The Schism in Accounting

(Hardback)

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The authors analyse the schism between accounting practitioners and academics, providing historical, philosophical, and political perspectives on this division. They support the efforts of the Accounting Education Change Commission in its call for substantial changes in the scope and quality of accounting education. This schism originated before the turn of the century in the United States over concerns about the best preparation for professional accountants. Since that time, the nature of the schism has broadened considerably. Accounting has largely been taught in a structured framework, far removed from the dynamic and ill-structured situations resulting from the environmental changes in which accounting is practised. This gulf between accounting and practice reflects the schism today, which has become a division between individuals with different philosophical, economic, and political goals and attitudes. The authors begin with a philosophical perspective on the schism, as a division between opposing ideas, and deal with three areas of the accounting schism: education, practice, and standard-setting. The main focus is on education. The history of the schism is then outlined. Other views are considered next, include economic, political, and utilitarian. The function of the schism in the world of accounting is examined. Recent changes in the nature and complexity of the environment in which accounting is practised are presented. This book is designed for use in accounting theory and policy courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels and in accounting education seminars at the graduate level.

Reviews

The work includes extensive references, a short index, and extensive appendixes which reproduce a number of documents relevant to the subject, such as the Bedford Report and the Accounting Education Change Commission report. This is a useful book for any library serving accounting students, instructors, or practitioners.-Choice
This excellent book is an important resource for those interested in the future of accounting reporting and education. This concise and informative book should be read by current accounting educators and practitioners and would be an excellent addition to a business graduate course. Practitioners, academics, and all who are interested in standard setting should include Schism in Accounting in their library. The objective presentation of the many facets of the schism between educators and practitioners and the related, evolving status of accounting education make this a valuable resource.-International Accounting
"The work includes extensive references, a short index, and extensive appendixes which reproduce a number of documents relevant to the subject, such as the Bedford Report and the Accounting Education Change Commission report. This is a useful book for any library serving accounting students, instructors, or practitioners."-Choice
"This excellent book is an important resource for those interested in the future of accounting reporting and education. This concise and informative book should be read by current accounting educators and practitioners and would be an excellent addition to a business graduate course. Practitioners, academics, and all who are interested in standard setting should include Schism in Accounting in their library. The objective presentation of the many facets of the schism between educators and practitioners and the related, evolving status of accounting education make this a valuable resource."-International Accounting

Author Bio

ROBERT BLOOM is Professor of Accountancy at John Carroll University./e He has published articles in Accounting Organizations and Society, Journal of Accounting Literature, Accounting Historians Journal, International Journal of Accounting, Journal of Accounting Education, Advances in International Accounting, and others. Bloom is the coauthor or coeditor of six other books, including two published by Quorum--Decision Support Systems in Finance and Accounting (1988) and Opportunity Cost in Finance and Accounting (1990). HANS HEYMANN is Executive Vice President of OSCI in Geneva, Illinois. He has been an Associate Professor of Finance at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, Indiana, and Illinois Institue of Technology in Chicago. He has published articles in several academic and professional journals in finance, economics, and accounting. He has coauthored Decision Support Systems in Finance and Accounting (Quorum, 1988) and Opportunity Cost in Finance and Accounting (Quorum, 1990). JAYNE FUGLISTER is Associate Professor of Accounting at Cleveland State University. She has published articles in Issues in Accounting Education, The CPA Journal, Internal Auditor, The Ohio CPA, The Accounting Historians Journal, and others. She is a member of the American Accounting Association and the Academy of Accounting Historians. MARILYNN COLLINS is Associate Professor of Accountancy at John Carroll University, and is a CPA in Ohio. Her research and publication interests are in accounting education, accounting history, and enternational accounting. She has published in the Journal of Accounting, Accounting, Auditing, and Accountability and the Journal of Education for Business, among others.