CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Theoretical framework:
The following theories formed the basis on which this study lies: exploration cost theory, theory of environmental management accounting, environmental quality cost theory, environmental audit theory, eco-efficiency accounting theory and the environmental sustainability theory.
2.1.1: Exploration Cost Theory by PricewaterhouseCoopers International (2011)
According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (2011) exploration cost theory holds that evaluation costs are incurred to assess the technical feasibility and commercial viability of the resource found. This theory further gives clear meaning of exploration and evaluation expenditures incurred by an entity in connection with the expenditures for and evaluation of mineral resources before the
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Estimating annual environmental costs (for example, costs of waste control, cost of mopping up oil spilled and gas flared including the fines paid)
2. Budgeting and setting targets for improvements in environmental performance
3. Product pricing
4. Investment appraisal (for example, estimating clean-up costs at the end of a project life and assessing the environmental costs of a project)
5. Identifying opportunities for cost savings
6. Estimating savings from environmental projects.
Although environmental management accounting information is intended for use mainly by management, it is also included in reports that the entity publishes externally, such as sustainability reports/environment reports.
2.1.3 A theoretical framework for environmental management accounting, By Bebbington, J and Gray, R (2001):
The Authors suggested a framework for EMA based on providing information to management:
1. that is gathered from internal or external sources
2. As monetary or physical measurements: physical measures of energy consumption, pollution and so on can be converted into a monetary measure
3. As historical or forward-looking
Sustainability from a strategic business perspective is the potential for the long-term well-being of the natural environment, including all biological entities, as mutually beneficial interactions among nature and individuals, organizations, and business strategies. (O.C Ferrell, Fraedrich, Ferrell, 2015). Business sustainably is often defined as managing the triple bottom line – a process by which companies manage their financial, social and environmental risks, obligations and opportunities. These three impacts are sometimes referred to as profits, people and planet. (Business sustainability definition from financial times lexicon, no date). This essay will discuss the idea of sustainability being an important element within a businesses and its core strategies and the importance of it within different businesses. Secondly, this study will look at how different stakeholders are affected and influenced by sustainability as this could be seen as a catalyst to improving the environment as a whole and. Then this study will look at how businesses not focusing
Financial measures in the Triple Bottom Line accounting framework should follow the common financial accounting guidelines, Generally Accepted Accounting Principle’s, and International Financial Reporting Standard’s. The financial measures in the Triple Bottom Line accounting framework however are not under as much scrutiny as the Environmental and Social measures, though there is debate over certain ethical aspects of Financial Accounting as a well. Financial Accounting in a business is usually not changed in a dramatic way, when a company decides to adopt the TBL framework. Some changes that financial records might reflect include an increase in expenses related to environmental or social care, a decrease in expenses that reflect a detriment to the society or environment (i.e. Transportation Expense), a possible increase in revenues as a result of customer support of the adoption of TBL.
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Life cycle costing is a technique that is used to assess environmental impacts that are linked with the product life stages from manufacturing to consumption that is from raw material acquisition to processing or manufacture, distribution, consumption, maintenance and repair (Epstein & Buhovac, 2014). It shows and some of the environmental concerns associated with the product life (Koroluk, 2012).
The concept of eco-efficiency includes environmental impacts and costs as a factor in calculating business efficiency. The WBCSD considers the term eco-efficiency to describe the delivery of competitively priced goods and services that satisfy human needs and enhance the quality of life while progressively reducing ecological impacts and resource intensity throughout the products’ life cycles to a level commensurate with the earth’s estimated carrying capacity.
Additionally, the study found that hotels with a non-financial reporting control system were more likely to adopt an environmental policy. In 1996, when this article was published, green policies were considered stratagems instead of bonafide, widespread business strategies for all hotels to take into consideration to participate in environmentally-responsible business practices. The author concludes that until environmental concerns become strategic issues added into the control system with rewards, the response will remain the same; green policies and practices will be considered stratagems.
The information provided by financial accounting is used by both internal and external users use the information provided by financial accounting.
Project Objectives: Help improve the environment while increasing revenues and reducing costs. Researching the following
Economic analysis that weighs all costs and benefits of a particular model must include environmental considerations. That is to say, the potential for short-term economic losses caused by conservation in the present, should be measured against the dividends that conservation will pay in the future (Nordhaus, 2007). If the earth is truly our most valuable commodity, then analysis under these conditions should recognize that if a “dollar value” were placed on environmental sustainability, more often than not it would outweigh any initial monetary loss resultant of the implementation of more sustainable practices.
Bhimani, A., Horngren, C., Datar, S., Rajan, M. et al. (2012) Management and Cost Accounting. 5th ed. Edinburgh: Prentice Hall, p.369 - 378.
The Investment Appraisal are techniques used in an organisation’s overall strategy and decision of capital investment. In general capital investment appraisal are used for ranking projects. A firm can usually have many projects that are appraised at the same time and those techniques will compare the projects and once completed will determine the highest one and this will be implemented. The investment appraisal considered are: ARR, PAYBACK, NPV AND IRR.
When considering the preparation and development of a resource, cost is an important factor to consider. As well as monetary cost of the
John Deere Component Works (JDCW), subdivision of John Deere and Co. was in charged specifically of the manufacturing of tractor component parts. The demand for JDCW’s products had problems due to the collapse of farmland value and commodity prices. Numerous and constant failures in JDCW’s competition for bids, alerted top management to start questioning their current costing methods. As an outcome, the analysis has to be guided to research on the current costing methods with the intention of establishing legitimacy and to help the company in adopting a more appropriate costing system.
An organization is an open system; therefore it interacts with its environment. To manage the relationship with the environment, a large part of strategic planning is concerned. The environmental factors can be divided to 2 main categories, which is MACRO and MICRO .Macro environmental factors seriously affect an organization business practice, profitability and future progress. It can
According to the business dictionary, investment appraisal is the technique used to determine if an investment is going to be profitable or not. Investment decision is extremely vital because it is consistently concerned with the future survival, success and growth of the organisation. The primary objective of an organisation is maximization of shareholder wealth; investment must make not only to maintain shareholder’s wealth but also to increase it. To ensure the maximization objective, it is important that the management managing the organisation make best decision that are based on the best information available and use of the most appropriate appraisal techniques.