Multi-criteria decision making and software support in strategic management accounting

Abstract

Enterprise-related decisions focusing on the generation or the maintenance of strategic success potential often have to cope with multi-criteria. These types of decision settings were addressed by some of Gunter Sieben's early works on decision-theory based business valuation. Originating from this background, we contribute to these decision environments from a management accounting point of view. Owing to its service and coordination function, strategic management accounting has to support managers within these decision settings by providing adequate problemsolving methods. This article focuses on the specific management accounting tasks within multi-criteria decision aid settings and moreover points out the Analytic Hierarchy Process to be a suitable method in theory and in practice. Through the use of appropriate software products it is possible to increase the acceptance of multi-criteria decision support methods by practitioners. Therefore, the evaluation results of five different AHP software products are furthermore presented.