Contemporary Issues in Accounting: Article Review Analysis

This report presents a critical review of Gareth Morgan's "Accounting as Reality Construction: Towards a New Epistemology for Accounting Practice." The review begins with a brief overview of the article, summarizing its main argument that accountants often construct accounting reality in limited and one-sided ways, and that objectivity in accounting is a myth. The report then provides a critical reflection, highlighting two key positive arguments: the recognition of the subjectivity in accounting and the role of accounting systems in shaping reality. Finally, the report identifies the usefulness of Morgan's insights, emphasizing the need for accountants to be skilled in reading situations, understanding paradoxical dimensions, and developing insights to conduct accounting operations accurately. The report concludes with a list of references used in the analysis.

Running head: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ACCOUNTING
Contemporary Issues in Accounting
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ACCOUNTING
Table of Contents
Part One: Brief Overview................................................................................................................2
Part Two: Critical Reflection...........................................................................................................2
Part Three: Identification of Usefulness..........................................................................................3
References........................................................................................................................................4

2CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ACCOUNTING
Part One: Brief Overview
From the analysis of the article named “Accounting as Reality Construction: Towards a
New Epistemology for Accounting Practice” by Gareth Morgan, it can be observed that the
main argument in this article is related to the fact that the accountants use to construct the
accounting reality in limited as well as one-sided way (Morgan, 1988). This article indicates
towards the fact that the concept of objectivity in the accounting process is a myth; at the same
time, it is creating major hindrances on the development in the accounting process. For this
reason, this article is involves in the development of new viewpoints on different dimensions of
the accounting process so that accounting processes can be connected with the reality for
bringing development in this profession.
Part Two: Critical Reflection
From the analysis of this article, I have been able in finding two major points of the
article that show the positive side of this research towards the topic. I have mentioned in the
above part that the main problem lies in the fact that the accountants consider limited reality at
the time to conduct the accounting works. I am presenting these two positive arguments in the
following manner:
Example 1: The solution of the problem can be found in the recognition of basic subjectivity of
accounting (Morgan, 1988).
I have found this statement of the author interesting as it shows the way of this problem
that is to develop certain code of practice that will provide assistance to the accountants in the
recognition of the fact that they are not objective commentator of the companies; but they are the

3CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ACCOUNTING
persons with the responsibility of engaging in the complex process for the constriction of reality
(Piening, 2013). Under the basis accounting responsibilities, the accountants start to ignore the
accounting reality (Zadek, Evans & Pruzan, 2013).
Example 2: Accounting systems help in shaping the reality (Morgan, 1988).
I have found this statement interesting as it shows that the introduction of effective
financial control can lead in reshaping the culture as well as general orientation of the
companies. It indicates towards the fact that the presence of effective financial control helps in
making the accounting process more efficient; at the same time, this aspects make the
accountants less humane (Moore, 2014). This whole aspect indicates towards the fact that
effective accounting system helps in shaping the important aspects in the process of accounting.
Part Three: Identification of Usefulness
From the analysis of the article by Gareth Morgan, I have found the fact that it is needed
for the accountants to become skilled enough for reading the situation that they are attempting to
analyze; for this, it is needed for them to consider understanding different paradoxical
dimensions of the business organizations (Morgan, 1988). I have also found the fact that the
accountants are needed to be sensitive for reading the core of the accounting problem for which
they are accounted for. In addition, they are needed to develop effective insight to obtain broad
understanding of their accounting actions. Most importantly, the accountants are needed to be
sensitive enough for the measurement of accounting realities for conducting the accounting
operation in more accurate manner (Morgan, 1988).

4CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ACCOUNTING
References
Moore, M. H. (2014). Public value accounting: Establishing the philosophical basis. Public
Administration Review, 74(4), 465-477.
Morgan, G. (1988). Accounting as reality construction: towards a new epistemology for
accounting practice. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 13(5), 477-485.
Piening, E. P. (2013). Dynamic capabilities in public organizations: A literature review and
research agenda. Public Management Review, 15(2), 209-245.
Zadek, S., Evans, R., & Pruzan, P. (2013). Building corporate accountability: Emerging practice
in social and ethical accounting and auditing. Routledge.