I'm quite surprised to see so much negative posting
about Ian Marcousé (there, I said it!!!). Although
there IS a potential conflict of interest, he has
always appeared to act totally ethically, for example
diseminating latest thinking through his regular
column in the Business Review teacher's guide.
I think that the textbook he edits is excellent and
far superior to others i have found on the market
(e.g. Hall, Raffo and Jones).
AQA appears to lead the way in terms of information
provided to centres, transparency, fair (and
interesting) exam papers etc. E.g. I have always
wanted a decent scheme of work provided by OCR
Economics. We have had several alternative suggestions
from AQA Business Studies.
Whilst a potentially dangerous situation such as this
must have its checks and balances, that does not mean
that it should necessarily be stopped.
If someone is extremely good at their job and capable
of establishing a brand name out of what they do, as
he has done, then why not??? Surely we business
teachers should be admiring the way he has developed
his core capabilities and taken them into new markets.
Igor Ansoff would approve!
Good luck to him!
--- Julie Parton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
<HR>
<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV>
<P>All this worries me greatly. I can not help but see
a conflict of interest here. </P>
<P>As if that wasn't bad enough schools are yet again
divided up by money. </P>
<P>Financially I can not afford for my department to
buy into these courses, websites and publications. Yet
for the sake of my students grades as well as my own
salary (post-threshold = payment by results) I can not
afford NOT to buy into all this! </P>
<P>Daresay I'll have to have a whip-round to buy board
markers and lined paper if this carries on much
longer!! </P>
<P>We have already come to the conclusion that
although the Examiner written text book is not the
best available to our students we are seriously
disadvantaging them if each is not supplied with a
copy.</P>
<P>Julie Parton<BR><BR>>From: Richard Young
<[log in to unmask]></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: For teachers and lecturers
interested in curriculum issues affecting the te
<[log in to unmask]>
<DIV></DIV>>To:
[log in to unmask]
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: Chris Sivewright's posting - a
topic of interest for sensible discussion?
<DIV></DIV>>Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2002 16:39:18 +0100
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I am in correspondence with Chris on
this. For those of you who have long
<DIV></DIV>>been members of the list, his views are
- well - controversial.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I offer the following summary - his
words NOT MINE.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>If we are going to debate this issue
lets all be sensible and professional.
<DIV></DIV>>For my own part, I am not sure what to
think about the blurring of
<DIV></DIV>>examining, authoring and training
activities. On the one hand you do get
<DIV></DIV>>'the inside story' when buying these
products.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>But on the other hand what gets
assessed gets taught. A very few people are
<DIV></DIV>>able to wield an enormous impact on the
teaching and learning of our
<DIV></DIV>>subjects. I do not doubt they are every
bit as interested in good practice,
<DIV></DIV>>but I worry about accountability and
potential conflicts of interest.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>So Chris's posting
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>QUOTE: Could this happen in the future
- and would people be happy if it
<DIV></DIV>>did? or is the following a ground for
concern?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Mr A writes the A level Exam
<DIV></DIV>>Mr A teaches the A level subject and
then examines it
<DIV></DIV>>Mr A runs a training company and that
company could earn income from
<DIV></DIV>>training people to pass the exam that
Mr A writes
<DIV></DIV>>Then...Mr A runs a training company
that trains people to pass the exam
<DIV></DIV>>using the textbook that Mr A writes to
pass the exam that Mr A Writes
<DIV></DIV>>Mr A advises the BBC on programmes that
are for the exam, and he also runs a
<DIV></DIV>>training company that by now is
training people to pass the exam using the
<DIV></DIV>>textbook that Mr A writes to pass the
exam that Mr A Writes
<DIV></DIV>>Mr A advises the BBC on programmes that
are for the exam, and he also runs a
<DIV></DIV>>training company that trains people to
pass the exam using the textbook that
<DIV></DIV>>Mr A writes to pass the exam that Mr A
Writes and Mr A then changes the exam
<DIV></DIV>>to make it a pre-issued case study
<DIV></DIV>>Mr A advises the BBC on programmes that
are for the exam, and he also runs a
<DIV></DIV>>training company that trains people to
pass the exam using the textbook that
<DIV></DIV>>Mr A writes to pass the exam that Mr A
Writes and Mr A then changes the exam
<DIV></DIV>>to make it a pre-issued case study and
people will no doubt buy guidance to
<DIV></DIV>>the exam i.e. 'possible questions'
produced by the company that Mr A starts
<DIV></DIV>>Mr A advises the BBC on programmes that
are for the exam, and he also runs a
<DIV></DIV>>training company that trains people to
pass the exam using the textbook that
<DIV></DIV>>Mr A writes to pass the exam that Mr A
Writes and Mr A then changes the exam
<DIV></DIV>>to make it a pre-issued case study and
people then consider buying guidance
<DIV></DIV>>to the exam i.e. 'possible questions'
produced by the company (as he ahs
<DIV></DIV>>spotted a market niche) that Mr A
starts and Mr A also encourages his
<DIV></DIV>>friends to become examiners and write
books on the exam that he writes
<DIV></DIV>>This leads on to: Mr A advises the BBC
on programmes that are for the exam,
<DIV></DIV>>and he also runs a training company
that trains people to pass the exam
<DIV></DIV>>using the textbook that Mr A writes to
pass the exam that Mr A Writes and Mr
<DIV></DIV>>A then changes the exam to make it a
pre-issued case study and people will
<DIV></DIV>>no doubt buy guidance to the exam i.e.
