Debate debate debated
I sense the debate around the quality of research that the profession is producing will only intensify. ICAS chief executive Anton Colella has picked up on it in one of his first blog posts, a point further developed by Dennis Howlett.
The latest round of discussion about the extent to which current research contributes to the greater good and / or advancement of meaningful debate was kicked off at a recent ICAS event, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the landmark institute report Making Corporate Reports Valuable.
I wrote it up as a news story on AccountancyAge.com so I won't repeat everything. But some of the comments made at the event and since will, I believe, colour this issue for months to come.
Sir Jack Shaw, convenor of the committee which produced the report said many of the research reports generated since 1988 appeared to come from academics looking to do little more than improve their research rating.
ICAS president Isobel Sharp weighed in, warning: 'Too many lightweight, piecemeal, poorly researched and inadequately tested outpourings damage the profession and the public.’
IASB chairman Sir David Tweedie added: 'It’s often a PR job and often as interesting as a book on Antarctic television personalities of the 18th century.’
Is this the case? Here is a fairly random selection from the last few weeks:
Companies seek an edge through engaged employees (PwC)
The Boys in the Bubble: Searching for Intangible Value in Internet Stocks (ICAS)
I have to say they appear to have a point, though used car salesmen may disagree.
What do you think?
Thanks for the props Damian. That might explain why business and NGOs are sitting down next week to see what can be done.
Posted by Dennis Howlett | April 26, 2008 4:58 PM
Damian,
You have hit the nail on the head here, although the volume of pointless research does help to give us material for the website.
Surely as a Journalist you too must appreciate a certain volume of research to help fill pages and blog postings...?
www.boredaccountant.co.uk
Posted by boredaccountant.co.uk | April 28, 2008 3:19 PM
BoredAccountant
Based on a thorough research exercise conducted in the office yesterday evening, 100% of journalists are prepared, from time to time, to draw upon research of dubious merit when faced with a story-sized hole that needs filling. So I'll hold my hands up and admit that in that sense at least we are very much part of the problem.
Damian
Posted by Damian Wild | April 29, 2008 8:01 AM
I do agree with you to an extent, there is a lot of poor quality research being undertaken, and not just within this industry. This is due partly to open access and the amount of free information available on the internet.
However, there is a lot of good quality research out there also... i guess its a case of you get what you pay for...
Accountancy research: http://www.reportbuyer.com/business_services/accountancy/index.html
Finance research: http://www.reportbuyer.com/banking_finance/index.html
Posted by Natalia | June 27, 2008 3:17 PM