Critical theorising in management accounting research

There is a long and distinguished history of critical theorising in management accounting, but some doubt its continuing relevance to understanding modern management, organisations and the world, more generally. We address this issue by showing how three broad approaches to critical theory (labour process, critical theory and post-structuralism) help us understand two major developments in modern management accounting. We review the critical accounting literature in strategic management accounting and new public management to show, inter alia, the enduring value of a socially and historically contextualised view of management accounting that emphasises power and conflict, examines the multiplicity of mechanisms of commodification and is oriented to social improvement. The chapter concludes by identifying some continuing challenges and highlights the achievements of critical theorising in management accounting.