In 1919, the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA^®), then known as the National Association of Cost Accountants, was the first organization established to conduct research for the management accounting profession. Through excellence in research, the IMA provides business decision makers with information of strategic importance. More than 500 researchers have produced more than 250 studies.

In recognition of the vital role of IMA's research, The IMA Foundation for Applied Research, Inc. (FAR) was formed in 1994, IMA's 75th anniversary year. The founding trustee's intent was to ensure sufficient resources, both human and financial, to sustain and augment IMA's role as a valued center of research on the most important practice issues of the day while also identifying financial management trends to meet the challenges of the next millennium.

The Trustees who oversee FAR's research activities represent management accountants and financial professionals from Corporate America to academe. Collectively, they have established research priorities to address the following questions:

1. How can management accounting and finance best contribute to improving competitiveness and achieving continuous improvement in the enterprise?

2. How does management accounting affect management behavior?

3. What are important emerging cost management and performance measurement techniques and issues?

4. How is globalization affecting management accounting and finance?

5. How is emerging technology being used to improve the effectiveness of management accounting?

FAR's Mission

FAR's mission is to develop and disseminate timely management accounting and financial management research findings that can be applied to current and emerging business issues.

Funding Sources

Funding for FAR, a 501(c)(3), nonprofit, educational organization, is derived from support by the business community and individuals as well as through sales of publications. Contributors are recognized in IMA's monthly magazine, Strategic Finance.

Research Process

Topics are identified with input from FAR's constituency base. A call for research is issued to the research community. FAR trustees select the research team and establish a project committee of subject matter experts to work with the researchers in developing FAR's research. Guidelines for submitting proposals can be obtained by contacting Raef Lawson,Ph.D.,CMA,CPA, VP of Research, Professor-In-Residence , 800-638-4427, ext. 1532; e-mail: research@imanet.org. Representatives of FAR maintain relationships with various standard-setting and regulatory bodies as well as other professional accounting organizations to monitor and influence proposals and participate in cooperative studies. Findings are presented at conferences and seminars and are published as monographs or books.

In a recent survey, members indicated that one of the reasons they join IMA is to keep up with new developments in management accounting that focus on the best tools and methods for planning, control, and decision-making support. As a result of this and other input, IMA is reentering the research arena. IMA is already the premier organization in managerial finance and accounting, but to maintain this leadership position, IMA must not only be on the cutting edge of research, it must create it.

Therefore, IMA's Foundation for Applied Research invites academics and practitioners to submit research proposals for consideration. The goal is to create discussion papers, Statements on Management Accounting and practitioner-oriented articles based on complete research for publication in Strategic Finance magazine and/or Management Accounting Quarterly.

The Research Program Brochure provides complete information about the program's objectives, research topics and proposal guidelines. Please contact Raef Lawson,Ph.D.,CMA,CPA,VP of Research, Professor-In-Residence, 800-638-4427, ext. 1532 or via e-mail: research@imanet.org.