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The existence of statistical price index series does not persuasively support proposals to modify account data from prior transaction experience. The consequences of using accounting techniques will demonstrate whether those actions have served accounting objectives satisfactorily. Management’s overt actions in the markets, rather than changes in general price-levels, are the source of enterprise earnings. Accounting objectives are either compelling or limiting elements affecting the choice and use of accounting techniques.

Behavioral accounting research has flourished over the past 40 years and vastly improved our understanding of accounting judgment and decision-making, human behavior as it is affected by accounting information and processes, and influences on organizational and social structures. However, to increase the validity and reliability of the work, researchers have generally narrowed the area of study to exclude many of the environmental factors that can influence the resulting behaviors that are observed. One environmental factor that has largely been ignored by the broader accounting research community is the rapidly increasing impact of information technology (IT) on all aspects of accounting. The purpose of this chapter is to elaborate on the predominance of IT in all areas of accounting and to urge behavioral accounting researchers to integrate IT aspects into their research to enhance the value and relevance of our research. Each of the major areas of accounting disciplinary research is considered (i.e., financial accounting, managerial accounting, auditing, and tax). This disciplinary focus is not intended to exclude the area of accounting information systems as is often the case in commentaries on behavioral accounting research but rather to focus on how accounting information systems are fundamentally integrated across the decision environments of every aspect of the accounting discipline.

Current prices, future estimates, and price statistics cannot reflect specific transaction experience generated by enterprise management. Instead, overt transaction data in accounts continue to constitute evidence of management decision-actions, even after apportioned among fiscal periods. And the interrelation of enterprise capital employed productively, and the income generated by its use, will continue whether or not accounts are kept. Yet, the significance of factual integrity for enterprise transaction experience is strongly influenced by the functional logic inherent in accounting.

At the end of this chapter, learners should be able to:

• Define accounting.

• Explain the objectives of financial accounting/reporting.

• Explain regulatory framework for financial reporting.

• Appreciate why human resource managers should care about accounting.

Define accounting.

Explain the objectives of financial accounting/reporting.

Explain regulatory framework for financial reporting.

Appreciate why human resource managers should care about accounting.

Communication researchers have observed that students will avoid majors that require the use of certain skills where the individual exhibits a high level of apprehension toward those skills. Historically, accounting has been perceived as requiring more math skills and fewer communication skills than other business majors so accounting has typically attracted students with low math apprehension and high communication (written and oral) apprehension. The current study investigates whether business students' perceptions across business majors regarding the level of mathematics, writing, and oral communication skills required for accounting reflect the recent changes in pedagogy and curriculum content for the accounting major.

The results indicate that the perception of skills required to be an accounting major by students in other business majors (more math and less communication) is different from the perception of accounting majors. On the other hand, accounting majors' perceptions of the skills needed to be in an alternative business major is generally similar to students in the respective major. These observations may lead to the interpretation that accounting majors have gotten the word that professional expectations of accountants involve substantial communication skill while that message has apparently not been shared with students who elect to major in other business fields.

High significance for accounting objectives is evident from the support they provide for accounting actions. An inventory of these objectives could be very useful. In such an inventory, the integrity of all account data would be supported by tight identification with the consummated transaction experience of the related enterprise. But since enterprise economic activities are necessarily continuous, the results can only be made understandable by reporting account data periodically. Yet, this allocation to fiscal periods does not call for new measurement of the data. This is so because the center of accounting function is not measurement but that of reporting prior experience. This mistake has come about because of the emphasis on measurement as a function, which invites advocacy of using a “stabilized unit of measure.” This is a useful analytical technique for statistical economics, but it can only represent a revolutionary idea for accounting where the technical function is far more limited.

Introductory accounting courses have the dual objectives of teaching the fundamentals of financial and managerial accounting and creating the environment in which students develop positive attitudes toward the discipline. This study examines the extent to which there are differences in effectiveness in attaining each of these objectives under the financial accounting approach to introductory accounting versus a principles of accounting approach. We analyzed attitudes and quiz scores for non-accounting majors in a managerial accounting class as during the period of a curriculum change. Results indicate that student attitudes toward accounting as a discipline were largely unaffected. Student attitudes toward accounting as a factor affecting their careers after graduation were significantly more positive. There were no differences in quiz scores in the managerial accounting course. These findings suggest that although the financial accounting approach is more efficient, it is equally effective with respect to content delivery and more effective with respect to promoting the importance of accounting to careers.

Blockchain technology has led the evolution of double entry accounting system to triple entry accounting system. Triple entry accounting is an innovative, promising and potential accounting method when implemented properly would be a game changer for dissemination of accounting information. It is an efficient way to address fundamental concerns of accounting information. This chapter discusses the triple entry accounting system, how it is different from double entry accounting and what are the concerns in implementing triple entry accounting. Triple entry accounting holds the potential to fundamentally evolve accounting practices, can enhance the effective utilisation and sustainable management of resources, and can contribute in development of financial markets.

The major service of accounting concepts comes from their association with relevant accounting actions. Decisions by enterprise management generate a continuing flow of transaction experience, which will be systematically organized toward review. Organizing transaction data, in turn, requires recognition and respect for a variety of classification boundaries. Most notably of these boundaries is the enterprise itself, the fiscal period, and the ledger account.