The Diffusion of Accounting Innovations in the New Public Sector as Influenced by IMF Reforms: Actor-Network Theory

Introduction

A large amount of studies deal with the transformation of the public sector following IMF reforms (Shahid et al., 2014). “Little was known about: the diffusion and adoption of management accounting innovations within the new public sector” (Shahid et al., 2014, p. 355). This paper is very much adhered with this research agenda, and it aims to explore the manner and means of diffusion of accounting innovations, the obstacles to adoption, and to add value for this research agenda. In recent years, reform of the public sector has been the primary focus of policy makers and accounting systems and policies have played a key role in initiatives for change (Shahid et al., 2014, p. 355). Given the frequency with which new management accounting ideas have been advocated as a result, the way in which accounting innovations diffuse through organizations (or not) is of particular interest to researchers, policy makers and practitioners (Shahid et al., 2014, p. 355). This paper extends prior research by focusing on the manner and means of diffusion of accounting innovations, and by drawing the views of key actors in the diffusion process in the public sector.

A few number of management and accounting publications deal with the diffusion of innovation (Rogers, 1995). “An innovation is an idea, practice, or object perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption” (Rogers, 1995, p. 1). Diffusion of innovation attempts to determine the innovation’s diffusion curve over time and to recognize the factors explaining its shape. A large number of studies with a positivist and rational approach are concerned with the diffusion of innovation. However, the models and concepts employed by most of this type of research are not easily transposed to the study of managerial innovations (Lundblad, 2003). Furthermore, positivist research in management (accounting) often prefers to ignore power struggles and conflicting logics, as well as rationalities other than technical ones, which are significantly influence the diffusion of new accounting systems and practices (Baxter and Chua, 2003). These boundaries lead us towards alternative research in management accounting, which is interpretive and non-positivist approach.

Unlike rational approach, interpretive approach examines accounting as a part of social system that is influenced by power and institutional logics. It considers accounting as a discipline of the social science and it seemed important to us to understand it in the context of a broader set of discourses from the social sciences. Baxter and Chua (2003) identify seven different research perspectives that lie outside the mainstream research. This paper follows the line of “Latourian” research. This stream of research is concerned with the fabrication of management accounting innovations by using Actor-Network Theory (ANT). Unforeseeable interactions between human and non-human actors are central to this type of analysis. In this view, accounting innovations diffuse because they translate the changing and transitory interests of various groups of actors who are looking to maintain their position and influence within organizations and society. Actors use accounting innovations to produce “inscriptions” (i.e. figures and numbers which become “facts”, see Robson (1992)) and manipulate them to serve their interests.