CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Accounting widely seen as the background of every business has been defined in several languages by many scholars, but interestingly all the language see it as generating economic information that permits informed judgment and decision by users of such information. This Mustafa (1994:5) “ Accounting as the identification selection, measurement and communication of information in the form of costs and benefits both of direct and indirect nature to facilitate economically justified decision regarding the activities and resources of an organization. It should therefore be noted that the users of accounting information of any organization include the management of the organization. The creditors of the organization, shareholders or owners investors at large etc. These groups have their different informational needs about an organization as a result of which we classify accounting into:
1. Financial accounting provides information for the extend users such as shareholders creditor, government agencies potential investor etc.
2. Cost and management accounting provide information for the internal users i.e. those in the various level of management. This study however, will dwell in management accounting as to highlight its roles in decision-making process of an organization in the light of the above management accounting, can be defined as an integral part of management concerned in identifying, presenting and interpreting information required by management for the following purpose:
i. Formulating the policies of the organization stations planning the activities of the organization.
ii. Decision makings.
iii. Performance of appraisal at strategic department and operational levels etc.
Based on the above management accounting is seen as the pillar (in terms of information provision) in the decision- making process of a business organization. This is based on the fact that before the manager or head of an organization can make effective decisions, he must have a good knowledge of the circumstance surrounding the environment on which he intend making a decision and this in the focus of management accounting. Though some business decisions are based on qualitative or psychological factors, a vast range of business situations exist which require a crucial financial or qualitative analysis for a relational decision to be taken.
A common element of all these problems in that they rely on information no cost and revenues which is correctly specified in economically elevated terms for the particular decision being considered. Management accounting has also helped public organization so much both in their financial management and decision -making process. This research work with the West African Examination Council WAEC Enugu, Zonal office. Will show how certain recommendations nevertheless were proffered in order to ensure a continued operational efficiency. Due the fact that management accounting deals with the supply of external and internal information that guides any private or public organization which W.A.E.C. is one of them, that has made this public organization an outstanding figure among all these examination body’s that deals diplomas.
Over the years (WAEC) has encountered so. Many problem in trying to keep their student in order but all went to no avail. But recently they have improved so much in the area of discouraging students in exam malpractice rather than reading their books to pass. They developed a means by here by the female student are being separated from their male counterparts so as to know whether it will reduce the rate of examination misconduct (ie in the private exams in November/December period) which has tremendous achievement. With the information they get about students forging certificates by themselves, they have also decided to put person Photographs on the certificate, which means that every WAEC certificate, much have personal photograph on it. Previously students found it difficult to know the canters and center numbers before the exams. Some may be looking for their centers and center numbers while others have started exams. Recently WAEC has started sending the center and center numbers a long with their WAEC forms so that every thing will be seen in blue and block without questioning.