The Role of Controlling for the Development of Planning, Information and Reporting Systems in SMEs

In this paper we analyze the application of Controlling in Croatian SMEs by investigating the development of Planning, Information and Reporting Systems. Controlling is an English term mostly used in the German-speaking countries (but also in Croatia) describing the field that would in international discourse be labeled as management accounting. Our research takes into consideration the specifics of Croatian companies, emphasizing the fact that the development of Controlling in Croatia is in the early stages compared to the German-speaking countries. The level of development of planning, information and reporting systems was investigated for the following reason: when Controlling is introduced into SMEs the emphasis should be on the preparation of information necessary for the management, and on the use of appropriate methods and instruments of Controlling. The design of planning, information, and reporting system enables that.