Roleplaying in a Conflict Resolution Setting: Description and Some Implications for Accounting.

This paper argues that accounting education can be enhanced by the adoption of context-rich, conflict-resolution roleplay case-study methods. Roleplay learning in accounting offers potential to contribute to desirable teaching outcomes, specifically the enhancement of a variety of sought-after competencies. A roleplay case study (devised by the authors), which uses accounting information within a labor relations context, is described. The experience and insights obtained from conducting this roleplay in Canadian and Australian undergraduate settings are described and assessed. Substantially positive student reactions to the roleplay are reported. Some benefits and costs of integrating the roleplay learning method into the accounting curriculum are outlined.