISBN 978-1-137-39210-7 (Management Control and Uncertainty | SpringerLink)

Management Control: Theories, Issues and Practices, eds A.J. Berry, J. Broadbent and D. Otley

Critical Perspectives in Management Control, eds W.F. Chua, E.A. Lowe and A. Puxty

New Perspectives in Management Control, eds J. Machin and E.A. Lowe

 

Review Paper

Berry, A. J., Coad, A.F., Harris, E.P., Otley, D.T., and Stringer, C. (2009) ‘Emerging Themes in Management Control: A review of recent literature’ British Accounting Review, 41(1), 2-20.  the journal is at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/bar and is available full text at www.sciencedirect.com.

 

Membership Scheme

Attendance at conferences and workshops are open to all but we do have a membership scheme. This will ensure that you are on the lists and receive details of the workshops. It also allows you to present at any of our events. It also supports our seedcorn research-funding scheme for junior researchers.

Please support the MCA by joining – our annual membership is a recommended donation of just £10! (payable in other currencies – see How to Join tab above).

The funds help to pay the costs of the four workshop meetings, website and professional fees, and the out of pocket expenses of the organising Council. Often the host institution is kind enough to sponsor the lunch and accommodation for us.