| Accounting change has been characterised as the tendency of the accounting craft to become what it was not. Not only have new theories and techniques been added to the accounting repertoire, but also the purpose for accounting and what is accounted for have been transformed at various points in time. Thus, accounting changes influence the emphasis placed upon organisational activities which, in turn, have their own human, social, and organisational consequences. (Hopwood, 1987, pp.207, 225). This dissertation examines accounting change within the content of one organisation--The Calvin Company, a square-timber shipping firm that operated from Garden Island, near Kingston, Canada between 1839 and 1915.;Adopting historical research methods, the evolution of the accounting system of The Calvin Company is examined. The data analysis demonstrates that changes in The Calvin Company's operating environment, including its economic, institutional and technological contexts, contributed to alterations in both the firm's ventures, and its accounting for them. Further, the accounting system both hindered and helped the business, as the information which the former provided made certain issues and situations more salient.;The study complements previous research in accounting and business history, in particular that of early-Canadian accounting practice. Importantly, the research augments our understanding of the phenomenon of accounting change. This enhanced understanding should be of significance to accounting researchers and standard setters responsible for accounting regulation, who seek a theoretical foundation for present-day policy and practice.;Accounting change, as a theoretical concept, is in the early-development stage. This dissertation contributes to its elaboration by indicating the contextual nature of such change, and the need to develop accounting theory in terms of actual practice in contrast to idealised concepts. The case of The Calvin Company affirms that accounting is not a mere chronicler of organisational activity, but also an active participant in its creation. |
