Introduction

Management accounting has long served as a critical internal function within organizations, shaping decisions, allocating resources, and evaluating performance. Yet, over the past century, its role has undergone profound transformation in response to waves of industrial, technological, institutional, and societal change. From its early emphasis on cost control and efficiency during the industrial revolution to its evolving alignment with strategic planning, digital integration, and sustainability, management accounting has demonstrated a persistent capacity for reinvention. This book seeks to understand this ongoing evolution through the lens of management accounting innovations (MAIs) – concepts, tools, and systems that redefine how accounting contributes to organizational value creation.