ABSTRACT
A central feature in the IA’s program of professionalism was the definition of the knowledge base of accounting in the form of an intellectual construct known both as “accountics” and the “science of accountancy.” This system of ideas had, as we shall show in this section, at least four functions that included: (A) making comprehensible the basic organization of accounting knowledge and the use of measurement and classifications through which the benefits of such knowledge were channeled to society; (B) clarifying the relationship of the knowledge base and occupational segments; (C) developing the knowledge base including the areas of account classification, analytical techniques, systems, and auditing; and (D) searching for ways accounting could serve government and business leaders in addressing problems to more effectively order society. These concepts had been developing for some time before the IA had been founded (see McMillan, 1998b, chapter 2; 1998c).
