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Running Head: How To Be A Successful Insider In the Disciplinarity of Accounting

How To Be A Successful Insider In The Disciplinarity of Accounting

Giannino Rodriguez
University of Texas at El Paso

Table of Contents

Page 3: Introduction

Page 4: Literature Review/Background

Page 6: Procedure/Methodology

Page 7: Results and Conclusions

Introduction

Object of Study
Students learn the principles of Accounting in this discipline. Accounting is the profession of
maintaining and keeping track of financial records and requires patience for math. This discipline
is part of the College of Business Administration and is located on Rim Road, across the street
from the Mike Loya Academic Services Building, behind the University Library. The discipline
has six professors, eight associate professors, and six assistant professors, and one clinical
professor. Students are ready for entry into related positions after courses are completed.

Position and Investment with Object of Study

I chose this discipline for my inquiry because, as a novice, it is what I plan to be a part of in the
future. When I first began my inquiry, I was curious to find out different ways and steps I could
take to be a successful, active member in my discourse community, which explains my
dissonance. My primary research question, which will function as a guide for my inquiry of
Disciplinarity into Accounting, is: What can I do to become a successful insider in my discourse
community and utilize what Ive learned from these experiences throughout my life? This is an
appropriate question because in order to reach your full potential in any disciplinarity, a student
must transition from a novice to an insider and know the way through the ties. My four
secondary research questions, which will ultimately answer the primary, are: Can one
organization or internship better prepare me for my profession than another? If so, what can I do
to find out, who can I discuss this with, and what particular advantages would these
organizations or internships give me? What other areas can a degree in my major lead me to
and what would be the steps to prepare me for these particular areas? Once an insider in the
discourse community, what particular roles would I have and is there a way to prepare these new
members? What impact can a leading role in the discourse community and organizations have
on students in the academy? These questions are appropriate because the time in the academy
should be as effective as possible. It is a must that a student earns their degree and actually
knows what to do with it and how to use it after, which illustrates my exigence. Conducting this
inquiry will shed some light on my journey and allow me to not just go through the motions of
classes.

Literature Review/Background

Understanding The Project

In my Rhetoric and Writing 1301 course, we were assigned a semester long project to conduct a
type of ethnographic inquiry on our disciplinarities with a specific audience in mind, future
students who want to learn about the same specific disciplinarity. An inquiry goes more in depth
for exploring information than regular research would. In an inquiry, the processes are not only
secondary, like researching online, but first hand as well by asking questions and getting others
perspectives of the area you are targeting. An ethnography aids the inquiry and requires a
primary research question, which is the leading question and guides the inquiry through the
processes. It also requires secondary research questions, which illustrates how the primary is
answered. Different research methods are used to collect data for the research questions such as:
interviews, surveys, document analysis, and site observations. After the data is collected, we are
to put it all together in a detailed and descriptive research paper, with smaller assignments
throughout the process. Terms such as culture, discipline, disciplinarity, and discourse
community are used throughout the paper. Culture is the lived experience through values,
traditions, and norms by a discourse community. A discourse community is a group of people
with a common trait and a common goal. For example, my discourse community includes other
accounting students, professors, etc. Discipline is the what-ness of a culture. It is the
knowledge possessed that distinguishes a particular group from another. Disciplinarity means the
how-ness of a culture. What processes do other members perform besides learning the
secondary knowledge? For example, how can a student become a successful accountant? As
oppose to, what knowledge should a student learn, and from which courses, to be an efficient
accountant? Keeping these terms in mind and understanding them more and more, I pushed
through the processes of the inquiry.

Research Questions and Where They Led To

As my primary research question, I want to discover what I can do to become a successful
insider in my discourse community and utilize what Ive learned from these experiences
throughout my life. This inquiry lays out the process for the how-to on conducting it. It is
through this experience from the process that I will gain exigence in the future to conduct
another inquiry for a topic of my interest.
This inquiry has helped me explore my secondary research questions, Can one organization or
internship better prepare me for my profession than another? If so, what can I do to find out, who
can I discuss this with, and what particular advantages would these organizations or internships
give me? There is one specific organization for accounting, Accounting Society, that offers
many advantages such as mock interviews, guest speakers, and events to network. Many other
clubs and organizations in the college are beneficial for accounting, such as American Marketing
Association and Financial Management Association. They also offer community service, give
you experience, and look well on a resume.

