Accounting and navigating legitimacy in NGO's

This paper investigates the phenomenon of accounting in non-governmental organisations (NGOs). It seeks to understand accounting processes and reporting practices in NGOs and the conditions that sustain those processes and practices. NGOs have become important institutions in world affairs but accounting research has not developed significant interest in their operations. Premised on an interpretive theoretical orientation this research executes a grounded theory strategy as the principal line of inquiry (Strauss and Corbin, 1990; 1998). Fieldwork was undertaken in three Tanzanian NGOs. The research established the importance of accounting in the process of navigating organisational legitimacy. This was achieved due to its important role in symbolising organisational competence. When accounting was perceived to be adequate, organisational legitimacy was enhanced. Two principal strategies were employed by organisations in navigating legitimacy - building credibility and bargaining for change. Although accounting emerged as predominant in the process of navigating legitimacy, its importance was symbolic rather than functional. Indeed accounting had little relevance to the internal management of the organisations.