In recent decades the interest of academic researchers in the practical aspects of management
accounting has waned. This editorial explores some of the reasons of this
development. Over the past few decades we have witnessed the establishment of management
accounting in academia as a social science. This has increased the credibility of
the accounting academics. However, it has also meant that academic researchers have
neglected the technical core of their discipline and its problems and issues which have
a direct practical relevance. It is concluded that there is a need for academic researchers
to have a stronger focus on the technical core of the subject and to harness the findings of
empirical research so that they can be used to develop and support practice