Question 3 (6 marks - 600 words)

Accounting and accountability is widely recognised as being both socially constructed and socially enactive (Solomons, 1991, p. 312; Tinker, 1991, p. 301) and that as well as being reflective of their politico-economic context, accounting representations have political and economic consequences (Gallhofer & Haslam, 1991, p. 487). Essentially, accounting is a teleological process constituted of actions and processes oriented towards meeting particular human needs and is therefore a practice embedded within the context of human interest (Arrington & Puxty, 1991). As a teleological process, that is a process designed to satisfy human ends, it is appropriate to analyse the relationship between accounting and human interests, and the manner in which accounting and accountability processes serve society and its needs.

Required: Drawing from the accounting literature and accounting history, and in the context of the statement above, critically analyse the concept of accounting being socially constructed whilst simultaneously being socially constructing.