5.4. Intensity of the competitive environment
Studies by Libby and Waterhouse (1996) and Simons (1990) suggest that companies facing intensely
competitive market environments tend to employ relatively more sophisticated management accounting
systems. These views are also consistent with Khandwalla’s (1972) finding of a positive relationship
between sophisticated management controls and competition intensity. Bruns and Kaplan (1987) identify
competition as the most important external factor for stimulating managers to consider redesigning their
costing systems. Cooper (1988b) has also argued that organizations facing fierce competition should
implement ABC.Companies facing intensive competition also have a greater impetus to find ways to differentiate
their products and services from those provided by competitors (Guilding and McManus, 2002). This
requirement frequently results in a greater number of product and service lines. In addition, it results in
differentiation sought through increased customization of products and services in order to meet specific
customer desires. In these circumstances companies require sophisticated costing systems to measure
accurately the costs of increased variety and customization. They will then be able to ascertain whether
the strategy adopted results in the revenues generated exceeding the higher costs associated with the
increase in variety and customization. Companies facing relatively intensive market conditions are also
likely to have products and services with low profit margins due to pressure to match or under-cut prices
charged by competing firms. Thus, there is a greater need for accurate cost systems since there is a danger
that inaccurate systems may significantly overcost or undercost products/services to such an extent that
they result in incorrect decisions. For example, undercosting may lead to incorrectly continuing with
low margin products which are really loss making. Conversely, overcosting may mistakenly result in
the discontinuation of reported loss making products or services, which are really generating low profit
margins. Thus, organizations facing intense competition have a greater need for accurate cost information.
Based on the above discussion the following hypothesis is tested:
Hypothesis 4 (H4). There is a positive association between the intensity of competition and the level
of cost system sophistication.