Quality in management accounting: approach by activities in large companies

This study intends to contribute to the knowledge about the approach by activities, a management accounting method that promotes the quality of information. As specific objectives, we have identified the following: to analyse the knowledge rate regarding the approach by activities, and identify whether there is a link between it and the financial officers' characteristics; to analyse the utilisation rate of the approach by activities, and the factors conditioning it; to analyse whether there is a link between a company's features, and the use of the approach by activities. The data collection method used was the application of a survey to the financial officers of the largest Portuguese companies, which yielded 61 valid responses. The results found allowed us to conclude the following: the time driven activity‐based costing is very little known and used in Portugal; there is a link between the knowledge of the approach by activities and the financial officers' gender, age and educational background; there is a link between the use of the approach by activities and two company features: the legal form and the capital holding.