(1) Why, if at all, are accounting businesses important for the area?
(2) What do accountants add to the area in terms of economic and social development?
(3) What role do the professional associations such as the chartered accountants or
CPAs play in attracting and supporting accountants in rural areas.
(4) What programs, if any, does the (organisation name) have to attract new and/or
support existing accounting businesses in the area?
(5) How would (does) the absence of accounting businesses in the region affect
other businesses and economic development?
(6) How might locating (additional) accounting businesses in the area affect the local
economy.
The research design employed inductive reasoning and was exploratory as the experience
of each rural development officer was contextually unique (Morgan and Drury, 2003;
Ahrens, 2008). Stories revealed were interpreted by the researcher, although maintaining
care to preserve the original voice of the participants (James and Busher, 2006;
Krumer-Nevo, 2009).