About ENROAC
Who is ENROAC?
The ENROAC network began as an email distribution list, in 1998, when about 20 scholars across Europe exchanged ideas and thoughts on issues broadly pertaining to the nexus of organisations and accounting. That makes for a broad scope!
These days, the network is international, far from (just) European – maybe there’ll be a future call for ‘INROAC’?
The network name, as much rooted in the achievement of a usable acronym than anything else (!), included the word “change”. However, the word ‘processes’ would probably be more fitting, as ENROAC’s scope tends also to lean towards explorations of why and how the nexus of organisations and accounting unfolds over time, its consequences, and more. Research is normally of a qualitative nature, and all theoretical approaches used.
After a few months of email exchange, one learned contributor suggested that there ought to be an inaugural ENROAC conference. This happened, in Manchester, in 1999. Since then, there have been 11 additional conferences, and the 13th ENROAC conference (13-15 June, 2023) will be held in Vasteras. More info can be found here.
These days, we keep email inboxes free from long trails of discussion (as enjoyable – and time-consuming – as this was, pre-Internet, at the time!). Instead, ENROAC usually holds a conference every 2 years, and that is it – until next time! Aside of the intellectual part, these conferences have always placed considerable emphasis, and afforded ample time to, networking and a social side, for building scholarly friendships and even starting future collaborations (of which many have happened).
The network has intentionally dodged the idea of becoming too formalised, yet it seems to have worked – in that it still exists! ENROAC does not have a leadership team, nor any hierarchy, though it obviously has particular individuals who over the years have undertaken particular coordination and operational roles. All conferences are organised and run by local ENROAC friends. Apart from this, ENROAC is an interesting case of largely informal bonds and links that make things happen. Oh, not forgetting that there is usually an annual Christmas email to (simply) send greetings to everyone!
For those who engage in social media, ENROAC has a Facebook page. We hope you’ll connect!
Finally, another vital aspect of ENROAC is its summer schools, open to doctoral students and early-career scholars. Like conferences, the ENROAC summer school is usually held every 2 years (intermittently), in the beautiful Certosa di Pontignano (ex-monastery) setting of Siena, Tuscany (Italy). The nurturing of tomorrow’s organisational and accounting scholars has always been core to the aims of ENROAC. The summer schools are a key aspect of this aim, and there are certainly an impressive number of alumni to show for it!