accountability essay introduction

Essay on Accountability And Responsibility

Students are often asked to write an essay on Accountability And Responsibility in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Accountability And Responsibility

Understanding accountability.

Accountability is when you take ownership of your actions. It’s like saying, “I did this, and I stand by it.” When you are accountable, you accept the results of your actions, good or bad. It’s a key part of growing up and becoming a responsible person.

What is Responsibility?

Responsibility is closely linked to accountability. It means you have a duty or task to perform. For example, your responsibility might be to do your homework. When you fulfill your responsibilities, you show that you can be trusted and relied upon.

The Link Between Accountability and Responsibility

Accountability and responsibility go hand in hand. When you take responsibility for something, you are also accountable for the outcome. For instance, if you’re responsible for a group project, you’re also accountable for its success or failure.

Why They Matter

Both accountability and responsibility are important in life. They help us make good choices and learn from our mistakes. They also show others that we can be trusted and relied upon. By being accountable and responsible, we become better people.

In conclusion, accountability and responsibility are like two sides of the same coin. They help us grow as individuals and earn the trust of others. So, let’s strive to be more accountable and responsible in our daily lives.

250 Words Essay on Accountability And Responsibility

What is accountability.

Accountability is about being answerable for your actions. It means that if you do something, you should be ready to explain why you did it. For example, if you are a student and you did not do your homework, you should be able to explain why. This is what accountability is all about.

Responsibility, on the other hand, is about being in charge of something. When you are responsible for something, it means you have to take care of it. For example, if you have a pet, you are responsible for feeding it and taking care of it. This is what responsibility means.

Why are Accountability and Responsibility Important?

Accountability and responsibility are important because they help us to grow as individuals. When we are accountable and responsible, we learn how to make good decisions. We learn how to think about the consequences of our actions. This helps us to become better people.

How can we be more Accountable and Responsible?

We can be more accountable and responsible by thinking about our actions before we do them. We should ask ourselves, “Is this the right thing to do?” If it is not, we should not do it. We should also be ready to explain why we did something. This will help us to be more accountable and responsible.

In conclusion, accountability and responsibility are important qualities that everyone should have. They help us to grow as individuals and to make good decisions. So, let’s all strive to be more accountable and responsible.

500 Words Essay on Accountability And Responsibility

Introduction.

Accountability and responsibility are two important values that help us grow as people. They are like the rules of a game that guide us in life. When we talk about being accountable, it means we accept the consequences of our actions. On the other hand, responsibility is about doing what we are supposed to do.

Accountability is like a promise. When we say we are accountable, we are saying that we will accept the outcomes of our actions, good or bad. For example, if you break a glass and then tell your parents about it, you are being accountable. You understand that there might be a consequence, but you accept it because you know it was your action that led to the broken glass.

Understanding Responsibility

Responsibility is a bit different. It is about doing tasks that we are expected to do. For instance, if your teacher gives you homework, it is your responsibility to complete it. You can’t pass it off to your friend or your sibling, it’s your job to get it done.

Both accountability and responsibility are key to becoming a good person. They teach us to be honest, reliable, and respectful. When we are accountable, we learn to accept our mistakes and learn from them. This helps us grow and become better.

Responsibility, on the other hand, teaches us to be dependable. When people know they can count on us to do our tasks, they trust us more. This leads to better relationships with friends, family, and teachers.

Accountability and Responsibility in School

In school, being accountable and responsible is very important. Teachers rely on students to do their homework, study for tests, and behave well. When students are accountable and responsible, it creates a better learning environment for everyone.

For example, if you forget to do your homework and lie about it, it shows that you are not being accountable. This can lead to a lack of trust from your teacher. But if you accept your mistake and promise to do better next time, it shows that you are accountable and responsible.

In conclusion, accountability and responsibility are two important values that guide us in life. They help us become better people by teaching us to be honest, dependable, and respectful. By practicing these values in school and at home, we can build better relationships and create a positive environment for everyone.

Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes as long as we learn from them and take responsibility for our actions. That’s what being accountable and responsible is all about.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Importance of Accountability

This essay will delve into the concept of accountability, its significance in personal, professional, and societal contexts. It will discuss how accountability contributes to ethical behavior, trust-building, and effective leadership. The essay will also explore the consequences of a lack of accountability, using real-world examples from business, politics, and social settings. It will offer insights into how individuals and organizations can foster a culture of accountability and the positive outcomes of doing so. At PapersOwl too, you can discover numerous free essay illustrations related to Accountability.

How it works

The Importance of accountability means being responsible for the decisions that arebeing made and taken. Accountability is the main element in leadership. Accountability builds up trust, improves performance, promotes ownership, and inspire confidence. It is all about being reliable and having clear standards. Also, it is about communication and asking questions to make sure the task, or whatever is being done is completed in a timely matter.

It can increase team member skills when it is done right and teaching others to value their work.

As a solider in the United States Army, I should take ac- countability for all of my actions and know that it is very important to respect my work, fellow soldiers , my time and theirs. I need to take accountability serious, because it can be vital to others safety.Those that are unable to be accountable are the ones that jeopardize the combat readiness of any unit.

Basically it is the understanding that from the bottom up. Top down and laterally everyone is going to do and is willing to do the right thing even when no one else is looking. In order for me to be accountable I need to take the meaning of it and put it to use. I need to be at formation and work on time, being at the right place at the right time and doing the right thing always. Doing the job correctly and ensuring others do it as well and do it safely are all part of accountability in the military as one does not have to experience combat to understand that just being in the military is inherently dangerous given the types of equipment and weapons that are used to train and deploy with.

The way accountability plays its role in the Army, it’s like the back bone that holds everything together by keeping chaos or commotion.If accountability fails to be kept then it can cause a lot of disorderly conductamongst the Army and society itself. Being accountable shows respect and earn re- spect from others. It can show someone that they can be taken seriously and they are not a waste of time. Accountability is not just for the military either it goes for anyone and any workplace. Without accountability it will be know structure and more excuses.

Your actions will rise abound your excuse if you accountable. But with accountability come with integrity . Integrity is basically someone who makes a choice to be honest before choosing between right and wrong. Without both a company, military, work en- vironment, and school can have poor organizational development. The lesson and message here is to immediately accept responsibility for your honest mistakes. If be honest and accept my responsibility, and mistakes it will have a short life. If I lie and make excuses and it will only compound my mistakes and destroy my integrity. So my mission is to take accountability and show integrity to provide a better service to my Military and myself.

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Essay on Accountability

In a world brimming with complexities and challenges, accountability stands as a fundamental principle guiding individual actions and societal progress. This essay delves into the essence of accountability, its significance in various spheres of life, and its pivotal role in fostering a responsible and progressive society.

Accountability

Accountability refers to the obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and disclose the results in a transparent manner. It involves being answerable to someone for something you have done or, sometimes more importantly, have failed to do.

The Dimensions of Accountability

Personal Accountability : This involves taking responsibility for one’s actions, decisions, and their consequences. It’s about owning up to mistakes and learning from them.
Professional Accountability : In the workplace, it entails fulfilling one’s duties to the best of one’s ability and being answerable for the outcomes.
Social Accountability : This extends to how actions and decisions impact society and the environment, emphasizing the need for ethical and sustainable practices.

The Importance of Accountability

Trust Building : Accountability fosters trust in relationships, whether personal, professional, or societal. When individuals and institutions are accountable, they earn the trust of those they interact with or serve.
Promotes Ethical Behavior : It encourages individuals and organizations to act ethically and responsibly.
Enhances Performance : In a professional context, accountability leads to better performance, as individuals understand their roles and the expectations associated with them.
Facilitates Learning and Improvement : Recognizing and owning up to mistakes is a learning process that fosters personal and professional growth.
Strengthens Democracy : In governance, accountability is crucial for a healthy, functioning democracy. It ensures that public officials and entities are serving the interests of their constituents.

The Benefits of Accountability

Builds Trust : When people are accountable, they build trust with colleagues, friends, and family, which is foundational for healthy relationships and effective teamwork.
Improves Performance : Accountability drives individuals to perform better. Knowing that one’s actions are observed and evaluated encourages a higher standard of work.
Promotes Responsibility : It instills a sense of responsibility, ensuring that tasks are completed efficiently and effectively.
Enhances Decision-Making : Being accountable means considering the broader impact of one’s decisions, leading to more thoughtful and responsible choices.
Fosters Learning and Growth : By owning up to mistakes and learning from them, individuals and organizations grow and improve.

Accountability in Different Spheres of Life

In education.

Students : They are accountable for their learning – attending classes, completing assignments, and actively engaging in the educational process.
Educators : Teachers and administrators are accountable for providing quality education and fostering an environment conducive to learning.

In the Workplace

Employees : They are responsible for fulfilling their job responsibilities and contributing to organizational goals.
Employers : They must create a safe, equitable workplace and ensure the well-being of their employees.

In Governance

Government Officials : They are accountable to the public, ensuring transparent, efficient, and ethical governance.
Citizens : As part of a democratic society, citizens are accountable for participating in the democratic process, including voting and civic engagement.

The Challenge of Upholding Accountability

Upholding accountability is not without challenges. These include a lack of transparency, inadequate systems for monitoring and evaluation, cultural barriers, and sometimes, a lack of will or understanding of its importance.

Steps to Foster Accountability

Clear Expectations : Whether it’s in a personal, professional, or public domain, setting clear expectations is the first step towards accountability.
Transparent Communication : Open and honest communication encourages a culture of accountability.
Effective Systems for Monitoring and Evaluation : Regularly assessing and reviewing actions and decisions help in maintaining accountability.
Education and Training : Teaching the importance of accountability from an early age fosters a culture where it is valued and practiced.
Reward and Recognition : Acknowledging and rewarding accountable behavior reinforces its importance.

Personal Accountability: The Foundation

Accountability starts with the individual. It’s about taking responsibility for one’s actions and their impact on others. It involves honesty, integrity, and sometimes, the courage to stand up and admit to mistakes.

The Role of Accountability in Leadership

In leadership, accountability is crucial for gaining the respect and trust of team members. It involves:

Setting Clear Expectations : Leaders must clearly articulate goals and standards.
Leading by Example : Demonstrating accountability in their actions sets a tone for the team.
Providing Feedback and Support : Regular feedback helps team members understand how they can improve and grow.

In conclusion, Accountability is the linchpin of a well-functioning society. It builds trust, fosters ethical behavior, drives performance, and underpins democratic institutions. As the world grapples with various challenges, the need for accountability across all sectors and at all levels – personal, professional, and political – has never been more critical. For students participating in essay competitions, exploring the concept of accountability offers an opportunity to reflect on its fundamental role in shaping a just, responsible, and progressive society.

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Do You Understand What Accountability Really Means?