Another secondary research question was, What other areas can a degree in my major lead me
to and what would be the steps to prepare me for these particular areas? Before I began my
inquiry, I heard through word of a few teachers and other peers that an accounting degree can
open up many doors. It does not necessarily mean you will be an accountant. But even though
there may be other areas, the steps I would need to take for each is important to know for future
success. I attended a workshop on the discipline of Accounting and the speaker went over steps
every student should take and when, such as internships your junior year and joining a club or
organization your sophomore year.
My third secondary research question was, Once an insider in the discourse community, what
particular roles would I have and is there a way to prepare these new members? Assuming I
become a successful insider in my discourse community, like I plan to, I feel it is important to
know what is next and how I can prepare for them. What do different positions do and why? I
feel it is important to figure out your way successfully inside the community, but then be a
successful member after the fact. Although I had the right concept of this question, my
exploration into the culture somewhat changed my interpretation, which I will articulate in the
results section.
My final secondary research question, What impact can a leading role in the discourse
community have on students in the academy?, also changed my interpretation once I discussed
this with a few members at the Organization Fair in the College of Business Administration
lobby. This specific question shed light on the culture this particular discipline has as some
members shared some values with me, which I will articulate in the results section.

Past, Current, and Future Inquiries

Nobody to my knowledge has explored these types of ideas at my university besides my
classmates who are currently undergoing the same type of ethnography I am. I thought it would
be interesting to see everybodys work since there is such a mix of majors in my English class
alone and it was. The times my peers and I collaborated, I thought of new ideas and perspectives
which eventually led to the changing of two of my secondary research questions, adding one, and
reconstructing my primary research question. It is my hopes and intentions that this inquiry is
capable of informing future students about this disciplines identity, culture, and steps to success.

Procedure/Methodology

Data Methods Selection

There are four types of research methods I used to discover the answers to my secondary
research questions. As a novice to the disciplinarity of accounting, it is required I access multiple
perspectives about becoming an insider. Online research and surveys may be too broad, and
interviews may be too one sided, which is why I used four methods: interviews, surveys,
document analyses, and site observations.

Data Collection

Interviews: I interviewed my global business professor, David Sterling, after class in a

casual manner. The interview lasted just over 5 minutes as we discussed his past
experiences and what he has learned from them.
Surveys: I constructed 6 survey questions. One was multiple choice, three were free
response and two were agree or disagree. At first, I handed out links to my survey to
peers in my class and in between class in the College of Business Administration
building, but out of the 20 I had handed out, only 3 had responded. I decided to take a
different approach and actually have my survey with me digitally on my tablet, and ask
people for a moment of their time. Out of the 22 I asked, 16 were kind enough to take it. I
targeted older students in the discipline of accounting and got responses from 6 freshmen,
4 sophomores, 6 juniors, and 3 seniors.
Document: I analyzed the College of Business Administration Road Map and Accounting
and Information Systems Overview and Faculty. The road map guides students through
the basic classes they should take freshman through senior year. The overview and
faculty explains what the discipline is, explains the degree plan, and lists all the faculty in
the discipline. I chose these documents because it is the basic knowledge every student
should know before beginning an inquiry so that you can limit any inefficient questions
and create knowledge, not just find secondary knowledge.
Sites of Observation: I attended an Organization Fair, a Job Fair, a Professional Attire
Fashion Show, and 2 workshops. The Organization Fair was located in the College of
Business Administration lobby and was a social event for students interested in joining a
club or organization. The Job Fair was located in the Don Haskins Center and was for
anyone looking for a job opening or internships with countless companies. The
Professional Attire Fashion Show was located in the College of Business Administration
lobby and was intended to help students understand how to dress professionally. The 2
workshops I attended was a presentation of different majors the Academy offers and was
intended to guide students if they are still undecided.

