Amanda Ball - Böcker

Social accounting as a discipline has challenged the methodology and focus of the larger field of accounting over the last 50 years. More recently it has taken on greater significance for other subjects as well, addressing issues for public policy and management more broadly. These include the issues of the nature of accountability in the contemporary plural state, environmental and societal sustainability, the ethical management and governance of public services and resources, and the creation and sustenance of social capital as an essential element of the modern plural state.Social Accounting and Public Management brings together for the first time researchers from a range of disciplines including accounting, political science, management, sociology and policy studies to discuss and develop our knowledge and theory of the nature of ‘accountability’ in contemporary global society and the challenges it may pose for public policy and management. This book addresses this nexus of all of these issues and disciplines, and through this, makes a contribution to the development of the disciplines of both social accounting and public policy and management.

Social accounting as a discipline has challenged the methodology and focus of the larger field of accounting over the last 50 years. More recently it has taken on greater significance for other subjects as well, addressing issues for public policy and management more broadly. These include the issues of the nature of accountability in the contemporary plural state, environmental and societal sustainability, the ethical management and governance of public services and resources, and the creation and sustenance of social capital as an essential element of the modern plural state.Social Accounting and Public Management brings together for the first time researchers from a range of disciplines including accounting, political science, management, sociology and policy studies to discuss and develop our knowledge and theory of the nature of ‘accountability’ in contemporary global society and the challenges it may pose for public policy and management. This book addresses this nexus of all of these issues and disciplines, and through this, makes a contribution to the development of the disciplines of both social accounting and public policy and management.

This CIMA research report focuses on post-1997 policy innovations for the public sector and their impact on traditional budgeting practices. In light of recent failures to reform local budgeting post 1997, it seeks to distinguish between original intentions of reform and their consequences offering alternatives to local government modernisation, appropriate changes in strategic partnerships, and new organisational structures.The key question for the report is the extent to which it is possible or useful to reform traditional practices, paying particular emphasis to the nature of modernisation in the governmental post 1997 period.The report includes an in-depth investigation into two case authorities in the UK. The analysis will include findings from sources beyond the finance divisions of these authorities. The study is comprehensive, insightful and practical focussed. The authors concentrate their investigation on a longitudinal field study of budgetary practice in two large and contrasting English local and produce a detailed comparison of the two cases. The report concludes with recommendations to users of local government budgeting.The final chapter discusses the comparison of the two cases. It provides us with a number of concluding observations: e.g.* There is a need for more participation in budgeting and especially a more credible system for schools to get involved in the budget setting process and if the school's budgeting system is to remain centralise dor become even more centralised then policy makers need to have a better knowledge of educational cost drivers