Management control and performance management: whence and whither?

Abstract This paper is a personal account of the author's involvement with management control research over the past 35 years. The development of management control as a research area is briefly reviewed, culminating with its transition into performance management. However, the basic issues involved have remained remarkably unchanged over this period, as is illustrated by a number of anecdotes and examples. Some suggestions are made concerning potential topics for future research, together with some final comments on appropriate research methods.