DECISION MAKING

This study examined the relationship between management accounting practices and strategic decision making in organisations in Nigeria. The main objective was to determine how management accounting tools such as budgeting and budgetary control, standard costing, variance analysis, activity-based costing, and cost-volume-profit analysis influence strategic decision making in Nigerian firms. The study adopted a descriptive survey design, and data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to selected organisations in Edo State. The sample size was determined using Yamane’s formula, and the data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The findings revealed that management accounting practices significantly influence strategic decision making, particularly in areas such as cost control, planning, and performance evaluation. The study concluded that effective application of management accounting tools enhances strategic decision making and organisational performance. It recommended that firms in Nigeria should strengthen their management accounting systems and continuously train managers in the use of modern accounting tools to support strategic decisions.

Strategic decisions are very important decisions which organizations are obliged to make to ensure growth, sustainability, and wealth maximization for shareholders. The study examines the relationship between financial reporting and management accounting and how this relationship aids strategic decision-making. This study seeks to provide evidence on how financial reporting and management accounting influence how strategic decisions are chosen and implemented by organizations. The analysis was carried out on a sample of 10 manufacturing (industrial and consumer goods) companies quoted on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) as of August 6th 2023. It investigates variables of financial reporting and management accounting which are potential determinants that influence strategic decision-making among listed Nigerian Manufacturing firms for a period of ten years 2011-2020. It evaluates the effect of financial performance, market share and competition, industry trends and economic factors, capital expenditure, cost structure, budgeting and forecasting, performance and key performance indicators and capital investment appraisal on the strategic decisions made by listed Nigerian Manufacturing firms. Secondary data from the annual reports of the sampled firms have been analyzed using descriptive and regression models. The results revealed that of financial performance, market share and competition, industry trends and economic factors, capital expenditure, cost structure, budgeting and forecasting, performance and key performance indicators and capital investment appraisal are strong determining factors of strategic decisions in Nigerian Manufacturing firm. Therefore, I strongly recommend that firms harness the relationship between financial reporting and management accounting to enable them to make more informed, data-driven, and strategically sound decisions. This will potentially give them a competitive advantage and eventually lead to improved long-term performance and sustainability

The significance of ethics in Artificial Intelligence (AI) can not be overstated, as it encompasses the foundational principles guiding the responsible creation, deployment and management of AI technologies. As AI systems increasingly permeates every aspect of our lives from healthcare and education to security and entertainment, their decisions and actions have profound implications not only on individual rights and privacy but also on societal norms and values. Ethical considerations in AI are paramount to ensure that these technologies enhance human well-being, uphold fairness rather than perpetuate biases, exacerbate inequalities or undermine democratic institutions. The importance of AI ethics lies in its ability to provide a framework for navigating the complex moral dilemma presented by AI, such as balance between innovation and regulation, the protection of individual privacy versus the benefits of big data and the protection of AI misuse. This project explores AI decision making from an ethical perspective, examining issues such as bias, accountability, transparency and fairness. Through case studies and theoretical analysis, it evaluates how AI systems navigate morally complex situations and the extent to which they align with human ethical principles. This study also discusses existing ethical framework such as Unitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics. Ultimately, the goal is to highlight the need for responsible AI development and governance to ensure that AI driven decisions uphold ethical standards and benefits society as a whole.

Employee participation refers to employee involvement in decision making that is concerned with shared decision making in the workplace [Mitchell, 1973]. Employee involvement is defined by [Locke & Schweiger, 1979] as shared decision making between supervisors and subordinates. According to [Noah, 2008], it is a type of delegation in which the subordinate gains greater control and freedom of choice in terms of bridging the communication gap between management and workers. It refers to the level of employee involvement in the strategic planning activities of the organization. Employee involvement can be deep or shallow in a corporation [Barringer & Bleudorn, 1999]. Employee participation in the planning process leads to potential innovation, which may facilitate opportunity and recognition in the organization [Zivkovic et al., 2009]. Managers allow subordinates to participate in decision making based on their merits, which has been shown by researchers to boost organizational performance [Witte, 1980; Sagie & Aycon, 2003].