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Strategising in the midst of management controls: a case study on the relationship between management controls and promises on strategies
Author(s) -
Tekathen Matthäus,
Bui Binh,
Wang Zhichao Alex
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
accounting and finance
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.645
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1467-629X
pISSN - 0810-5391
DOI - 10.1111/acfi.12435
Subject(s) - futures contract , bridge (graph theory) , business , control (management) , management control system , public relations , management , economics , political science , medicine , finance
Abstract By understanding strategies as promises, this study investigates how management controls are implicated in organisations’ strategising practice under continuous changes of external forces. Based on a historical case study of a New Zealand electricity firm, the study shows how multiple management controls facilitate a strategising practice that focuses on repromising new futures for the firm by enabling senior managers, board members and operational staff to memorise, forget and forgive promises made. The study suggests that organisations seeking to move from one promised future to another use management controls to help develop, solidify and bridge promises.