Results

From an accounting workshop I attended and from analyzing my survey data, I learned one thing
that a student must do to be a successful insider in the discipline of accounting, is join an
organization relative to accounting be their sophomore year and begin an internship by their
junior year. Internships in the general area of business are beneficial regardless of your
discipline. You get experience in the work field and associate yourself with real people and real
life situations. An internship can raise your chances of getting a job with any company regardless
what you are studying. As long as you are learning, stay involved, and understand the reasons
behind your actions, you will be a successful insider in any discourse community. At a
Professional Attire Fashion Show, I learned you must always dress for success. Simple and
conservative is the way to go in this discourse to have a good impression. During my interview,
my professor basically shared moral values he holds and advice about keeping priorities straight
and focusing on your studies. When networking at an Organization Fair, many members of
Accounting Society as well as American Marketing Association shared that their values are
aiding upcoming students and future generations of students to be successful and keep their
organizations running, which speaks volumes of the culture.

Conclusion

To be a successful insider in the disciplinarity or accounting, you must dress appropriate for any
particular setting, contribute towards the club specific to your discipline, take in first hand
knowledge from internships, and keep in mind future generations to come as well as your own.
You must meet requirements such as GPA, joining a club and beginning an internship, but you
must also keep in mind your priorities and values.

Appendices

Appendix A
Interview Questions
1. What are your experiences with clubs and organizations and what would you recommend for
an accounting student based on your experiences?
2. What sort of authority do ranking members in organizations hold? In your opinion, is the
authority too little or too much?
3. What conflicts do insiders face, and how can one overcome these conflicts? How great is the
impact on the student himself?
4. Were there any special steps you took when earning your specific degree? Such as specializing
or a concentration in a specific field along with your major? If so, were those steps effective?
5. Organizations prepare you for the real world, but would you say any can give you specific
skills needed for your specific study?
6. To your knowledge, how broad and general can a degree be? What is your experience with a
degree and a career not being directly correlated?
7. What would you say the modern concept of accounting is? How has it changed, if any, and
what can I do to have an advantage if there is a misconception with the common concept?
8. How has internships affected your knowledge to your study? Regardless if there are possible
job openings later, was your internship worth it, especially for experience?
9. What role did you first have in the organization and how did it initially impact you? What role
is the most effective for success?
10. In your opinion, what strengths should an accounting student have? What are signs the
student is on the right path or not? What steps should the student take in either direction?
11. What are your thoughts on graduate school as an accounting student? Can staying in one of
the organizations help?
12. Are there any activities a student should do to prepare for success in the future?
13. What is an effective way to stay on track with all the course material, internships, and
organization responsibilities?

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Appendix B
Survey Questions
1. What grade classification are you?
Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior

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2. What is your major?

Free response

3. Are you involved in any clubs or organizations? Please specify.

Free response

4. The clubs or organizations you are in help you prepare for your specific future
profession.
Strongly disagree, disagree, agree, strongly agree

5. Are you searching for or currently hold an internship position? Please specifiy.
Free response

6. This internship will prepare you for your specific future profession.
Strongly disagree, disagree, agree, strongly agree

