An Introduction to Accounting: Accountability in Organisations and Society 2e

Book excerpt: Written by Craig Deegan, Australia's premier sustainability and social accounting academic, An Introduction to Accounting: Accountability in Organisations and Society is the only resource in the market that brings corporate accountability, sustainability, and social responsibility together to provide a unique offering within the introductory accounting market. This text takes a unique approach by embracing from the start the notion of accountability for the environment and sustainability in accounting, providing students with an understanding of accounting’s pervasive and transformative role as a social practice and organisational driver. It shows that environments, ideas and values change; the interconnectivity of society; that the planet must be respected as a resource; and that people are affected/influenced by the information they receive and the way it is presented. The text emphasises that accounting and accountability are key aspects of every person’s life and that the practice of accounting, while often being seen as very technical in nature, has many social implications. Learning accounting through the lens of sustainability and the environment embeds this perspective in students’ minds so that in their careers they will actively seek and use accounting information to make decisions that take into consideration accountability for the environment. Premium online teaching and learning tools are available on the MindTap platform. Learn more about the online tools au.cengage.com/mindtap