Jonathan Raymond

It’s a dial, not a switch.

Every leader I’ve ever met sees accountability as a foundational ingredient in a healthy and sustainable culture. The problem is, as is often the case with leadership and management ideas, we use the word without really understanding what it means.

JR Jonathan Raymond is the author of the new book Good Authority: How to Become the Leader Your Team is Waiting For . He currently works with business owners, executives, and managers to help them create high performance cultures and become better leaders, and is the former CEO and CBO of E-Myth.

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The Importance of Accountability, Essay Example

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Introduction

Accountability is a general concept in governance and ethics with several meanings. It is often synonymously in use with concepts as answerability, responsibility, liability, blameworthiness, and other terms relating to the account-giving expectations (Richard, 2000). As a governance aspect, accountability is central to discussions, mostly in relations to problems within the public sector as well as the nonprofit and private worlds (Charles, 2002). In leadership roles within an organization, accountability is the assumption and acknowledgment of responsibility for policies, actions, decisions and products, including the governance, administration, and implementation bound by the scope of the role and encompassing the obligation to be answerable for any resulting consequences (Richard, 2000). This paper develops a major focus on accountability in the health care industry, its relevance, modes of measurement, its checks and balances and the role in maintaining a positive culture in the organization.

Significance of accountability in the health care industry

Accountability is significant in the healthcare industry in all departments relating to the provision of healthcare services. In health care industry, there are a couple of points, which one needs to ponder on the issues of accountability (Charles, 2002). Everything is assigned a relative cost whether it is a medicine, doctor’s time, the hospital bed, pen used in writing, the overhead of running the office, phone lines, electricity, paying the staff, among many other things involved in healthcare provision (Richard, 2000). If anything is goes to waste, stolen or used, someone has to be liable and pay for it. Accountability in this case serves great in ensuring that these hitches do not occur in the medical profession (Dykstra, 1999). There is also need for accountability in the healthcare industry because it facilitates efficient service delivery and protects the patient when undergoing medical treatment in the healthcare facilities (Andreas, 1999). Any error reported should be accounted for to prevent worsening the condition of the patient. Healthcare is a very sensitive and without accountability there are very many risks including the exposing the patients life to risks of complication or even death (Charles, 2002).

How is an employee’s accountability measured in the health care industry?

Measuring accountability in healthcare industry is no different from the other organizations. One great way of measuring accountability in the health sector is through reports used in communication. This method involves setting up expectations and reinforcing success in the operations of the healthcare industry (Richard, 2000). Through this method, the communication ability and sequence of the leadership hierarchy in the medical field serves as crucial. For instance, you measure a nurse’s accountability through the communication he delivers on his reports to the senior management of whomever he is working under in the profession (Dykstra, 1999).

What does a checks-and-balance process look like in a successful organization?

A checks-and-balance process in any organization is the approach used in ensuring accountability on the side of everyone operating within the organization (Dykstra, 1999). The process is facilitated to enhance proper deliver of services and increase the productivity in the organization. The process has developed internal rules and norms set by the organization to outline the code of conduct within the organization (Andreas, 1999). The process also has duties and responsibilities assigned to individuals in an organization used in verifying who is accountable for what and relevant in safeguard accountability in the organization (Richard, 2000).

How does accountability affect an organization’s working culture?

Accountability has major effects to the organization’s working culture. It is through accountability that a harmonious relation achievement is possible in any given organization. When everyone in the organizations is accountable, there are minimal wrangles because everyone knows exactly what to do, how and when (Andreas, 1999). These outlines ensure that everyone has his responsibilities and with proper execution of the responsibilities, the organization runs smoothly. However, without accountability or with bleached and compromised accountability, an organization runs in chaos with internal wrangles thereby creating a wrong working culture that is never conducive in the organization’s present and future operations (Charles, 2002).

How can you maintain a positive working culture and avoid a working culture of blame?

To maintain a positive culture in an organization, you need to value elements of accountability. This implies that you have to use each and every means to ensure that everyone in any given sector accounts for his deeds and actions. This can be done by assigning duties and verifying roles within the organization (Richard, 2000). With everyone having a role to play, easy monitoring of who is responsible in any given sector becomes possible. This way, blame game ceases and everyone “carries his own cross” meaning that there is a great level of accountability in each sector (Charles, 2002).

Accountability is the way forward for all organizations. Without accountability, it is apparent that organizations fail because of the blame games and commissions within the organization (Dykstra, 1999). To maintain accountability, it is relevant for the organization to assign duties and set up check-and-balances that safeguard the running of the organization (Richard, 2000). The only secret to a continuous, harmonious and high productive organization is only through accountability.

Andreas, S. (1999). “Conceptualizing Accountability” The Self-Restraining State: Power and Accountability in New Democracies . London: Lynne Reiner Publishers. pp. 13–28

Charles, S. (2002). Public Sector Ethics: Finding and implementing Values . Australia: The Federation Press/Rout ledge. pp. 68-8l

Dykstra, A. (1999). “The Quest for Responsibility” American Political Science Review 33 (1): 1-25.

Richard, M. (2000). “‘Accountability’: An Ever-Expanding Concept?” Public Administration 78 (3): 555-573.

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Defining accountability and accounting

Amanda White

What is accountability?

Accountability is a word that we often hear, but may not understand the meaning of. It is often used in terms of politicians and businesses in terms of the consequences of their decision making, or the idea that people must be accountable for their actions. But what exactly does this mean? When faced with an unfamiliar word, a first place to start is often the dictionary:

Therefore, accountability is about owning and being responsible for your decisions. Why is that important when studying business? No matter what your role in a business – whether that be as an owner, manager, or in marketing, human resources, production, sales, logistics – the decisions we make every day affect a business’s (or organisation’s) performance. Accountability is about ensuring that decision makers think carefully about their choices, using all available information – financial and non-financial – to help the business (or organisation) achieve its objectives.

A note about the terms business and organisation

This textbook will primarily use the term business – meaning entities that operate with the goal of making a profit. There are also not for profit entities (NFPs) and other types of organisations. All organisations around the world generally conduct accounting in the same way, so while this book most commonly uses the term business , the principles of accounting just as easily apply to other types of organisations. In my (Amanda’s) experience – students are best able to learn to understand the fundamentals of accounting when imagining businesses, the word organisation can create some confusion.

What is accounting?

The definition of accounting has changed over time. Definitions of accounting can be purely about the technical nature – that accounting is a method by which we record the transactions that a business (or entity) engages in. This might mean that if you were describing an accountant – you’d be describing someone whose role it is to practically implement this recording method.

Fifty years ago – you would have been correct. However, advancements in computing technology means that accountants don’t do much of the nuts and bolts of technical accounting. As a result, the role of accountants has changed and in this textbook, we will use a broad definition of accounting:

Accounting and accountability

As we can see from the definition above, accounting helps businesses ensure accountability because accounting helps us describe how a business has allocated its scarce resources – its cash and its assets. As a decision maker (in any part of a business) understanding accounting is going to be critical to help you make the best decisions for the business, and also potentially people and the environment affected by the business’s activities.

Making good decisions will see you rewarded well, making poor decisions may result in you being shown the door!

Real life examples

David M. Solomon – CEO of investment bank Goldman Sachs in the USA – had his pay increased to US$35m in November 2021 after guiding the business to record profits in 2021 (Nguyen 2022).

Brian Hartzer was the CEO of one of Australia’s largest financial institutions – Westpac. He was fired because while in charge, the bank failed to detect 23 million breaches of anti-money laundering laws in the form of illegal transactions. Some of those transactions were related to child exploitation. As the person in charge of all bank operations, the concept of accountability meant that with such a significant breach of the law – he had to be fired.

Accountability is also different depending on the type of business structure that you have. Below is a summary of the main business structures seen in modern business.

Types of business structures

There are several common types of legal business structures and the varying business structures having differing types of accountability. While the accounting concepts for the various types of businesses are essentially the same regardless of the legal structure, the terminology will change slightly depending on the organisation’s legal structure, and it is important to understand the differences.

There are three broad categories for the legal structure of an organisation: sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation. A sole proprietorship is a legal business structure consisting of a single individual. Benefits of this type of structure include ease of formation, favourable tax treatment, and a high level of control over the business. The risks involved with sole proprietorships include unlimited personal liability and a limited life for the business. Unless the business is sold, the business ends when the owner retires or passes away. In addition, sole proprietorships have a fairly limited ability to raise capital (funding), and often sole proprietors have limited expertise—they are excellent at what they do but may have limited expertise in other important areas of business, such as accounting or marketing.

A partnership is a legal business structure consisting of an association of two or more people who contribute money, property, or services to operate as co-owners of a business. Benefits of this type of structure include favourable tax treatment, ease of formation of the business, and better access to capital and expertise. The downsides to a partnership include unlimited personal liability (although there are other legal structures—a limited liability partnership, for example—to help mitigate the risk); limited life of the partnership, similar to sole proprietorships; and increased complexity to form the venture (decision-making authority, profit-sharing arrangement, and other important issues need to be formally articulated in a written partnership agreement).

A corporation is a legal business structure involving one or more individuals (owners) who are legally distinct (separate) from the business. A primary benefit of a corporate legal structure is the owners of the organisation have limited liability. That is, a corporation is “stand alone,” conducting business as an entity separate from its owners. Under the corporate structure, owners delegate to others (called agents) the responsibility to make day-to-day decisions regarding the operations of the business. Other benefits of the corporate legal structure include relatively easy access to large amounts of capital by obtaining loans or selling ownership (shares), and since the shares are easily sold or transferred to others, the business operates beyond the life of the shareholders.

Accountability of different business structures

In terms of direct accountability because of a financial relationship – a sole proprietor is likely only accountable to themselves as the sole owner of the business – but a partner is accountable to other partners. Managers of a corporation are accountable to the shareholders. In large publicly listed corporations, those shareholders may number into the millions and are represented by a Board of Directors.

However, with an expanded definition of accountability than just a direct financial relationship, businesses may also be accountability to customers, employees, regulators and numerous other external stakeholders – and not just for accounting or business related issues – but other social issues as well. That is, businesses are being asked to be socially responsible. A contemporary example is social media influencers – they are becoming more and more accountable to their fans and followers for not only their businesses, but also personal behaviour. We’ll cover more on social responsibility and reporting in the final chapter of this book.

Carnegie, G., Parker, L., Tsahuridu, E. (2021). It’s 2020: What is Accounting Today?, Australian Accounting Review , 96 (31), 65-73. doi: 10.1111/auar.12325

Nguyen, L. (2022). Goldman Sachs awards its C.E.O. a raise to $35 million after a record year. The New York Times , [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/28/business/david-solomon-goldman-sachs-pay.html [Accessed 8 February 2022].

Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.). Accountability. In Oxford English Dictionary , Retrieved 8 February 2022, from https://www.oed.com/

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How to Write an Essay Introduction (with Examples)  

The introduction of an essay plays a critical role in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. It sets the stage for the rest of the essay, establishes the tone and style, and motivates the reader to continue reading.

What is an essay introduction , what to include in an essay introduction, how to create an essay structure , step-by-step process for writing an essay introduction , how to write an introduction paragraph , how to write a hook for your essay , how to include background information , how to write a thesis statement .

Argumentative Essay Introduction Example:
Expository Essay Introduction Example

Literary Analysis Essay Introduction Example

Check and revise – checklist for essay introduction , key takeaways , frequently asked questions .

An introduction is the opening section of an essay, paper, or other written work. It introduces the topic and provides background information, context, and an overview of what the reader can expect from the rest of the work. 1 The key is to be concise and to the point, providing enough information to engage the reader without delving into excessive detail.

The essay introduction is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire piece and provides the reader with a roadmap of what to expect. Here are key elements to include in your essay introduction:

Hook : Start with an attention-grabbing statement or question to engage the reader. This could be a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or a compelling anecdote.
Background information : Provide context and background information to help the reader understand the topic. This can include historical information, definitions of key terms, or an overview of the current state of affairs related to your topic.
Thesis statement : Clearly state your main argument or position on the topic. Your thesis should be concise and specific, providing a clear direction for your essay.

Before we get into how to write an essay introduction, we need to know how it is structured. The structure of an essay is crucial for organizing your thoughts and presenting them clearly and logically. It is divided as follows: 2

Introduction:  The introduction should grab the reader’s attention with a hook, provide context, and include a thesis statement that presents the main argument or purpose of the essay.
Body:  The body should consist of focused paragraphs that support your thesis statement using evidence and analysis. Each paragraph should concentrate on a single central idea or argument and provide evidence, examples, or analysis to back it up.
Conclusion:  The conclusion should summarize the main points and restate the thesis differently. End with a final statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Avoid new information or arguments.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write an essay introduction:

Start with a Hook : Begin your introduction paragraph with an attention-grabbing statement, question, quote, or anecdote related to your topic. The hook should pique the reader’s interest and encourage them to continue reading.
Provide Background Information : This helps the reader understand the relevance and importance of the topic.
State Your Thesis Statement : The last sentence is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be clear, concise, and directly address the topic of your essay.
Preview the Main Points : This gives the reader an idea of what to expect and how you will support your thesis.
Keep it Concise and Clear : Avoid going into too much detail or including information not directly relevant to your topic.
Revise : Revise your introduction after you’ve written the rest of your essay to ensure it aligns with your final argument.

Here’s an example of an essay introduction paragraph about the importance of education:

Education is often viewed as a fundamental human right and a key social and economic development driver. As Nelson Mandela once famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” It is the key to unlocking a wide range of opportunities and benefits for individuals, societies, and nations. In today’s constantly evolving world, education has become even more critical. It has expanded beyond traditional classroom learning to include digital and remote learning, making education more accessible and convenient. This essay will delve into the importance of education in empowering individuals to achieve their dreams, improving societies by promoting social justice and equality, and driving economic growth by developing a skilled workforce and promoting innovation.

This introduction paragraph example includes a hook (the quote by Nelson Mandela), provides some background information on education, and states the thesis statement (the importance of education).

This is one of the key steps in how to write an essay introduction. Crafting a compelling hook is vital because it sets the tone for your entire essay and determines whether your readers will stay interested. A good hook draws the reader in and sets the stage for the rest of your essay.

Avoid Dry Fact : Instead of simply stating a bland fact, try to make it engaging and relevant to your topic. For example, if you’re writing about the benefits of exercise, you could start with a startling statistic like, “Did you know that regular exercise can increase your lifespan by up to seven years?”
Avoid Using a Dictionary Definition : While definitions can be informative, they’re not always the most captivating way to start an essay. Instead, try to use a quote, anecdote, or provocative question to pique the reader’s interest. For instance, if you’re writing about freedom, you could begin with a quote from a famous freedom fighter or philosopher.
Do Not Just State a Fact That the Reader Already Knows : This ties back to the first point—your hook should surprise or intrigue the reader. For Here’s an introduction paragraph example, if you’re writing about climate change, you could start with a thought-provoking statement like, “Despite overwhelming evidence, many people still refuse to believe in the reality of climate change.”

Including background information in the introduction section of your essay is important to provide context and establish the relevance of your topic. When writing the background information, you can follow these steps:

Start with a General Statement:  Begin with a general statement about the topic and gradually narrow it down to your specific focus. For example, when discussing the impact of social media, you can begin by making a broad statement about social media and its widespread use in today’s society, as follows: “Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with billions of users worldwide.”
Define Key Terms : Define any key terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to your readers but are essential for understanding your argument.
Provide Relevant Statistics:  Use statistics or facts to highlight the significance of the issue you’re discussing. For instance, “According to a report by Statista, the number of social media users is expected to reach 4.41 billion by 2025.”
Discuss the Evolution:  Mention previous research or studies that have been conducted on the topic, especially those that are relevant to your argument. Mention key milestones or developments that have shaped its current impact. You can also outline some of the major effects of social media. For example, you can briefly describe how social media has evolved, including positives such as increased connectivity and issues like cyberbullying and privacy concerns.
Transition to Your Thesis:  Use the background information to lead into your thesis statement, which should clearly state the main argument or purpose of your essay. For example, “Given its pervasive influence, it is crucial to examine the impact of social media on mental health.”

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, or other type of academic writing. It appears near the end of the introduction. Here’s how to write a thesis statement:

Identify the topic:  Start by identifying the topic of your essay. For example, if your essay is about the importance of exercise for overall health, your topic is “exercise.”
State your position:  Next, state your position or claim about the topic. This is the main argument or point you want to make. For example, if you believe that regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good health, your position could be: “Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health.”
Support your position:  Provide a brief overview of the reasons or evidence that support your position. These will be the main points of your essay. For example, if you’re writing an essay about the importance of exercise, you could mention the physical health benefits, mental health benefits, and the role of exercise in disease prevention.
Make it specific:  Ensure your thesis statement clearly states what you will discuss in your essay. For example, instead of saying, “Exercise is good for you,” you could say, “Regular exercise, including cardiovascular and strength training, can improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.”

Examples of essay introduction

Here are examples of essay introductions for different types of essays:

Argumentative Essay Introduction Example:

Topic: Should the voting age be lowered to 16?

“The question of whether the voting age should be lowered to 16 has sparked nationwide debate. While some argue that 16-year-olds lack the requisite maturity and knowledge to make informed decisions, others argue that doing so would imbue young people with agency and give them a voice in shaping their future.”

Expository Essay Introduction Example

Topic: The benefits of regular exercise

“In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of regular exercise cannot be overstated. From improving physical health to boosting mental well-being, the benefits of exercise are numerous and far-reaching. This essay will examine the various advantages of regular exercise and provide tips on incorporating it into your daily routine.”

Text: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee

“Harper Lee’s novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ is a timeless classic that explores themes of racism, injustice, and morality in the American South. Through the eyes of young Scout Finch, the reader is taken on a journey that challenges societal norms and forces characters to confront their prejudices. This essay will analyze the novel’s use of symbolism, character development, and narrative structure to uncover its deeper meaning and relevance to contemporary society.”

Engaging and Relevant First Sentence : The opening sentence captures the reader’s attention and relates directly to the topic.
Background Information : Enough background information is introduced to provide context for the thesis statement.
Definition of Important Terms : Key terms or concepts that might be unfamiliar to the audience or are central to the argument are defined.
Clear Thesis Statement : The thesis statement presents the main point or argument of the essay.
Relevance to Main Body : Everything in the introduction directly relates to and sets up the discussion in the main body of the essay.

Writing a strong introduction is crucial for setting the tone and context of your essay. Here are the key takeaways for how to write essay introduction: 3

Hook the Reader : Start with an engaging hook to grab the reader’s attention. This could be a compelling question, a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or an anecdote.
Provide Background : Give a brief overview of the topic, setting the context and stage for the discussion.
Thesis Statement : State your thesis, which is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be concise, clear, and specific.
Preview the Structure : Outline the main points or arguments to help the reader understand the organization of your essay.
Keep it Concise : Avoid including unnecessary details or information not directly related to your thesis.
Revise and Edit : Revise your introduction to ensure clarity, coherence, and relevance. Check for grammar and spelling errors.
Seek Feedback : Get feedback from peers or instructors to improve your introduction further.

The purpose of an essay introduction is to give an overview of the topic, context, and main ideas of the essay. It is meant to engage the reader, establish the tone for the rest of the essay, and introduce the thesis statement or central argument.

An essay introduction typically ranges from 5-10% of the total word count. For example, in a 1,000-word essay, the introduction would be roughly 50-100 words. However, the length can vary depending on the complexity of the topic and the overall length of the essay.

An essay introduction is critical in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. To ensure its effectiveness, consider incorporating these key elements: a compelling hook, background information, a clear thesis statement, an outline of the essay’s scope, a smooth transition to the body, and optional signposting sentences.

The process of writing an essay introduction is not necessarily straightforward, but there are several strategies that can be employed to achieve this end. When experiencing difficulty initiating the process, consider the following techniques: begin with an anecdote, a quotation, an image, a question, or a startling fact to pique the reader’s interest. It may also be helpful to consider the five W’s of journalism: who, what, when, where, why, and how. For instance, an anecdotal opening could be structured as follows: “As I ascended the stage, momentarily blinded by the intense lights, I could sense the weight of a hundred eyes upon me, anticipating my next move. The topic of discussion was climate change, a subject I was passionate about, and it was my first public speaking event. Little did I know , that pivotal moment would not only alter my perspective but also chart my life’s course.”

Crafting a compelling thesis statement for your introduction paragraph is crucial to grab your reader’s attention. To achieve this, avoid using overused phrases such as “In this paper, I will write about” or “I will focus on” as they lack originality. Instead, strive to engage your reader by substantiating your stance or proposition with a “so what” clause. While writing your thesis statement, aim to be precise, succinct, and clear in conveying your main argument.

To create an effective essay introduction, ensure it is clear, engaging, relevant, and contains a concise thesis statement. It should transition smoothly into the essay and be long enough to cover necessary points but not become overwhelming. Seek feedback from peers or instructors to assess its effectiveness.

References

Cui, L. (2022). Unit 6 Essay Introduction.  Building Academic Writing Skills .
West, H., Malcolm, G., Keywood, S., & Hill, J. (2019). Writing a successful essay.  Journal of Geography in Higher Education ,  43 (4), 609-617.
Beavers, M. E., Thoune, D. L., & McBeth, M. (2023). Bibliographic Essay: Reading, Researching, Teaching, and Writing with Hooks: A Queer Literacy Sponsorship. College English, 85(3), 230-242.

