The integration of Management Accounting Practices as an innovative strategy towards sustaining small businesses operating in eThekwini metropolitan, South Africa

Abstract

The adoption of Management Accounting Practices (MAPs) has been acclaimed for providing positive administrative and strategic influence on large organizations, and are understood to play an integral part in decision-making. However, SMEs are operating in a turbulent environment, they are now challenged to effectively utilize the embedded MAPs to strengthen their strategic business approaches to maintain their sustainability and survival. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the challenges of integrating the adopted MAPs as an innovative strategy towards sustaining small businesses. The research sample consisted of 120 manufacturing SMEs operating in eThekwini metropolitan South Africa. A nonprobability convenience sampling technique and a quantitative questionnaire were utilized to identify and collect the data from the sampled population. The results of the study indicated that amongst other critical factors, lack of education and training of owner/manager and shortage of skills were the contributory factors influencing the integration of MAPs as an innovative strategy towards SMEs’ sustainability. The study results further revealed that there are a variety of other challenges hindering SMEs from utilizing MAPs as an innovative strategic tool and those were the enterprise age and years in operation, lack of government business incubation and technology adoption. These contributory factors were identified as necessary aspects that SMEs needed to align and iron out before integrating MAPs as an innovative strategic tool.