An introduction to interventionist research in accounting

The purpose of this chapter is to introduce interventionist research (hereafter IVR) and some of its peculiarities to accounting researchers who may not be familiar with this research approach. The lead author’s interest in, and knowledge of, IVR stems from his own experiences, both as an accounting academic and as an independent business consultant working in a variety of industries. During a fifteen-year career in consulting, he helped small and medium enterprises install accounting information systems, and trained owners and managers in how to integrate financial controls into their businesses. Additionally, he has experience working in a large international telecommunications company as a finance and accounting project manager. These skills and experiences mean that he can work directly with organizations on their day-to-day accounting and management control issues.