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The Oxford Handbook of Public Accountability

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42 The Future and Relevance of Accountability Studies

Matthew Flinders is Professor of Parliamentary Government and Governance at the University of Sheffield.

Published: 04 August 2014
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The simple aim of this chapter is to encourage some reflection on the accountability of those academics who study public accountability by locating them within the analytical construct of a social “accountability space” that is, by definition, replete with its own demands, expectations and tensions. This is achieved through a focus on the creation, management and politics of public expectations vis-à-vis accountability. Locating the issue of accountability within the parameters of a debate concerning the balance or relationship between “supply” and “demand” raises fresh questions about whether an “accountability gap” actually exists and how it might be closed. It also provides a distinctive twist to questions concerning the framing of various accountability “crises,” “gaps” and “deficits,” the professional responsibilities of academics to the public, and the future of “accountability studies” as a fledgling field of inquiry in its own right.

There is little doubt that the concept of accountability appears to be emerging as the über -concept of the twenty-first century. And yet at the same time it appears that the concept is in some ways more nebulous, contested, and vague than it has ever been. When located within the contours of Sartori’s (1970) classic work on conceptual political analysis it appears that accountability appears destined to provide an example of conceptual stretching (i.e. vague, amorphous conceptualizations that say more and-more about less and less) rather than conceptual travelling , in which a tight and broadly coherent framework is applied across a range of cases. And yet to adopt this position would be to deny the existence of a rich seam of material—much of it represented in this handbook—that has in recent years sought to increase the analytical utility and leverage of this concept through the development of multi-dimensional frameworks and an increasingly sophisticated awareness of the politics of accountability. It is, however, difficult to review the broader landscape of accountability studies and its main scholarly reference points and not conclude that in terms of “coming to terms with accountability,” as Willems and Van Dooren (2012) argue, there remains an urgent need for a solid conceptual framework. 1

And yet in reaching this conclusion the student of public accountability immediately slips into a pre-existing idiom whereby the field is littered with previous attempts at conceptual cartography in which various forms and types of accountability (judicial, public, managerial, market, etc.) are identified and compared ( Flinders 2001 ). Although such an approach would dovetail with Sartori’s emphasis on conceptual precision and conceptual deconstruction it has arguably mutated into a form of disciplinary path-dependency whereby the intellectual heritage of accountability studies has—to some extent—become fixated with narrow categorizations, limited case studies, and etymological explorations to the detriment of a more expansive and potentially fertile focus on a range of broader socio-political factors that in themselves have much to say about the changing nature of account-demanding, account-giving, and (critically) the role of the social and political sciences in the twenty-first century. It is in exactly this context that this chapter seeks to prod and provoke and chide and challenge in order to clear the ground for new beginnings. More specifically, this chapter seeks to set out three inter-related arguments about the future of accountability studies (broadly defined) and its position within an increasingly salient debate concerning the public relevance and visibility of the social and political sciences.

The glue that holds each of these arguments together is a focus on (the politics of) public expectations—but not simply about the public’s expectations about levels and forms of accountability vis-à-vis politicians and public servants but more broadly about the public’s expectations (as well as those of politicians and public servants who are under increasing pressure to deliver “more for less” across the public sector) of academics vis-à-vis society. The core aim of this chapter is therefore to encourage some reflection on the accountability of those academics who study public accountability by locating them within the analytical construct of a social “accountability space” that is, by definition, replete with its own demands, expectations, and tensions. This chapter is therefore trying to cover a lot of analytical and professional ground in a relatively small number of words. This will inevitably demand the use of a fairly broad brush on a wide canvas but to some extent this does not matter as the central ambition of the chapter is to encourage other students of accountability to explore, reject, or finesse the arguments offered, thereby achieving a more fine-grained understanding of the issues raised. With this caveat in place it is possible to examine the first argument.

A1: Accountability: Supply and Demand

In 2000 the American political scientist and Nobel Prize winner Elinor Ostrom (2000) outlined “the danger of self-evident truths” and warned that “the fact that something is so widely believed does not make it correct.” The aim of this section is to very briefly locate the theme of challenging “self-evident truths” squarely within the parameters of public accountability studies by challenging a dominant assumption within the now burgeoning literature on accountability and in doing so focus attention on the politics of supply and demand . From Simon Jenkins’ Accountable to None (1996) through to Janet McIntyre-Mills’ Systemic Governance and Accountability (2010) with a number of key texts—like Jonathon Fox and David Brown’s The Struggle for Accountability (1998) , Mark Bovens’ The Quest for Responsibility (1998) , Dilip Mookherjee’s The Crisis in Government Accountability (2004), David Held and Mathias Koenig-Archibugi’s Global Governance and Public Accountability (2005) , Goetz and Jenkins’ Reinventing Accountability (2005) , Gustavsson, Karlsson, and Person’s The Illusion of Accountability in the European Union (2009) and Richard Bellamy and Antonio Palumbo’s Political Accountability (2010) —in between, the conventional wisdom is relatively clear and can be summed-up in four analytical steps:

The “self-evident” truth that tends to pervade much of the literature on public accountability is therefore that a serious “accountability gap”—possibly even by some accounts an “accountability chasm”—has emerged due to a disconnection between the evolution of the state (i.e. from “government” to “governance”) and the existing architecture for securing an account from those to whom public power is delegated. If the geological metaphor of “chasms” and “gaps” is taken a little further it is possible to suggest that a constitutional fault-line has always existed within the constitutional configurations of most modern polities as the theory of democratic government was rarely perfectly mirrored by reality. However, this initial fissure has for a number of reasons grown to the extent that Chan and Pattberg (2008 , 108) have observed a number of factors that have widened “the pre-existing accountability gaps” to the extent that they now talk of an “accountability crisis.”

The link between the scholarship of Chan and Pattberg and this chapter’s emphasis on the politics of public expectations in relation to accountability is their emphasis on “issue framing” (i.e. the social construction or schema through which individuals try to make sense of an issue and construct a response). The framing of public accountability by the majority of scholars, irrespective of their discipline, has generally been couched in the language of “problems,” “deficits,” and “blame games” ( Hood 2010 ). As a result the analytical conclusions and normative prescriptions of most scholars have tended to focus on increasing supply by designing and implementing new forms of accountability in an attempt to “close” the accountability gap. It is, however, possible to frame the issue of accountability as one of public understanding, political literacy, and social trust and, through this re-framing of the accountability “problem”, generate alternative or complementary strategies for closing the gap that most people agree has emerged. Indeed, simply taking this focus on reframing into the discourse and language of an “accountability gap” immediately reminds us that closing any gap can be achieved by either increasing supply (i.e. through the implementation of new forms and mechanisms of accountability) or reducing demand (i.e. through forging a less high-blame, low-trust “attack politics” social context in which the public possesses a more sophisticated understanding of the complexities and challenges of modern governance and therefore a more realistic set of expectations regarding accountability)—or a combination of both strategies . The simple argument of this section is that the field of “accountability studies” has predominantly focused on increasing supply whereas this chapter focuses on the controversial and highly unfashionable idea of reducing demand .

This brings the argument to a focus on the politics of public expectations regarding public accountability. Is it heretical to suggest that in some situations the public’s “accountability expectations” are simply unrealistic? Is it sacrilegious to suggest that more accountability might not always be a “good thing”? “There exists an almost unquestioned assumption”, as Dubnick (2002) notes, “that the creation or enhancement of accountability mechanisms of any sort will result in greater democracy.” But has no one else noticed that just as accountability, transparency, and freedom of information have become increasingly dominant within democratic governance that levels of public trust in politicians, political processes, and political institutions have declined? This is reflected in a vast literature on “disaffected democracies,” “why we hate politics,” and “the life and death of democracy” ( Hay 2007 ; Pharr and Putnam 2000 ; Keane 2009 ). To suggest that public accountability may not always be the “magic concept” many suppose it to be is not a novel argument ( Pollitt and Hupe 2011 ). Frank Anechiarico and James Jacobs’s The Pursuit of Absolute Integrity (1996) , Robert Behn’s Rethinking Democratic Accountability (2001), Christopher Hood and David Heald’s Transparency. The Key to Better Governance? (2006) , and Dino Falaschetti’s Democratic Governance and Economic Performance (2009) , not to mention Jonathan Koppell’s (2005) work on “multiple-accountabilities disorder,” have each in their own ways demonstrated the sometimes pathological impacts of accountability on both organizations and individuals. Not everybody therefore agrees that accountability is a “good thing”, that it is fundamental to liberal democracy and that we need more of it [emphasis added] ( Pollitt 2008 ).

And yet the main aim of this section has not been to re-visit existing arguments about the “accountability–efficiency trade-off” ( March and Olsen 1995 ), but to make the far simpler point that in analyzing accountability (and its social and political implications) scholars might consider dealing with the perceived “accountability gap” through a combination of both increasing supply and also decreasing demand . Decreasing demand in the sense of attempting to forge a more realistic set of public expectations in relation to public accountability that are in themselves informed by an awareness of the problems of “many hands” and “many eyes” in an increasingly complex and fragmented network-based governing environment ( Thompson 1980 ; Bovens 2007 ; Flinders 2009 ). 2 This focus on re-framing, in turn, forces us to step back and shift our analytical lens to this chapter’s second argument and the notion of “accountability space.”

A2: The Accountability Space

In many ways the aim of this chapter is to situate the analysis of public accountability within its broader social and professional context and, as such, the aim of this section is to try and offer a link between the focus on conceptual vagueness or slipperiness that was emphasized in the opening section and the previous section’s emphasis on reducing demand as a way of closing the “accountability gap” that many scholars have identified. In essence, the core argument of this section is simply that accountability is a messy and difficult concept due to the simple fact that democratic politics (i.e. the public element of public accountability) is innately and unavoidably messy. This, in turn, introduces Dubnick’s (2011) recent focus on the notion of “accountability space” and the need for scholars to “give priority to research that maps that space as a first step toward understanding the nature and potential of accountable governance” (cf. Flinders 2011 ). But this chapter attempts to go much further by placing the academic scholar of public accountability within that “accountability space.”

Viewed from this perspective academics are not passive or neutral analysts but are themselves one important strand of the social fabric that produces, supports, or questions dominant assumptions about the expected standard of public accountability. Put slightly differently, this chapter asks whether academics have in themselves created or contributed to the perceived “accountability crisis” by over-inflating the social expectations surrounding the concept. In asking this question it is possible to draw a modicum of support from Dubnick’s (2011 , 705) critique that “the reformist narrative [highlighted above] drives the current obsession with so called accountability solutions to a wide range of problems for which they are not suited.” He goes on to note that “Nothing short of a break with that discourse and its associated assumptions will put our ‘accountability’ problems in proper perspective...It is not accountability that is undermining our aspirations for an effective democracy but the reformist aspiration for an effective democracy that is undermining accountability.”

