This article discusses the use of institutional theory in management accounting research. Three different types of institutional theory are described and their use in studying management accounting change is explained: new institutional economics (NIE), new institutional sociology (NIS) and old institutional economics (OIE). Whereas NIE and NIS study how external economic and institutional (i.e., social and political) pressures influence the way organisations are structured and the nature of their management accounting and control practices, OIE focuses on the institutions (ways of thinking) within organisations and the internal pressures and constraints that shape management accounting practices. It is recognised that management accounting change is a complex and multi-dimensional process, and it is shown that institutional theory can highlight the different aspects of the ‘mish-mash’ of inter-related influences. Furthermore, it is explained how taken-for-granted ways of thinking within an organisation can have a direct and important impact on the success (or failure) of a programme of management accounting change.