Changing role of accounting and its systems: A new vision of accounting as knowledge processing systems

Abstract

This paper introduces a new vision for defining what can be titled " Knowledge accounting and its systems". A review of accounting and information systems literature provides a milestone in the way of architecting a new style of accounting. A key proposition of this paper is that the change in the triangle of process, knowledge, and technologies has drawn new realities for accounting and its systems. Using a nature-based inquiry and structural content analysis paradigm, this paper investigates change aspects and new realities of accounting practices to architect a future catalyst of accounting. Extant, span, scope, and identity of current accounting practices, have been analysed to indicate change aspects in terms of knowledge, process, and technologies. A new vision of knowledge accounting has been mapped and extended to match knowledge necessities of businesses. A new knowledge accounting process map consists of data, information, knowledge, wisdom, trust, and success. The most important finding of this paper is that accounting is no longer data or information services activities, instead accounting is becoming knowledge services that support survival of business organisations. The proposed vision of accounting suggests several directions for further research into transformations in the nature of accounting and its practical systems. Copyright 2016 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.