Putting accountability in its “proper perspective”—at least for the purposes of this section and chapter—involves locating the concept within an honest, pragmatic, and mature understanding of the inevitable nature of democratic politics. As Crick (1962) argued in his seminal In Defence of Politics almost exactly half a century ago, democratic politics is simply and inevitably messy . As a social process it cannot escape the existence of tensions, gridlocks, and incompatible demands; it can be slow and frustrating and tends to grate and grind for the simple reason that it is a worldly and compromise-based art. It is built, to return to Crick, on a “complex timidity” and “untidy elegance” but it was at the same time for him a quite beautiful and civilizing activity. And yet at the root of Crick’s argument was a focus on public expectations and public understanding that resonates with the previous section’s emphasis on the language of supply and demand . Put simply, Crick explained how political competition between parties and candidates created inflationary pressures that over-inflated public expectations. As such “people expect too much—and the disillusionment of unreal ideals is an occupational hazard of free politics.” Stoker (2006) drew upon this line of reasoning to suggest that democratic politics was to some extent “destined to disappoint” because it involves the tough process of squeezing collective decisions out of multiple and competing interests and opinions.

Crick’s “mere essay” has influenced a generation of scholars and social commentators who have in their own ways sought to challenge public apathy and disengagement by offering a more balanced account of democratic politics’ achievements alongside its failings ( Turner and Hogan 2004 ; Stoker 2006 ; Hay 2007 ). The link between this broad field of scholarship and the narrower sub-field of accountability studies is that the latter has arguably failed to acknowledge the fact that because democratic governance is inevitably messy then to some extent public accountability mechanisms will inevitably reflect this fact. More specifically there is often an epistemological and methodological bias at play in the sense that rational-choice theoretic approaches that presuppose that all individuals are selfish and self-serving will to some extent always reveal a degree of selfish and self-serving behavior. Hay (2009) laments the social consequences of public choice theory by suggesting that by accepting certain assumptions about self-interested motives academics have been unwittingly culpable in “fuelling the contemporary culture of political cynicism. Political science has, in short, been part of the problem; and only if this is acknowledged can it become part of the solution.”

Phrased in these terms the problem of conceptual precision mutates from being an analytical or methodological challenge to being a social or political challenge. “Political”, not in the sense of party politics, but political in the sense that public accountability is inevitably a mirror-image development of public governance that emanates from political processes and decision-making systems. Put slightly differently, could it be that too many accountability-focused scholars have failed to acknowledge the inevitable gap between theory and practice or between ideals and reality ? To pose this question is not to deny that anyone should stop striving for certain ideals or stop thinking about society as they might like it to be in the future but is to inject a degree of realism into debates about public accountability that accepts that—like politics and life—accountability has limits. Could it be that by projecting unrealistic expectations and failing to promote the public understanding of democratic politics, scholars may have unwittingly played a small role in fuelling political disengagement and apathy? Let me reiterate that Herod is not in my heart but there is no escaping the fact that the wider literature on public accountability generally tends to approach the topic in a pessimistic, skeptical, and generally bleak manner that implicitly conveys the values of what Flinders (2012) labels “the bad faith model of politics” in which politicians are generally corrupt and not to be trusted and political processes are generally inefficient and self-serving. Willems and Dooren (2012 , 2) pin this argument squarely on the tail of accountability studies when they argue that:

The pessimistic narrative risks idealizing the past, as if holding a government to account was ever that easy and straightforward; and it also risks leading to unrealistically high expectations and consequently to negative assessments of the present [emphasis added].

Not only does this argument re-introduce the creation and management of public expectations vis-à-vis public accountability but it also provides a very direct link to Dubnick’s (2011) work on “accountability space” in general, and the “reformist paradox” in particular, as a concluding topic for this section.

The “reformist paradox” is—according to Dubnick—little more than the simple fact that any effort to improve accountability through reforms generates consequences that in fact alter, often undermine, and generally complicate existing forms of accountability. More importantly, Dubnick’s approach clearly demonstrates how public accountability involves the management of expectations in a setting where there are generally multiple, diverse, and often conflicting expectations ( Romzek and Dubnick 1987 ). As a result, although Dubnick is not against reformist agendas per se, he is more skeptical than many other scholars of the value and worthiness of proposals for change that are based on the logic of “more accountability is better governance” (i.e. increasing supply). The future of accountability studies, for Dubnick (2011 , 708), will be better served by adopting a more sophisticated ontological position that defines accountability, not as a secondary relationship governing the transfer of resources (money, food, time, etc.), but as a primary “ingredient in the building and maintenance of the social order within which structures (i.e. institutions, mechanisms, and processes) operate.” In advocating a relationalist ontology that views the milieu of account-demanding and account-giving as the basic fabric of modern governance—as opposed to a more substantialist approach that is simply focused on institutions, mechanisms, and processes—Dubnick carves out an “alternative reality” that suddenly poses a completely new set of questions that concern not just the epistemology and methodologies deployed by social and political theorists in exploring public governance but also far broader questions concerning the professional responsibilities of academics to the public . It therefore provides a way of placing scholars of public accountability squarely within the “accountability space” they profess to study. It is to this topic and the third argument concerning “impact” and social relevance that this chapter now turns.

A3: The Social Relevance and “Impact” of Accountability Studies

This chapter is structured around three arguments or pillars that can be viewed as dissecting the field of accountability studies across three levels. The first section and argument focused on the micro level and suggested that the language of supply and demand offered new ways of understanding the “accountability gap.” This linked in to critiques of the reformist narrative by daring to suggest that the “gap” might be closed from above (i.e. by reducing demand) rather than always focusing on lifting the lower bar (i.e. increasing supply). The second section then adopted a more mid-range perspective by outlining the simple argument that as democratic politics is inevitably messy, compromise-based, imperfect, and forged around the production of what economists would label “sub-optimal” or “least worst” decisions, then it was not surprising that accountability processes reflected these qualities. This, in turn, produced a set of questions about whether scholars had imposed unrealistic expectations on an inevitably messy world and as a result produced consistently negative and critical assessments (which then, in themselves, fuelled the reformist paradigm). This third and final section employs Dubnick’s arguments in favor of a relationist ontology as a gateway into a far wider (macro-level) discussion about the position of accountability studies within the broader debate concerning the social relevance, impact, and future of the social and political sciences. This, in turn, allows us to generate fresh insights and novel ways of reflecting upon the past, present, and future of accountability studies.

It is, however, once again impossible within the boundaries of this short chapter to provide little more than the merest hint or flavor of the link between the study of public accountability and the broader debate about the future of the social and political sciences, let alone the potential value of a relationist ontology. This is—as already stated—a work in progress that is using big and bold brush strokes on a very wide canvas in the hope that subsequent scholars will assist with filling in the fine detail (or even erasing the parts they do not like). The link, however, between the second and third arguments of this chapter is provided by the way in which a relationist ontological position focuses attention not simply on the day-to-day operation of forms of accountability or “accountability webs” but also on the manner in which the entire process is embedded in a dynamic accountability space. A space that is constituted upon both visible institutions, mechanisms, and processes but possibly more importantly on invisible accountability relationships that define and orientate our (“yours,” “mine,” “his,” “hers”) expectations and understandings of not only the world around us but also our position within a rapidly changing world.

In short, the relationist perspective suddenly asks pertinent questions about the role of academics in shaping (either through omission or intent) the expectations that the public have of the world around them. From here it is little more than a small intellectual hop, skip, or jump into a broader and more urgent set of questions concerning the role, obligations, and responsibilities of social and political scientists in the twenty-first century. Or, more specifically, to a set of questions concerning the responsibilities of academics to the broader public—to the demos—in terms of helping them make sense of the world in which the traditional banisters (to paraphrase Hannah Arendt) like religion, close family units, stable employment, clear political structures, appear to have melted away into an increasingly ephemeral and mobile form of “liquid modernity” ( Strong 2012 ; Bauman 2000 ). The question then becomes one of the role of academics in helping the public make sense of the world around them—to offer a politics with vision and new banisters.

These questions have become crystallized into a global debate about the social relevance and “impact” of the social and political sciences. At the core of this debate is a concern that in recent decades the incentives surrounding academic life have emphasized esoteric specialization and impenetrable publications over public engagement. The “tragedy of political science” as Ricci (1984) argued three decades ago is therefore that as the study of politics became more “professional” and “scientific,” the weaker it became in terms of both its social relevance and accessibility and as a social force supportive of democracy and democratic values. More recently, Shapiro (2005) has written a devastating critique of the manner in which the social and political relevance of the study of politics arguably melted away in the 1980s and 1990s and was replaced with a malignant (and to some extent embarrassing) preoccupation with methodological masturbation, theoretical fetishism, sub-disciplinary balkanization, and the development of esoteric discourses. Leading figures within the social and political sciences have in their own ways voiced serious concerns that resonate with Shapiro’s thesis and, in doing so, have suggested that a new “gap”– an “understanding gap”—has arisen due to a failure of the social sciences to promote the public understanding of politics (cf. Flinders 2012 ).

This focus on an “understanding gap” brings this chapter full circle and back to a focus on supply and demand (i.e. A1), an awareness of the “accountability space” and the role of academics within that social milieu (A2), and the simple conclusion that the future of accountability studies will to a great extent depend on the degree to which it can demonstrate its broader social relevance and impact (A3). Moreover it is possible to conclude by arguing that a clear relationship exists between the “accountability gap” and the “understanding gap” that in itself raises critical questions about the future and relevance of accountability studies.

At a fairly narrow or specialized level it is possible to suggest that the “accountability gap”/“understanding gap” reflect the supply and demand dichotomy that this chapter has sought to promote. The former is linked to the “reformist paradigm” and favors increasing supply; while the latter is linked to what could be termed the “understanding paradigm” which warns against unrealistic expectations and instead promotes the role of the academic in promoting public understanding and engaged citizenship. Whereas the “accountability gap” defines the issue to be solved , the “understanding gap” reframes the issue as one to be understood . And yet paradoxically this re-framing places new expectations and obligations on the role of an academic. From being an external observer and student of accountability the academic is suddenly placed, through a relational ontology, at the center of the “accountability space” with a clear social role and responsibility for contributing to the shaping of account-demanding and account-giving expectations. This shifting role and set of expectations dovetails with a changing social context in which academics are increasingly forced to account for their contribution to “public goods” (seen in the introduction of “impact” case studies as a core element of the Research Excellence Framework in the United Kingdom, and the spread of STAR METRICS 3 approaches beyond the United States).

