The Role of Management Accountants in Information Strategy

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the emerging role of management accountants in the formulation, development and implementation of information strategies within organizations. The paper is both empirical in that it is based on survey data and theoretical as it postulates future developments.

The essence of the argument is that management accountants have adapted to information technology and have been active in exploiting data processing systems since their inception. This experience and knowledge of the technology alongside their managerial abilities form powerful tools to enable their participation in developing information strategies. The development of an information strategy enables the matching of technology, information content and managerial activity to achieving the overall business strategy in the face of uncertainty. This clearly follows the proposal of accounting process to manage environmental uncertainty reflecting Lorange and Scott-Morton (1974), Hedberg and Jonsson (1978), Hedberg et at. (1976) and Earl (1983).