The obvious implication to be drawn from the recent U.K. experience is that it is difficult to bring about a rapid fundamental change in accounting methods. Current cost accounting is a new, untried system of accounting, and its benefits are not altogether clear. However, since SSAP 16 has developed through a process of evolution, it has generated more support than the first attempt to replace historical costs by current costs (ED 18).
This evolutionary process is illustrated by the amount of discussion and experimentation which took place in the U.K. during the five years after the Sandilands report. During that time, there were many disagreements and various proposals and counterproposals, including the proposals of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB),2i ED 18, the Hyde guidelines and SSAP 16. This experience suggests that progress should be made slowly ,through a process of building up experience and confidence in the new system, and the standard must be acceptable to both accountants and financial statement users.