Title: Management control in Italian SMEs

Authors: Laura Broccardo; Elisa Giacosa; Francesca Culasso; Alberto Ferraris

Addresses: Department of Management, University of Turin, Corso Unione Sovietica 218 bis, 10134 Turin (TO), Italy ' Department of Management, University of Turin, Corso Unione Sovietica 218 bis, 10134 Turin (TO), Italy ' Department of Management, University of Turin, Corso Unione Sovietica 218 bis, 10134 Turin (TO), Italy ' Department of Management, University of Turin, Corso Unione Sovietica 218 bis, 10134 Turin (TO), Italy

Abstract: The main goal of this research is to investigate management and implications issues with regard to performance measurement systems (PMSs) in small and medium firms (SMEs) in Italy. In particular, the aim is to comprehensively understand the use of management accounting tools in Italian SMEs. Indeed, appropriate managerial tools are relevant in firm management, especially for the improvement and growth of firms in this turbulent international scenario. The focus is on SMEs - in some countries such as Italy, small and medium firms play an important role; however, mainstream studies in management literature focus more on large firms. The method used to conduct this study is a survey that collected a high level of data on PMSs. The sample includes 309 Italian SMEs. The main findings concern the use and adoption of management control tools. In addition, the analysis of management issues is based on both major national and international literature and empirical evidence and adopts the newly emerging beyond budgeting theory. Finally, this study contributes to a better understanding of the behaviour of SMEs with regard to the management and control of their performance. In particular, this research highlights that budgets are still an important managerial tool for SMEs.

Keywords: management control; Italy; budget; SMEs; managerial issues; better budgeting.

DOI: 10.1504/GBER.2017.086781

Global Business and Economics Review, 2017 Vol.19 No.5, pp.632 - 647

Received: 01 Mar 2016
Accepted: 16 May 2016

Published online: 25 Sep 2017 *

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