'possible questions' produced by the
<DIV></DIV>>company that Mr A starts and Mr A also
encourages his friends to become
<DIV></DIV>>examiners and write books on the exam
that he writes and these are all
<DIV></DIV>>favourably reviewed by the magazine
that is edited and co-owned...by Mr A.
<DIV></DIV>>The website set up to extend Mr A's
empire has copyright release to the
<DIV></DIV>>examination papers (something no other
publisher has) giving it a market
<DIV></DIV>>edge and we're now one step nearer
proscribed elarning.....
<DIV></DIV>>Of course this is all 'this could
happen' - but what if it did?
<DIV></DIV>>List subscribers may like to consider
these sites before they answer:
<DIV></DIV>>http://www.hodderheadline.co.uk/authordetails.asp?author=4475
<DIV></DIV>>http://authorpages.hoddersystems.com/IanMarcouse/
<DIV></DIV>>Colleagues may also like to consider
whether such a similar thing could
<DIV></DIV>>happen in Economics...."
<DIV></DIV>>END QUOTE
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Regards
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Richard Young
<DIV></DIV>>AST Teacher of Business Studies,
Economics & ICT
<DIV></DIV>>Wood Green School
<DIV></DIV>>Woodstock Road
<DIV></DIV>>Witney OX28 1DX
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Tel 01993 702355
<DIV></DIV>>Fax 01993 708662
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>www.woodgreen.oxon.sch.uk
<DIV></DIV>>BECTa/Guardian Secondary School Web
Site of the Year 2001
<DIV></DIV>>[log in to unmask]
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> -----Original Message-----
<DIV></DIV>>From: For teachers and lecturers
interested in curriculum issues
<DIV></DIV>>affecting the te
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf
<DIV></DIV>>Of Duncan Williamson
<DIV></DIV>>Sent: 30 June 2002 10:48
<DIV></DIV>>To:
[log in to unmask]
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: Re: Proposed changes to AS
Business papers 1&2 ( AQA)
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>We all know that Chris Sivewright is a
live wire but I'd like to share
<DIV></DIV>>a view with everyone that I think
provides clear guidance on what we
<DIV></DIV>>might expect from our examination
boards.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Firstly, you need to read Chris's post
on the web site that Simon
<DIV></DIV>>pointed us at: essentially, it outlines
a scenario that screams
<DIV></DIV>>conflict of interest and goodness knows
what else! I have accepted as
<DIV></DIV>>fact everything that Chris has said
even though he presents it as sort
<DIV></DIV>>of fictitious (there are links, though,
that suggest otherwise!); so
<DIV></DIV>>what follows is a reflection of the
posting on an as is basis.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I am currently working on accounting
education and training out here in
<DIV></DIV>>Central Asia and although my work
centres around curriculum
<DIV></DIV>>development, materials development and
training, I'd like to tell you
<DIV></DIV>>the process we have just gone through
vis a vis our testing and
<DIV></DIV>>certification work.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Our testing and certification work is
being spearheaded by a man, Liam,
<DIV></DIV>>who was a very senior manager
(marketing development) in the
<DIV></DIV>>Association of Certified Chartered
Aaccountants (ACCA) (UK) and was CEO
<DIV></DIV>>of ACCA Ireland: he is a double
qualified accountant (FCCA, ACMA) and
<DIV></DIV>>has a bachelor's degree (B Com) from an
Irish university. He has worked
<DIV></DIV>>in the UK, Ireland, in many developing
countries and whilst he was the
<DIV></DIV>>marketing development manager of the
ACCA (UK) he travelled the world
<DIV></DIV>>advising accountants and accounting
bodies on all aspects of their
<DIV></DIV>>work. These are his credentials and
this is
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>his approach to the problem that Chris
has raised
<DIV></DIV>>the international accounting
community's response to Liam's work
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Liam's rule 1: divorce testing and
certification from all other
<DIV></DIV>>administrative activities
<DIV></DIV>>Liam's rule 2: divorce testing and
certification from all teaching and
<DIV></DIV>>training activities
<DIV></DIV>>Liam's rule 3: divorce testing and
certification from all materials
<DIV></DIV>>development activities
<DIV></DIV>>Liam's rule 4: employ only the most
secure systems possible
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>and so it goes on. We know that in this
part of the world, the divorce
<DIV></DIV>>of testing and certification from all
other activities is a vital
<DIV></DIV>>aspect of our work: until Liam and I
arrived earlier this year there
<DIV></DIV>>was conflict and confusion of interests
surrounding all aspects of
<DIV></DIV>>everyone's work and, surprise,