Appendix C
COBA Accounting and Information Systems Overview and Faculty

Professors

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Kallol Bagchi
Contact Information: kbagchi@utep.edu; 915-747-5376
Education: BS, Calcutta University; MS, Calcutta University; Post Graduate Diploma, Jadavpur
University; Ph D, Jadavpur University; Ph D, Florida Atlantic University
David Farber
Contact Information: dbfarber@utep.edu; 915-747-7737
Education: BA, Stony Brook/SUNY; MBA, Baruch College/CUNY; Ph D, Cornell University
M Mahmood
Contact Information: mmahmood@utep.edu; 915-747-7754
Education: BS, University of California/Dacca University; MBA, California State University; Ph
D, Texas Tech University
Waymond Rodgers
Contact Information: wrodgers@utep.edu; 915-747-7732
Education: Ph D, University of Southern California
Stephen Salter
Contact Information: sbsalter@utep.edu; 915-747-7755
Education: BS, University of Manchester; MBA, University of Windsor; Ph D, University of
South Carolina
Godwin Udo
Contact Information: gudo@utep.edu; 915-747-7780
Education: HND, Institute of Mgt. & Tech- Enugu, Nigeris,1980; BSc/MEd: Bahelor of Science
/ Master of Educcation, University of Missouri-Columbia; MS, University of MissouriColumbia; Ph D, Clemson University-Clemson

Associate Professors
Gary Braun
Contact Information: gbraun@utep.edu; 915-747-7742
Education: BS, University of Nevada; Ph D, University of Arizona
Richard Francis
Contact Information: rnfrancis@utep.edu; 915-747-7953
Education: BBA, The University of Oklahoma; MBA, University of Oklahoma; Ph D, University
of Oklahoma
Leo Gemoets
Contact Information: lgemoets@utep.edu; 915-747-5496
Education: BS, The University of Texas at El Paso; MS, The University of Texas at El Paso;
D.Sc., Saint Lucia Health Sciences University

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Sidney Glandon
Contact Information: sglandon@utep.edu; 915-747-7759
Education: BA, Western Washington University; BBA, Western Washington University; MBA,
Eastern New Mexico University; DBA, Louisiana Tech University
Terry Ann Glandon
Contact Information: tglandon@utep.edu; 915-747-8681
Education: BA, Western Washington University; MBA, Eastern New Mexico University; Ph D,
University of Texas at Arlington
Laura Hall
Contact Information: lhall@utep.edu; 915-747-7743
Education: BS, University of Southern Mississippi; MBA, University of Southern Mississippi;
Ph D, Florida State University
Peeter Kirs
Contact Information: pkirs@utep.edu; 915-747-7733
Education: BS, State University of New York at Buffalo; BA, State University of New York at
Buffalo; MA, Seton Hall University; MBA, State University of New York at Buffalo; Ph D,
State University of New York at Buffalo
Karl Putnam
Contact Information: kputnam@utep.edu; 915-747-7740
Education: BBA, University of Texas at Austin; MPA, University of Texas at Austin; Ph D,
Oklahoma State University

Assistant Professors
Giorgio Gotti
Contact Information: ggotti@utep.edu; 915-747-7762
Education: Ph D, The University of Tennessee
Research Interests: International Accounting, Financial Accounting
Sharon Howell
Contact Information: skhowell@utep.edu; 915-747-5380
Education: BSBA, University of Alabama at Huntsville; MS, University of Alabama at
Huntsville; Ph D, University of Central Florida
Research Interests: Behavioral, Auditing, Ethics.
Esperanza Huerta
Contact Information: ehuerta2@utep.edu; 915-747-7761
Education: BS, Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo De Mexico; MS, Claremont Graduate
University; Ph D, Claremont Graduate University; BS, Instituto Tecnologicio Autonomo De
Mexico

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Grace Mubako
Contact Information: gnmubako@utep.edu; 915-747-7739
Education: Ph D, Southern Illinois University
Research Interests: Audit judgment and decision making, Management fraud, Internal Auditing,
Corporate governance issues.
Paulette Rodriguez
Contact Information: pdrodriguez3@utep.edu; 915-747-5192
Education: BBA, New Mexico State University; Masters of Accountancy, New Mexico State
University
Research Interests: Cash Budgeting. LEAN Accounting, Rolling Forecasts
David Villegas
Contact Information: dvillegas3@utep.edu
Education: BA, Arizona State University; MS, Arizona State University

Clinical Professor
Raymond Zimmermann
Contact Information: rzimmer@utep.edu; 915-747-7738
Education: BA, St. Mary's University; MA, St. Mary's University; JD, St. Mary's University;
LLM, University of Denver School of Law; Ph D, Texas Tech University