Although some scholars may define the imposition of external indicators of value upon their profession as an unwarranted diminution of academic autonomy, for those interested in the issue of public accountability the future is arguably bright. Indeed, as many contributions to this collection demonstrate to great effect, this is a field of inquiry with a rich tradition of delivering theoretically informed, policy-relevant research that also has a clear and demonstrable public benefit. The challenge for the future, however, lies in moving away from well-worn clichés concerning accountability’s “chameleon- like” qualities, “iconic” status, or “ever-expanding” boundaries and instead building new ways of thinking about the concept that focus on closing the “understanding gap” as much (if not more) than the “accountability gap.”

The existence of a conceptual gap in terms of normative and epistemological interpretations can be seen through a comparison of the conclusions of Gustavsson, Karlsson, and Person (2009) on the one hand, and Bovens, Curtin, and t’ Hart (2010) on the other.

For an empirical application of both challenges see Flinders (2009) .

This is an acronym for “Science and Technology for America’s Reinvestment: Measuring the Effect of Research on Innovation, Competitiveness and Science.”

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Responsibility and Accountability Management Essay

Introduction, management, responsibility, and accountability in university students.

In any work place, management, responsibility, and accountability are indispensable terms. Employees have the responsibility of ensuring that they accomplish all duties assigned to them. To portray their responsibility, employees are obligated to try their best to deliver their assignments in a timely and professional manner. Management is an indication of power, where, managers have the authority to give orders to their subordinates and influence them to work according to their policies.

Through all ways and means, the managers should have the power to influence their subordinate staff to obey them. Lastly, accountability is an act of being liable for one’s actions. Employees are answerable for their general performance, and the managers take accountability of the entire institution. Employees who fail to deliver their duties are accountable to their immediate supervisors.

They have to explain the reasons as to why they were not able to perform as expected. Management, responsibility, and accountability are inter-related terms that apply in personal lives. This paper will try to relate the three terms to the lives of students in the university.

Universities are high-level educational institutions where students study to obtain educational degrees and do extensive researches. Students in the university meet and integrate with different people from all over the globe. The academic freedom in the university is immeasurable, and students have the supremacy to choose what is right for them. In many cases, university students are advised to be their own managers. They ought to be responsible and accountable for their own lives.

Since they are their personal managers, students are in charge of their lives, where, they have the power to control themselves from participating in unethical behaviors. Good personal managers will control their choice of friends, their choice of actions, and their choice of direction in every incidence. On the other hand, poor managers are swayed by peer pressure.

They will do things to please their friends regardless of the consequences of their actions. The reality is that poor managers will blame others for their misfortunes in the future; however, they ought to learn that everything that happens in their lives is a result of a choice that they made earlier.

Responsibility is the foundational principle that obligates students to embrace the rightful behaviors that bring success and happiness in their entire life. Responsible students will always make the right choices in any dilemmatic situation. In a case where students have to choose between going for entertainment and going for classes, a responsible student would opt to attend classes and forego the entertainment session.

Responsible people will experience the joy of being able to control their lives, and they will make the right choices because they are aware that they will account for everything that they choose to do. Responsible people will take time to listen to their heart and mind. They will foresee the consequences of an action, and thereby make the best choice of all the possible alternatives.

Accountability is a moral principle that will obligate university students to do the right thing at the right time. Responsible students who fail a test can account for their poor performance, whereas irresponsible students cannot have the basis to give significant reasons behind their failure. Responsible students will always account for the time that they stayed in school, while irresponsible students will have wasted some considerable time in school.

Missing classes is a customary thing in the university. Some students may miss classes occasionally due to unavoidable circumstances; however, others miss classes for lame excuses, and they cannot account for the time lost. Students who have a habit of missing classes are irresponsible of their own lives.

They will always blame the lecturers and their peers for their poor performance in exams. Essentially, irresponsible students will tend to declare that every misfortune in their life is someone else’s fault. However, they usually realize their mistakes when it is too late. Cases have happened where some university students fail to graduate in time for various reasons. In most incidences, the underlying reason is the lack of authority, responsibility, and accountability of one’s life.

In real life, there is no particular corrective measure to influence authority, responsibility, and accountability of personal life. However, the manner of upbringing children, and the environment in which children are raised are somewhat related to the ability of children to take responsibility for their own lives. Therefore, parents should learn to nurture their children responsibly, and they should advise them in every step of their lives.

From one time to another, children should attend guidance and counseling classes to obtain some mentorship. Students should have a role model, and they should learn to work towards attaining what their role models have achieved. Lastly, university students should learn to take responsibility for their lives. They should learn to stand by their feet, refuse to do things because of peer pressure, and most importantly, they should learn to be accountable for all their actions.

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Corporate Finance

Accountability: Definition, Types, Benefits, and Example

Investopedia / Madelyn Goodnight

What Is Accountability?

The term accountability refers to the acceptance of responsibility for honest and ethical conduct towards others. In the corporate world, a company's accountability extends to its shareholders, employees, and the wider community in which it operates. In a wider sense, accountability implies a willingness to be judged on performance.

Key Takeaways

Accountability is the acceptance of responsibility for one's own actions and implies a willingness to be transparent.
Financial accountability in the U.S. includes a requirement that public corporations make accurate financial records available to all stakeholders.
There are various ways to be accountable in the workplace, including setting deadlines, delegating tasks, defining ownership, and rewarding success.
Accountability may help invoke confidence from external investors, loyalty from employees, and better company returns.
There is an increased focus on other elements of corporate accountability such as ethical conduct, environmental impact, a commitment to diversity, and fair treatment of employees.

Understanding Accountability

Accountability is an essential concept in corporate finance. It is defined as an entity's actions to take responsibility for their actions. This can range from accounting for financial discrepancies, conduct toward employees, financial mismanagement, or losing shareholder confidence.

This concept is particularly relevant to the accounting practices that a company adopts when it prepares the financial reports submitted to shareholders and the government. Without checks, balances, and consequences for wrongdoing, a company cannot retain the confidence of its customers, regulators, or the markets.

Corporate accountability has come to encompass a company's activities as they affect the community. A company's environmental impact, its investment decisions, and its treatment of its own employees all have come under public scrutiny.

Each industry has its own standards and rules for accountability that may evolve over time. For example, the rules for social media accountability are being written now.

Types of Accountability

The concept of accountability runs throughout all industries, sectors , companies, and professions. Here is an overview of where accountability is most prevalent in the business sector.

Corporate Accountability

At its most prosaic, accountability is about numbers. Every public company must publish a financial report quarterly and annually detailing its income and expenses. An independent auditor reviewing a company's financial statements is responsible for obtaining reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from any material misstatements caused by error or fraud. This auditor is holding the company accountable for its reporting.

Accountability requires corporate accountants to be careful and knowledgeable, as they can be held legally liable for negligence. An accountant is responsible for the integrity and accuracy of the company's financial statements , even if an error or misstatement was made by others in the organization. This is why independent outside accountants audit the financial statements. Public companies are required to have an audit committee within the board of directors. Their job is to oversee the audit.

Political Accountability

Political accountability can relate to political contributions and how candidates use resources. For example, the non-partisan Center for Political Accountability and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania publish a joint annual index rating the disclosure and oversight policies of major public corporations regarding their donations to political causes and candidates.

These scandals resulted in tougher regulations, and there are armies of regulators and private watchdogs working to make sure that companies report their earnings correctly, that the exchanges execute trades in a timely fashion, and that information provided to investors is timely and accurate.

The Center shines a spotlight on corporate spending to influence politicians. In 2021, the Center reported in-depth on a campaign by the pharmaceutical industry to head off a proposal to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices with vendors. The report named the names of members of Congress who accepted political donations from drugmakers.

Accountability is results-oriented. For example, after reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 44%, HP got top marks for environmental accountability.

Government Accountability

The role of corporate cash is only one of the global issues regarding government accountability. For instance, USAID, the federal agency that administers civilian foreign aid, measures government accountability by the following key factors:

A free and fair political justice system
The protection of human rights
A vibrant civil society
Public confidence in the police and courts, and security sector reform

To aid in protecting citizens, the Government Accountability program protects federal, state, and local whistleblowers who spot problems and report them to appropriate agencies. In this model, governments are held accountable through unofficial, internal audits. Anyone can report anyone else for improper behavior, forcing accountability to be systematic and prevalent throughout organizations.

Media Accountability

The media in the U.S. is uniquely protected by the First Amendment from interference by Congress. But, this does not mean that it is free from accountability.

The media has long been under the constant scrutiny of a number of watchdogs, internal and external. In the internet era, these have been augmented by independent fact-checking organizations such as FactCheck.org, Snopes, and PolitiFact. These and other organizations monitor the media for bias and errors and publish their findings for all to see.

Individuals can now easily contribute to the conversation thanks to social media . There is a debate, though, whether platforms like Facebook are publishers or if the users are the publishers. In either case, social media continues to be under fire for spreading dangerous misinformation, providing a platform for hate speech, and having a generally lacking sense of accountability.

Accountability in the Workplace

For companies to be successful, employees must conduct themselves with accountability. This is done in several ways.

Let's first consider the soft skills of accountability. This includes showing up to work when expected and showing up to work prepared for the tasks for the day. Accountability extends to every department and every employee, as it starts with being present, honest, and engaged in everyday tasks outside of one's job.

There is also a deep-rooted sense of accountability in specific positions. Professionals who handle physical or digital money have a standard of accountability to be honest and responsible with funds that do not belong to them personally. Managers have a duty of accountability to properly oversee employees, treat them well, and guide them through growth opportunities.

There are a few ways a company builds, manages, and sustains accountable practices, such as:

Making employees verbally commit to completing certain tasks and ensuring they follow through with them.
Having upper management set expectations on the duties to be completed and the associated deadlines.
Creating a safe environment where taking risks is rewarded and learning occurs in a natural, non-threatening way.
Defining ownership of tasks, projects, or other aspects of work. Should there be a problem, the owner of that task or project must be held accountable.

Benefits of Accountability

Accountability is different at every company. However, there are overarching benefits that accountability can provide should a business be able to appropriately execute accountability practices:

Accountability promotes operational excellence. When employees understand that their work is being looked at and evaluated, they are more likely to put forth stronger effort as it is understood that what they do matters. This is especially true when employees are rewarded for strong accountability with raises, promotions, and public recognition.
Accountability safeguards company resources. It is not limited to just doing your job; it is the practice of being honest and responsible for your actions in all situations. When employees are accountable, they are held to a standard that company resources are to be respected, and employees are less like to mistreat company assets as they understand there will be consequences for their actions.
Accountability yields more accurate results. Companies with a standard of accountability will have boundaries of acceptable deviation. For example, a company may allow for a certain dollar threshold of financial misstatement due to immateriality. If a company holds itself accountable to a low threshold of materiality, it will not accept larger errors, unexplainable variances, or delays in reporting.
Accountability builds external investor trust. An investor's confidence in a company is only driven so far based off of the prospect of financial success. Investors must believe that a company is well-run, honest, competent, and efficient with its resources. If a company can demonstrate its accountability, it will be seen more favorably, especially compared to an untrustworthy adversary.