surprise, we identified myriad problems
<DIV></DIV>>when we dug down into those conflicts
and confusions.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Even if people are not corrupt but
their systems are badly constructed
<DIV></DIV>>and implemented, accidents happen and
temptation is often too strong to
<DIV></DIV>>resist.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>At a conference this week, and
subsequent administrative follow up
<DIV></DIV>>work, the following organisations
endorsed our curriculum, training,
<DIV></DIV>>testing and certification work
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants (the world's
<DIV></DIV>>largest accounting body)
<DIV></DIV>>the International Accounting Standards
Board (the world's premier
<DIV></DIV>>accounting standard setting body)
<DIV></DIV>>the Scottish Institute of Chartered
Accountants (the world's first
<DIV></DIV>>accounting body and operator or
Europe's largest business/accounting
<DIV></DIV>>training network)
<DIV></DIV>>the Institute of Management Accountants
of the USA
<DIV></DIV>>the International Federation of
Accountants (a federation of accounting
<DIV></DIV>>bodies from 156 countries and a major
player in the world of accounting)
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>It should be clear that with only a few
exceptions, we are working with
<DIV></DIV>>the world's most important accounting
organisations (forgive me if I
<DIV></DIV>>ask you not to think about Enron,
WorldCom and Xerox for a moment!)
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>The AICPA audited our curriculum and
teaching and endorsed it; and they
<DIV></DIV>>audited our testing and certification
work and endorsed it as being of
<DIV></DIV>>good quality, well managed and operated
... their key concerns surround
<DIV></DIV>>content and style of the exams, of
course; the marking schemes and the
<DIV></DIV>>marking systems, of course; the
security systems and procedures; and
<DIV></DIV>>the removal of all possible linkages
from testing and certification to
<DIV></DIV>>all other aspects of our work. These
latter two points are at the
<DIV></DIV>>forefront of the values that the AICPA
concerns itself with and we
<DIV></DIV>>passed this aspect of their audit too.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>The IASB raised the same issues
concerning standards of the tests and
<DIV></DIV>>the standards of the systems I have
already mentioned ... so did all of
<DIV></DIV>>the other senior accountants at the
conference.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>In terms of Chris Sivewright's
concerns, Mr A would ABSOLUTELY NOT be
<DIV></DIV>>able to carry out in tandem many of the
activities listed in Chris's
<DIV></DIV>>message: there are far too many
conflicts of interest and potential
<DIV></DIV>>minefields in that list.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Let me stress that I do not know Mr A,
I have no personal axe to grind
<DIV></DIV>>in respect of any examinations board
and the above is given purely to
<DIV></DIV>>reflect the ways that professional
accounting organisations try to
<DIV></DIV>>ensure that their training, testing and
certification work conforms to
<DIV></DIV>>the highest possible standards. We
deserve the highest possible
<DIV></DIV>>standards for our GCSE and A level
standards too, don't we.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Duncan Williamson
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>PS As a matter of interest, if anyone
is interested in the construction
<DIV></DIV>>of tests and so on, the AICPA is in the
middle of a massive project to
<DIV></DIV>>transfer their testing regime from
paper based (time constrained
<DIV></DIV>>exam ...) to computer based. A poor
telephone link at the moment has
<DIV></DIV>>kept me away from their web site
(www.aicpa.org) this week but you
<DIV></DIV>>might find some interesting things
there.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>----- Original Message -----
<DIV></DIV>>From: Simon Budgen
<DIV></DIV>>To:
[log in to unmask]
<DIV></DIV>>Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2002 10:07 PM
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: Re: Proposed changes to AS
Business papers 1&2 ( AQA)
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>An interesting if not controversial
post to the TES Business Studies
<DIV></DIV>>message board by Mr Chris Siveweright!
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Follow the link:
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>http://www.tes.co.uk/staffroom/thread.asp?
<DIV></DIV>>id=18108&threadID=26056&threadPage=1
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Simon Budgen
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>[log in to unmask]
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø
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