Factors Influencing the Implementation of Activity-Based Costing: A Study on Malaysian SMEs

Abstract

Literature has indicated that factors such as--the external environment, cost saving mechanisms, user attitude and company size--may have an effect on the implementation of activity-based costing (ABC). Furthermore, literature has revealed that there is still lack of research on the effect of these factors on the implementation of ABC among small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. As such the aim of this research is to test the relationships of these factors on the implementation of ABC among SMEs in Malaysia with the aim of contributing to existing research on the ABC system in the area of management accounting. A total of 200 respondents participated in this research. The results of the study revealed that all four factors; the external environment, cost saving mechanisms, user attitude and company size have significant relationships with the implementation of ABC among SMEs in Malaysia.