Abstract
In the current economic climate, it is vital that new small and medium sized entities (SMMEs) survive the initial, developmental phase of their business. The management of these entities needs to understand what elements are important to survive the start-up phase and grow the business into an established SMME. The purpose of this study is to explore and describe the factors that impact management accounting practice and change within an SMME context. These factors are used to inform an adapted conceptual framework to provide a better understanding of management accounting practices and change within a small business context. The practical application of this framework is then demonstrated through an ethnographic case study. The study contributes to the current body of knowledge on management accounting practices and change in SMMEs by adding a framework that could be used to implement management accounting practices.
M.Com. (Financial Management)