A 2020 research study by Pew Research found that 58% found that the so-called cancel culture was a movement to hold people accountable for their actions, while 38% saw the movement as punishment for people who didn't deserve it.

Examples of Accountability

Corporate accountability can be hard to quantify but that doesn't stop anyone from trying.

Visual Capitalist ranked the best-performing U.S. corporations on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. For instance:

The top performer on environmental issues was HP, which has decreased its greenhouse gas emissions by 44% since 2015.
General Motors got the highest marks for social responsibility as the only U.S. company with a woman as both CEO and CFO.
Qualcomm topped the list in corporate governance due to its introduction of STEM programs for women and minorities.

Some high-profile accounting scandals in the past demonstrated that a public company cannot continue to exist if it loses the trust of the financial markets and regulators.

The erstwhile energy giant Enron collapsed in 2001, taking the venerable accounting firm Arthur Andersen with it after its false accounting methods were exposed. The global financial crisis revealed gross financial speculation by some of the nation's biggest banking institutions. The LIBOR scandal revealed currency rate manipulation by several London banks.

But many leaders have called for the creation of a new culture of accountability in finance—one that comes from within.

What Does Accountability Mean?

Accountability is the practice of being held to a certain standard of excellence. It is the idea that an individual is responsible for their actions and, if that individual chooses unfavorable actions, they will face consequences. Accountability strives to promote a high level of work, promote honesty, encourage dependability, and garner trust from members around you.

What Is an Example of Accountability?

A company can foster a sense of accountability by setting expectations with employees, delegating tasks to different members of a team, and explaining the consequences if the tasks are completed incorrectly or late.

Another example of accountability is a financial advisor managing a client's funds. The advisor must not only be held to a standard of fiduciary duty, they must realize there are consequences for their actions and that what they choose to do today with their client's money will have downstream effects—either positive or negative.

How Is Accountability Defined in the Workplace?

To management coaches, accountability in the workplace goes beyond giving each employee a task to complete in a project. It also means making each individual accountable for the success or failure of their contribution to the overall project. In other words, it's all about the ownership of success or failure.

What Does the Government Accountability Office Do?

The Government Accountability Office is the audit agency of the U.S. government.

It evaluates the effectiveness of U.S. programs and proposed programs. For example, one of its ongoing reviews examined the effectiveness of $4.8 trillion in federal spending related to the COVID-19 pandemic and made recommendations for changes to prevent misuse of funds, fraud, and errors in relief payments. Interestingly, the agency's own reporting indicates that only 33 of the proposed 209 recommendations for improvement were "fully adopted" as of the end of October 2021.

What Is the Difference Between Accountability and Responsibility?

A responsibility is an assigned (or self-assigned) task or project. Accountability implies a willingness to be judged on the performance of the project. Accountability does not exist in a vacuum. It requires transparency and effective communication of results with all parties that may be affected.

The Bottom Line

Accountability can be a management buzzword or it can be a real framework for evaluating the success or failure of an individual or an entity. The concept of corporate accountability has always meant honest and transparent financial reporting. In recent years that concept has expanded to encompass a corporation's performance and responsiveness to environmental, social, and community issues.

Journal of Accountancy. " The Auditor and Fraud ."

Center for Political Accountability. " CPA-Zicklin Index: A Focus on Transparency ."

Center for Political Accountability. " Pharma Campaign Cash Delivered to Key Lawmakers with Surgical Precision ."

Visual Capitalist. " America's Most Responsible Companies in 2021 ."

USAid. " Promoting Accountability and Transparency ."

Government Accountability Project. " Home ."

Pew Research. " Americans and 'Cancel Culture': Where Some See Calls for Accountability, Others See Censorship Punishment ."

Tick Those Boxes. " What Is Accountability in the Workplace? "

U.S. Government Accountability Office. " Coronavirus Oversight ."

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Essay on Accounting: Meaning, Functions, Importance, Principles and Limitations

Essay on Accounting :- 1. Introduction to Accounting 2. Meaning of Accounting 3. Functions 4. Importance 5. Systems 6. Principles 7. Concepts 8. Accounting Conventions 9. Limitations.

Essay on the Limitations of Accounting

Essay # 1. Introduction to Accounting:

Several thousand years ago when human beings first developed the need to accumulate information about economic resources such as land, livestock and other personal property, accounting got originated. It emerged as an information system formulated for accountability in the exchange of goods and services.

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With the invention of money there was an ease in the manner in which commodities and services were exchanged. Money became a unit of measurement. Throughout history accounting profession has continued to grow in response to the ‘financial information needs’ of individuals and societies.

Accounting is a function of economic and social development. It is the language of business. It records business transactions on a monetary basis in a set of books in a scientific manner. Cash plays a vital role in all types of business activities. One party pays it and the other party receives it. Even in non-cash transactions, cash has to be paid or received in future. Accounting provides information in a classified and a summarized form as financial statements.

It comprises Trading Account, Profit and Loss Account, and Balance Sheet. Account is that aspect of accountability that accounts for the purpose for which cash is paid or received. Trading Account and Profit and Loss Account are prepared to ascertain the profits earned or losses incurred for a particular period. The balance sheet shows the financial position of a business as at a particular point of time.

Accountants are the practitioners of accountancy. They are information specialists who collect, process and report economic information about specific financial events for business and non-business activities. Today, we observe several million individuals engaged in professional accounting activities and several billions dependent on such information. Thus, accounting has a wide scope in the spectrum of economic and social development of any country, be it developed, developing or backward.

ADVERTISEMENTS: (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Accounting 2. Meaning of Accounting:

Accounting is considered as ‘the language of business’. It is the language employed to communicate financial information of the business to various parties interested in such information. When an event is to be reported (say in English, Hindi, Kannada), certain rules are followed diligently so that what is communicated is understood by the readers appropriately.

Similarly, in accounting also the events of the business are to be communicated to the users by following certain set of rules diligently, so that the firm does not run into the risk of being misunderstood. Accounting language has two important components – (1) symbols in the form of ‘Debit and Credit’ and (2) grammatical rules in the form of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

Accounting stems from ‘book-keeping’ the science and art of correctly recording in books of account all those business transactions that result in the transfer of money or money’s worth. Accounting relates to the work of maintaining various books of accounts, say, journal proper, subsidiary books, ledger, etc., which are generally done by junior employees as and when the transactions take place.

For this reason these books are called Books of Original Entry. Though the original records are maintained in a systematic way, they cannot by themselves provide information for judgement (decision) unless they are analysed and interpreted. Therefore, accounting comes into the picture.

Examining the cited definitions, we can infer that book-keeping is concerned with recording aspect. On the other hand, being comprehensive in nature, accounting includes book-keeping and spreads its tentacles to the analysis and interpretation of the data recorded. In fact, accounting designs proper system for recording the transactions.

The modern system of accounting is based on ‘double-entry principle’. Being scientific in character, double-entry principle of accounting has definite objectives to fulfill. It prescribes the process through which the objectives can be achieved. Accounting is a macro system.

In its micro system it includes several branches in the form of Financial Accounting, Cost and Management Accounting and others such as Government Accounting, HR Accounting, Inflation Accounting, Environmental Accounting, Farm Accounting, etc.

ADVERTISEMENTS: (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Accounting 3. Functions of Accounting:

Functions of accounting may be broadly classified into four categories:

1. Historical Function:

The primary function of accounting is historical in nature, i.e., to maintain a correct record. It includes recording, classifying, summarizing, analysing and interpreting the recorded data of an enterprise (an accounting unit). The major objective of this function is to report at regular intervals to owners/shareholders, management and other interested parties in a desired form and format through financial statements.

2. Managerial Function:

The major purpose of this function is to maximize operational efficiency. In this form it helps in planning future activities, controlling day-to-day operations by comparing actual results with predetermined standards. In short, accounting helps in decision making.

3. Legal Function:

From the viewpoint of accountability, accounting should satisfy the legal requirements of Accounting Standards Board (ASB) as well as the government. For example, audit is compulsory for ensuring compliance of standards.

4. Communicating Function:

Accounting, as a language of business, should be in a position to communicate the information to the users of information say, owners/shareholders, management, creditors, employees, consumers, investors, government, etc.

Accounting 4. Importance of Accounting and its Users:

The importance of accounting is unique as it is useful not only to the internal users but also to the external users (direct and indirect users). The importance of accounting can be understood in the popular use of this systematic information by the interested parties (i.e., the data processed in the form and format meaningful to the user). This systematic information is used by interested persons for decision making.

However, there is no unanimity in different countries as to who these interested parties are. For example, Accounting Standards Board (ASB) of USA in its Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts (SFAC) No.1 states that ‘Present and potential investors, creditors and others are the users’. The Corporate Report (1975) London lists all types of users who need accounting information. The Stamp Report (1980) Canada states that because of broader accountability concept in Canada, the range of users is also broader.

However, the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) lists investors, employees, lenders, suppliers and other trade creditors, customers, government and their agencies, public and management as users in its framework (1989). Taking into consideration the above list of users, categorization is made as users of information having direct interest and users of information having indirect interest.

1. Users having Direct Interest:

The users having direct interest in accounting information are considered to be owners and potential owners/management, shareholders and potential shareholders, creditors and potential creditors, suppliers and potential suppliers, employees and consumers, government and tax authorities.

They are briefly discussed in the following list:

(a) The owners/shareholders provide funds to an enterprise in the form of capital. Hence, they are interested in accounting information to know whether the business is conducted on sound lines, whether the capital is used properly, whether it is in a position to provide best of the returns on their investment and whether the business is run on legal and ethical norms.

The income statement and the statement of affairs prepared from time to time should be in accordance with the accounting standards so that comparability and decision making become easier.

(b) The management is interested in financial accounting to determine whether the business is profitable, whether the position is sound and whether it has competitive advantage. Financial accounting, being the eyes and ears of management, facilitates decision making in relation to expansion, diversification, etc., and framing of suitable policies for future.

(c) The creditors are interested in the financial soundness of a business. They may be suppliers of goods on credit, lenders of money, bankers and others who would support the enterprise by providing credit facilities. Their main interest is security for credit, apart from income. They carefully scrutinize the income statement and position statement from time to time in addition to watching the business operations closely from outside by means of disciplined enquiry.

