Nam Sang Cheng

Credit Management: An Examination of Policy Choices, Practices and Late Payment in Uk Companies

A central element in developing credit management policy involves design choices on the extent to which credit activities are best managed internally or through specialist market intermediaries. This paper draws on the findings of a survey on the credit management practices and policies of large UK companies to: (1) Examine the type of firm most likely to enter into specialist external credit management structural arrangements; and (2) Identify contextual and credit policy choices influencing the credit period taken and late payment of debts. The study found that specialist intermediaries are not particularly common in large firms. The paper also identifies a number of contextual and policy variables that help explain variation in debtor days and late payment by customers. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd 2001.

Performance Measures in the Media and Software Division of Kao (Singapore) Private Limited

Abstract This paper presents a case that requires students to identify the corporate objectives and critical success factors of the media and software division of a company and propose performance measures that should motivate employees to work towards these objectives. The case provides students with an opportunity to practise managerial accounting decision-making within the context of corporate strategy. This case illustrates the need for a variety of criteria (both financial and non-financial) for evaluating performance within a firm or business unit and provides the opportunity to discuss the potential behavioral issues arising from management of the division.