Accounting information and its role in the management of organisation

Thesis Overview

<p> </p><p><strong>INTRODUCTION</strong><br><strong>1.1 &nbsp; BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY</strong><br>All business entities requires information in order to make economic decision. According to SINHA, (2002) sees information as an integrating force which combines organizational resources into a cohesive whole, directed towards the realization of organization in such a fundamental way, it is important that information should be effectively organized and efficiently handled, and this is achieved through what has become known as management information system (MIS). A management information system which provides individual managers with information required for making decisions within their own particular areas of responsibility. In view of this, becomes necessary that management is kept abreast with the composition and importance of relevant information. According to Olannye and Nana (2006), state that the most management functions is centered on the financial aspect of an organization. Therefore, the knowledge of the content and business relevance of accounting information is the pre-requisite of this study in which Premier Breweries Plc, Onitsha is the case study.<br>Premier Breweries Plc, Onitsha was incorporated on 23 January, 1976. In October 19th 1992, it became a public Limited Liability Company (Plc), That means, the company is now quoted in the stock exchange market. Premier Breweries Plc is the producer of Premier Larger Beer and Multi- Malt. The company is made âp of the following divisions: Finance and planning, Sales and marketing,<br>Quality control, Production and Administration. The finance and planning division is disc) divided into financial accounting section, Treasury section, data processing and payroll section. Each of these sections is by an accountant.<br>1.2 &nbsp; STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM<br>This research project focuses on “Accounting Information and it’s Roles in the management of an organization”. it lays emphasis on the problems and difficulties hindering accounting information from achieving it’s desirable goals. The problems are made up of the following:<br>a. Poor quality of personnel<br>b. Undersigned channel of accounting information<br>c. Untimely delivery of accounting information<br>d. Machine break-down<br>e. &nbsp; Non-challant attitude of financial managers to some aspect of financial<br>management.<br>f. &nbsp; Administrative problem<br>g. &nbsp; Lack of use of some information by top management</p><p>1.3 &nbsp; &nbsp; PURPOSE OF THE STUDY<br>The purpose of the study of this research is to examine critically and of course objectively:<br>i. &nbsp; The content of term “Accounting information”<br>ii. &nbsp; The role of accounting information in the management of an organization.<br>iii. &nbsp; The problem and difficulties hindering accounting information from achieving desirable goals.<br>iv. &nbsp; To make some useful suggestions towards the achievement of set objective.<br><strong>1.4 &nbsp; SCOPE OF THE STUDY</strong><br>This research project was carried out to cover premier Breweries Plc, Onitsha. It intends to assess the composition/content of the term accounting information, its roles; uses and relevance in the management of tin organization and also to highlight the problems and difficulties hindering accounting information from achieving it’s desirable goals. The study was delimited by inadequate time due to the fact that the researcher need to carry out his official assignment at his place of work financial problems was equally another hindrances as information inflationary trend made prices of stationary items rose up almost unresearchable.<br><strong>1.5 &nbsp; SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY</strong><br>The findings of this research will enable management and others to get abreast with the composition/content of the term accounting information. It’s role and relevance in the management of an organisation. This study is equally aimed at determining the problems and difficulties hindering accounting information from achieving it’s desirable goals.<br><strong>1.6 &nbsp; &nbsp; RESEARCH QUESTIONS</strong><br>The researcher raised the following questions to serve as guide in the study.<br>1. &nbsp; Does accounting information have any relationship with effective cash management?<br>2. &nbsp; Does Accounting information have any relationship with effective pricing policy?<br>3. &nbsp; Does accounting information assist in attaining profit maximization and cost minimization?<br>4. &nbsp; Does errors and untimely delivery of accounting information hinder accounting information from achieving it’s desirable goals?<br>5. &nbsp; Does Non-challant attitude to some aspect of financial management by financial managers and lack of use of some information by top management hinders accounting information from achieving it’s desirable goals.<br>1.7 &nbsp; &nbsp; DEFINITION OF TERMS<br>a) &nbsp; Economic Entities: Economic entities are otherwise called business entities or business organisation. That are two types of economic entities; profit motivated e.g Premier Breweries Plc and Non- Profit motivated entities such as Delta State Polytechnic Otefe Oghara.<br>b) &nbsp; Cashflow: According to Emery and John (2000) sees cashflow as a financial statement which reports on the movement of cash in an organization. It attempts to report on the sources from which cash is obtained- share issues, Loans, internal generated profit and the uses for which it is applied, fixed assets acquisition, dividend and Taxation payments.<br>c) &nbsp; Cost center: According to Isreal (2006) defined cost center as a location, person or items of equipment (or group of these) in respect of which costs may be ascertained and related to cost units for control purposes.<br>d) &nbsp; Cost Unit: According to A. Abohi (2003) defines it to be a qualitative unit of product or services, in relation to which costs are ascertained.<br>e) &nbsp; FundFlow: According to Jordan (1999), obligation view fundflow as a statement designed to show the flow over time of financial resources. They are intended to give information on liquidity. Fundflow statements are some what similar to cashflow statements, The essential difference between them is that whereas fundflow reports are mixture of both cash and accrual based figures, the cashflow statement attempts to report only cash movement.<br>f) &nbsp; Liquidity: Douglas (2000), states that the liquidity of a company measures the ability of the company to find cash to meet maturing obligations<br>g) &nbsp; Solvency; Solvency means the ability of a company to pay it’s debts.</p> <br><p></p>