(d) The investors/prospective investors (apart from shareholders) are interested to know how far their investment is safe or is going to be safe. They examine carefully the statements of income and position to assess the soundness of the business. Altogether they are interested in the safety of their investment along with returns.

(e) The consumers are interested to get the goods at a fair price (comparatively reduced price). They are much interested to know the control mechanism adopted by the enterprise so that cost reduction is made possible.

(f) The employees are interested in accounting of the enterprise so as to assess the profitability which would be the basic factor for determining higher wages, bonus, better working conditions, etc. The sound financial position of the enterprise encourages them to contribute their best to the firm.

(g) The government (central, state and local bodies) is interested in accounting of the enterprise to know the earnings based on which taxes could be collected to formulate revenue. Further, for compiling ‘national income’ accounting prepared on the basis of accountability becomes essential.

(i) The general public is interested in the accounting of a firm from the point of view of the firm’s social responsibility. In addition, it may comprise prospective lenders, investors, consumers who would closely watch the financial progress of the enterprise.

(j) The researchers are equally interested in accounting of an enterprise. They utilize the data for their research purposes to interprete and suggest new ways of maintaining accounts based on standard measurement, usefulness and decision making.

Thus, the importance of accounting is recognized by its users and with the fact that accountability cannot be established without accounting.

2. Users having Indirect Interest:

The users having indirect interest in accounting information are considered to be financial analysts, stock exchanges, lawyers, regulatory authorities, registration authorities, financial press and reporting agencies, trade associations and labour unions. These users are generally agencies which help/protect such persons or potential persons having a direct interest in them.

Table 6.1 provides decision usefulness of accounting information.

7 Best Ways to Shorten an Essay

Smodin Editorial Team
Published: May 14, 2024

Are you removing a lot of words and paragraphs from your essay but still not seeing the word count budge? Whether you’re meeting a strict word count or refining your message, reducing your essay’s length without sacrificing content quality can be challenging.

Luckily, besides just aiming for the minimum word count, there are some pretty simple solutions, like using artificial intelligence, conducting thorough research, and trimming unnecessary words. But there’s more.

In this guide, we’ll unpack some practical tips to help you make your essay concise and impactful. Time to make every word count!

7 Best Ways To Shorten an Essay

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the best ways you can shorten your essay:

1. Use Artificial intelligence

When we talk about academic writing, artificial intelligence (AI) can be a game changer, especially when it comes to reducing the length of your essays.

Tools like Smodin can help make your content more concise while enhancing overall quality. AI can help you shorten your essay through the following methods:

Automated rewriting : AI rewriting tools can reformulate existing content to make it more straightforward while maintaining the original meaning.
Sentence simplification : Algorithms can analyze your sentences and suggest simpler alternatives, helping eliminate redundant information and reduce word count.
Research assistance : Certain platforms have AI-powered research tools that allow you to quickly gather the most relevant information. This ensures that every word in your essay contributes to your argument without unnecessary fillers.
Plagiarism check : Ensuring your essay is plagiarism-free is crucial. For example, Smodin’s plagiarism detection tools help you identify and replace copied content with original, concise expressions.
Instant feedback : Receive real-time suggestions on how to streamline your text, focusing on the essentials to effectively communicate your message.
Reference generation : Automatically generate and insert citations in the correct format, which helps save you time while maintaining the academic integrity of your essay and keeping it short.

2. Identify Unnecessary Words and Remove Them

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to shorten your essay is by identifying and eliminating unnecessary words.

This approach helps decrease word count and sharpens your arguments, making your writing more compelling. You can identify and remove extra words by doing the following:

Spot wordy phrases : Often, phrases can be condensed without losing meaning. For example, the phrase “due to the fact that” can be replaced with “because.” Be on the lookout for wordy phrases that increase word count needlessly.
Remove unnecessary prepositional phrases : Prepositional phrases can be redundant or add unnecessary detail. Evaluate whether these phrases add value or just extra words. Cutting them can make sentences more direct.
Avoid redundancies : Redundant pairs like “absolutely essential” or “future plans” can be reduced to one word without losing informational value.
Trim excess adjectives and adverbs : Adjectives and adverbs can make writing better but can also lead to over-description. Use them sparingly, especially when they don’t contribute additional meaning to the nouns and verbs they modify.
Fewer words; more impact : Aim for brevity by using fewer words to express the same idea. This will help to reduce the word count while making your writing more impactful and clear.

3. Tighten Sentence Structure

Tightening your sentence structure is crucial for making your essay more concise and readable. Use active voice to make your writing clearer and more dynamic. This is especially important in academic writing, where you have to get to the point quickly.

In academic essays, shifting from passive voice to active voice can shorten and strengthen your sentences. For example, instead of writing, “The experiment was conducted by the students,” you can say, “The students conducted the experiment.” This reduces the number of words and places the action directly with the subject, making your sentences more direct.

Combining two separate sentences into one can streamline your ideas and reduce redundancies. Look for opportunities where sentences can be merged without losing their significance. For example, “He wrote the book. It became a bestseller.” can be rephrased as “He wrote the book, which became a bestseller.”

Also, avoid unnecessary qualifiers and modifiers that don’t add substantial information. Sentences often become bogged down with these extras, making them cluttered and long.

4. Conduct Thorough Research

When writing essays, extensive research can make the final output a lot shorter. Effective research helps you gather precise information that’s relevant to your topic. This means you’ll write more directly and avoid needless elaboration. Here’s how you can conduct research effectively:

Define the scope of your research : Determine what information is essential to the argument. This initial step will help you focus your research efforts and prevent irrelevant data.
Identify key sources : Begin with scholarly databases and academic journals that offer peer-reviewed articles. These sources provide credible, authoritative information that can be crucial for academic writing.
Use precise keywords : When searching for information, use specific keywords related to your essay topic. Precision here will help find the most relevant articles and studies, reducing time spent on unnecessary reading.
Evaluate sources : Assess the relevance and reliability of each source. Check the publication date to ensure the information is current and relevant to your topic.
Take notes efficiently : As you research, jot down important points, quotes, and references. Organize these notes according to the sections in your essay to make writing faster.
Synthesize information : Combine information from multiple sources to build a strong argument. This will allow you to write comprehensively and with fewer words, as each sentence carries more weight.

5. Improve Your Paragraph Structure

Streamlining paragraphs can make your essay shorter and more digestible for the reader. With a well-structured paragraph, you can focus on a single idea supported by concise statements.

Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that clearly states the main idea. This sentence sets the direction and tone, letting the reader know what to expect. It also helps ensure that every following sentence relates directly to the main idea.

Condense supporting information by merging ideas that logically coexist within a single sentence or phrase. After that, evaluate each sentence for its contribution to the paragraph’s main idea. Remove any information that is repeated or goes into too much detail.

Focus on providing evidence and explanations that directly support the main point. You should also end each paragraph with a sentence that reinforces the main idea and potentially links to the next paragraph. This creates smooth transitions and keeps the essay focused and cohesive.

6. Refine the Introduction and Conclusion

These sections frame your essay and influence how your arguments are perceived. Here are some ways to keep them concise yet effective.

Introduction

The introduction should be engaging and concise, clearly stating the purpose and scope of your essay. Begin with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention, followed by background information that sets the context. Incorporate your thesis statement early on, ideally at the end of the intro.

The conclusion needs to reinforce the thesis. Summarize key points in the essay and show how they support the thesis. Provide a final thought that leaves the reader with something to ponder.

Also, remember to keep it tight – the conclusion isn’t a place for introducing new ideas. It should wrap up the ones you presented and prompt the reader to pose their own questions.

7. Edit and Proofread

Keep your essay concise and error-free by allocating ample time for editing and proofreading. These processes scrutinize your work at different levels, from the overall structure to word choices and punctuation. Here’s how you can go about it:

Start by reading through your entire paper to get a feel for its flow and coherence. Check if all paragraphs support your thesis statement and if section transitions are smooth. This will help you spot areas where the argument might be weak, or wording could be clearer.

Focus next on paragraph structure. Ensure each paragraph sticks to one main idea and that all sentences directly support the idea. Remove any repetitive or irrelevant sentences that don’t add value.

Then, look for clarity and style. Replace complex words with simpler alternatives to maintain readability. Keep your tone consistent throughout the paper. Adjust the sentence length and structure to enhance the flow and make it more engaging.

Proofreading

Proofreading comes after editing. The focus here is catching typing errors, grammatical mistakes, and inconsistent formatting. It’s always best to proofread with fresh eyes, so consider taking a break before this step.

Use tools like spell checkers, but don’t rely solely on them. Read your essay aloud or have someone else review it. Hearing the words can help you catch errors you may have missed.

Lastly, check for punctuation errors and ensure all citations and references are formatted according to the required academic style. This and all of the above are areas in which AI can help get the job done with speed and precision.

Why You Might Need to Shorten Your Essay

Ever heard the expression “less is more”? When it comes to academic writing, it normally is. Keeping your essays concise offers several benefits:

Enhances clarity : A shorter essay forces you to focus on the main points and critical arguments, reducing the risk of going off-topic. This clarity makes your writing more impactful and easier for the reader to follow.
Meets word limits : Many academic assignments have a maximum word count. Learning to express your thoughts concisely helps you stay within these limits without sacrificing essential content.
Saves time : For both the writer and the reader, shorter essays take less time to write, revise, and read. This efficiency is especially valuable in academic settings where time is usually limited.
Increases engagement : Readers are more likely to stay engaged with a document that gets to the point quickly. Lengthy texts can deter readers, especially if the content has unnecessary words or redundant points.
Improves writing skills : Shortening essays helps refine your writing skills. You become better at identifying and eliminating fluff, focusing instead on what really adds value to your paper.

Overall, adopting a more succinct writing style helps you meet academic requirements and polish your communication skills.

Why Use Smodin To Shorten an Essay

Using AI-powered platforms like Smodin to shorten your essay is both the simplest and the least time-consuming method available. Here’s why you should probably make Smodin your go-to essay shortener:

Efficiency : Smodin eases the editing process, using advanced algorithms to quickly identify areas where content can be condensed without losing meaning.
Accuracy : With its powerful AI, Smodin ensures that the essence of your essays stays intact while getting rid of unnecessary words, making your writing more precise.
Ease of use : Smodin is user-friendly, making it accessible even to those who aren’t the most tech-savvy. Its easy-to-grasp interface allows for seamless navigation and operation.

Smodin’s offerings

Rewriter : Available in over 50 languages, this tool helps rewrite text to be more concise.
Article Writer : Assists in drafting articles that are crisp and to the point.
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Home — Essay Samples — Business — Accountability — Importance Of Accountability In The Army

Importance of Accountability in The Army

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Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 562 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Introduction:, conclusion:, 1. ensuring operational effectiveness:, 2. fostering trust and integrity:, 3. developing discipline:.

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