In a lean manufacturing environment the organizational structure is reorganized into cells and value streams (Womack
and Jones, 1996). Several studies using a Cartesian fit provide evidence that advanced manufacturing techniques lead
to changes in organizational structure (Abernethy and Lillis, 1995; Ezzamel and Willmott, 1998). In their study of
151 organizations, Baines and Langfield-Smith (2003) find that a change towards a differentiation strategy results in
changes in organization design that include greater use of team-based structures. Interestingly, they do not find that
an increase in the use of advanced manufacturing technologies results in a similar organization change. It should be
noted, however, that their definition of ‘advanced manufacturing technologies’ includes not only JIT, but also the more
technical ‘computer-aided design’ and ‘computer-aided manufacturing’.
Chenhall (2003, p. 129) clarifies four distinct terms that are occasionally used interchangeably. Management
accounting (MA) refers to a “collection of practices such as budgeting or product costing” while management
accounting systems (MAS) refers to the “systematic use of MA to achieve some goal”. He further distinguishes
management control systems (MCS) as a broader concept that includes MAS and such controls as personnel and
clan controls. Finally, organizational control (OC) is broader still and includes the controls built into activities and
processes.