A synergistic approach to an accounting educator's primary responsibilities

The changes that are taking place in accounting education are placing greater time constraints on many accounting educators. As a way to help manage an accounting educator's three main responsibilities, teaching, research and service, this article suggests a synergistic approach to the three main responsibilities to seek greater efficiency and effectiveness. As businesses constantly look for ways to improve, we in academia must do the same. Handled properly, integrating teaching, research and service can be beneficial to all parties involved. This article describes the authors' attempts to (1) integrate teaching and research efforts, (2) research and service, and (3) service and research with teaching to create a synergy among all three main responsibilities. The ethical considerations that are important as one seeks to reap the synergies that are possible are then discussed. Finally, research is encouraged to better understand the impact of synergistic efforts on all parties involved.