Summary of key points for the Researching Accountant Development Plan (RADF)
A summary of key points from each topic.
Understanding research
Understanding the basics
- Getting involved in research is a long-term journey
- It has its own complexity and language
- There are no right or wrong answers
- Everyone in academia should have some understanding of research
- It can be hard to know how to get this understanding
Literature and writing
- You need to read a lot around your proposed area of research
- You need to understand how your research fits into the literature
- Academic writing requires a different approach to that used in business
- Mastering academic writing can be a big challenge
- It can be hard to find help with developing your writing style
- Reading more and reviewing others’ writing can help develop your style
Methods and methodology
- There can be ongoing challenges with issues such as conceptual frameworks and research questions
- Some gaps in knowledge may need to be filled if you are to get more involved in research
- Studying a research methods and methodology module (either standalone or as part of another qualification) can be very helpful
Engaging with others
Enlisting support
- Building your own support structure is important
- People in academia can be more helpful than those in the corporate world
- It is in the interests of more senior academics to help you
- Finding the right people to work with is important
- Working with a colleague can help both of you
Having a mentor
- It’s very helpful to have a mentor
- The mentor may be from a different faculty
- You might need different mentors for different aspects of your career and research
- It’s good to be proactive in seeking a mentor
Talking to colleagues and sharing your work
- You need to make contacts within the University – so try to go to internal events such as seminars, conferences, master classes, etc.
- You should try and meet with people going through a similar experience to you
- It’s good to talk to others about their research, both formally and informally
- The academic life can be lonely – you need to take steps to avoid this
- The more people you talk to, the more likely you are to find people with interests in common with yours
Bringing research to practice
Bringing research into teaching
- Research adds value to your teaching
- You may be able to incorporate your own research into your lectures
- It’s good to share with students the value research brings
- Some lecturers may need support to help them use research to enhance their teaching
Research informing practice
- Involvement in research will develop your ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise
- Research that involves reflecting on your own practice will help improve that practice
- Your own research experience will help you support Masters and Doctoral students better.
Combining teaching and research
- In academia you have more freedom to manage your own time
- This gives you more opportunity to pursue what you want to do
- And there seems to be more opportunity to say no
- Academia encourages a more open way of thinking about the world
Thinking things through
Understanding the implications for you
- You need to consider what you want from your career, but be open-minded
- Developing as a researcher is a career-long activity
- You should bring your existing skills and strengths to any research involvement
- Research is not for everyone in academia, but not doing it may affect your credibility
- Who they recruit and what they expect of academics will depend on each University
Considering doing a qualification
- If you don’t work towards studying for a PhD that could be career limiting
- In theory it might not be, but it probably is in practice
- Professional Doctorates (EdD, DBA) might be considered as an alternative
- Other qualifications such as a Masters or, in the UK, Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (often required and provided through an in-house course by UK Universities) could also be of value
Working out your next steps
- You may want to keep your options open
- You need to be aware of the limitations and benefits of your current position
- You need to consider what you want from your career
- You have some responsibility in finding the time for any research you want to do
How you may be affected
Issues around confidence
- There can be major confidence issues when accountants move across into academia
- Involvement in research or achieving a doctorate can help develop confidence and credibility
- Novice researchers and those without doctorates may find academia stressful and uncomfortable
- As researchers develop they may realise their previous lack of confidence was misplaced
What might be different?
- Academia has helped interviewees slow down and think longer-term
- Research outputs can improve by taking time to reflect and revisit them
- Academia can provide part-time roles that are equivalent in quality
- There is some concern at the perceived introverted nature of research
- Research forces you to think more deeply
The perceptions of others
- The title of Professor is respected
- Researchers seem to treat other researchers with more respect than they do other academics
- If you are not doing research, your contribution may not be as fully valued
- Sometimes you might encounter mutual lack of respect between research-active and teaching-focused staff
- It would be helpful if this could be addressed
Developing resilience
Coping with feedback
- One of the hardest things, for all academics, is coping with your research being criticised
- Some researchers recognise the criticism is not personal but solely about their work
- Others can find it distressing and difficult
- It is not always clear how to address or respond to the criticism
- It is recognised that constructive criticism should lead to a better piece of work
- The anticipation of criticism may also be an issue
Finding time for research and study
- The discipline developed through professional accountancy training can help you find the time for your research
- Research needs to be prioritised and focused on in the way that suits you best
- Any allocated time allowance should be dedicated to research and your own time may well also be needed – might you be able to buyout time for research or seek a secondment?
- The needs of students can derail the best of research intentions
- Those not currently researching felt they could find some time if research became a priority
Managing your workload
- You need to be a self-starter and seek to manage your workload and your career
- The lack of direction in academia can be disconcerting after the discipline of professional practice
- You should try to do any research at the time it suits you best
- It is hard to do research if you have a demanding administrative role or a high teaching load
Being proactive
Pursuing your interests
- To be an effective researcher you need embedded curiosity and a thirst for developing new knowledge
- Research can provide an ongoing area of challenge
- To have the best chance of success PhD researchers need to be passionate about their area of research
- Some aspirations may not be achievable without undertaking further qualifications
Trying things out
- For many of the interviewees, routes into academia had often been gradual and had involved developing or honing teaching skills
- You need to be proactive and take advantage of opportunities
- Undertaking journal article reviews and agreeing to supervise students are ways of gaining additional relevant experience
- Both career and research plans are likely to change as they progress
- There will be future opportunities – you don’t have to do everything now
Making the most of available funding
- Often funds will be available from your University
- You should try to make use of what is available
- The funds might cover study fees or conference attendance
- There might also be external funds you can apply for
Developing your networks
Attending conferences
- It’s a really good idea to attend conferences
- Gradually you can find ways to contribute at them
- The people you meet at conferences can become significant research collaborators
- Presenting at a conference can be nerve-wracking but is worth the effort
- The main aim of presenting is to get feedback on your research
Talking about your research
- Both formal and informal research communities are invaluable
- It’s good to have external as well as internal networks
- People in your area of research will be very keen to talk to you
- You should be aware of your audience and avoid acronyms and jargon
- Your professional body provides credibility and another potential network
Publishing your research
- You should target your paper to an appropriate journal
- It’s helpful if you can work with a more experienced colleague
- Writing a journal article and getting it published takes quite some time
- This is another potentially stressful activity where you have to cope with feedback
Making a difference
Finding out something new
- There is inherent excitement in finding out something new
- Research is irrelevant if it is not used afterwards
- Doctoral research findings should aim to make an impact
Contributing to society
- The potential to contribute to society can be a key motivator for researchers
- The findings from research can help influence policy
- It’s good to seek advice on how best to seek to influence policy
- You can use your academic skills to make a difference in wider contexts
- Feedback from practitioners can inform the shape of research
Contributing to the accountancy profession
- It is really important to have effective links between academia and the accountancy profession
- The accountancy profession could be a fertile area for research
- It is good to be able to provide an academic contribution to professional body committees and consultations