Challenges in Management Accounting Innovation Adoption: Evidence from Malaysian Companies

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the main challenges or issues in the adoption of Value Engineering (VE) viewed as a management accounting innovative technique within Malaysian companies. VE relates to a systematic and multi-disciplinary team approach adopted by companies which analyze the functional requirements of new and existing products, projects or services. The aim is to achieve the essential function at the lowest overall cost while maintaining customers’ optimum value assurance. A survey was conducted to determine VE issues faced by companies within each of the Malaysian automotive and construction industries. The survey findings showed that time and attitude related issues encountered by both the industries were the main challenges that were holding up VE application. The paper contributes to the literature in management accounting innovation domain specifically in relation to VE by highlighting VE adoption critical challenges, as opposed to presenting critical success factors. The findings of the study will provide important insights for companies on possible challenges faced when contemplating how to introduce innovative technique such as VE into their social system. An understanding of the challenges in innovation adoption will bring greater confidence of success when implementing management accounting techniques such as VE.