Business Performance Analytics: il valore emergente nei sistemi di management accounting

Performance Measurement Systems (PMS) implementations are often considered unsatisfactory. The reasons for this situation can be related to PMS design and focus, cultural and technological issues, and the specific contexts of implementation. This article introduces Business Performance Analytics (BPA) as an important framework for successful PMS design and adoption. Specifically, it defines BPA as the use of data and analytical methods to understand and control business dynamics and performance. This article is based on an exploratory survey involving a group of global companies. The empirical evidence highlights the importance of measurement and an extended dissatisfaction with current PMS. As for the implementation of BPA in practice, the results show a low level of adoption, both for strategic and operational decisions. At the same time, companies adopting BPA declare a higher perception of relevance of statistical and mathematical tools for supporting the decision-making process. The results also show two clusters of companies with very different approaches to performance measurement. Only the “advanced” are characterized by the implementation of tools of Business Intelligence, together with advanced management accounting and PMS approaches. This “advanced” approach results also in a higher perception of BPA effectiveness in supporting the decision-making process.