Assignment 5-2 (week 8)

Part 2- My blogging Experience

The Technical Side

        I don't know if it was because of the way it was explained, or because it was explained in a classroom, but I had quite a bit of trouble understanding how to get this blog going. But I was able to figure it out on my own once I got home. Once started, it is very easy to blog, you just have to have a reason to do it... or I guess just like to talk a lot about anything and everything. 

The Communication Side

        In the beginning I was very much against blogging. I blogged one time, on Myspace, a few years ago, but didn't get into it. I read a few blogs posted by my friends and they were a waste of time. And the way blogging is portrayed on shows and in movies just turned me off to it. I didn't see the point to this blog assignment in a Workplace Communications class, but I can see the relevance now. 

         I still think it is just like Facebook in the sense that you post information of some sort for others to view, and then they can comment on it. Really, the only difference I can see, is that with Facebook you can add "friends;" where as with a blog people have to search for it. Also, a professional blog is usually more formal than Facebook is. But because you can post where you work and your education on Facebook and on a blog, it is easy to establish some credibility on both.

Assignment 5-1 (week 8)

Part 1- Any topic, in form that may be use in future career blog

        So, my topic for this part of the assignment is going to be about some of the things I would blog about IF I were to start an accounting blog in the future. And the form, as you can see, is just basic- short- to the point paragraphs.

        If I decide to start a blog for accounting, it would more than likely be because I have started my own accounting/bookkeeping business. Blogging would be a free way to gain clients, and even to provide quick updates on special offers, changes in contact information, and even changes in tax regulations and accounting guidelines. 

        I would also like to provide finance and budgeting advice to people; whether they are a client of mine or not. I believe that there are many, many people who don't know as much about basic finance as they should. If everyone understood more about how finance works, the best ways to save for retirement, and how to maintain a good credit score or how to improve it. 

        I think it is safe to say that I changed my mind about blogging- well some what. I still think blogs about your day in general, and blogs that have no purpose are stupid. But blogging for the workplace, or just for advice, are a great idea AS LONG AS the person blogging is qualified to provide such suggestions or information. Also, I believe that it is very important to be professional and honor all ethics and laws of your trade when blogging for a place of work.

        

Assignment 4 (week 7)

I have decided not to do the research for this blog prompt because I feel that the requirements are repeated from weeks 5 and 6 prompts. Of course there are many sources for blogs and scholarly articles and such, but my answers to the requirements will be essentially the same. The summaries would be different, but the audience would be one of the two mentioned in my previous blogs (everyone or accountants), and workplace relevance will continue to be the same as I am studying to be an accountant. Also, when I compare a scholarly article or the like to a blog, the comparison will mostly be the same with the exception of the usefulness of each.

The only different information that would be presented by this prompt would be how each discuss and present the same topic; which when ever researching any topic I think most people analyze each source they read (I know I do). I look at the wording of the information and the importance of it relevant to my subject of research. I look at the source it is coming from and think about the credibility of the source. Isn't that how you decide what information to use or repeat?

So, I mean no disrespect by saying what I have above (cross my heart), but that is how I feel. I realize that I could have just done the blog prompt instead of stating my opinion, but my opinion requires no research and is therefor faster. Please feel free to leave a comment if you disagree; I would like other view points to try to look at this another way. Or leave a comment if you agree; I would like to know if I am the only one who feel this way about this specific prompt. :O)

Assignment 3 (week 6)

Preparer Fingerprinting Delayed
Bonner, Paul (ed.). Journal of Accountancy 213.2 (Feb. 2012): 54

This article is about the "tax return preparer regulation plan" purposed by the IRS. I found it on the Baker library web page. The regulation plan suggests fingerprinting preparers, as well as requiring competency testing and continuing education for those who are not CPAs (certified public accountants) , attorneys, or enrolled agents. The Tax Executive Committee Chair of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) , Patricia Thompson,"urged that the fingerprinting requirement be removed because of the cost and burden." She also claimed that it would be a repeat of background checks done upon hiring.
The purposed fingerprinting requirement has been rejected by other preparer groups, also due to the financial burden. But they also cited the limited number of locations that could perform the fingerprinting as an issue. This regulation plan has be under discussion because the IRS and other related parties are trying to uphold their due diligence on those who enter the accounting field.

I believe the audience for this article to be other accountants and business people because of the jargon used and because the subject is really of no concern to those people outside of the accounting/business field. this article is very relevant to "my" workplace or future career because I intend to prepare tax returns, among other financial statements. In comparison to the previous blogs I have read, I do believe that this article is the most credible, but not necessarily the most effective. I think it is most credible because it is published in a journal, not just online. I do not believe that it is the most effective because the H&R Block blog was equally effective, if not more, depending on the information you are looking for. But the very first blog, compared to any form of writing, is very ineffective because it had no opinion, advise, or usable information of any kind. The audiences of each blog were very different. The first blog for social workers really didn't seem to have an intended audience. The H&R Block blog was intended for anyone who files taxes, and this article is really just intended for people in the field of accounting or business. Blogs are very informal, whereas this journal article was very formal. But I did notice a typo in the first sentence or this article. the purpose of the article is to keep accountants informed on issues and changes within the field. The blog was for quick updates/information and  advertising or promoting.  I like both the article and the H&R Block blog because I can use both in very different ways. 

Assignment 2

The blog I chose to read for this assignment is the H&R Block blog, "Block Talk." The blog is actually for all H&R Block employees; there isn't just one person who is posting. There are several themes for this blog; ones specifically stated are "tax stories, news,tips & advice from tax professional that do this everyday." I browsed through the posts and read three of them. 

The first one was "You Never Forget Your First Time: 4 Tips For First Time Filers." I suspect this post was about tax tips. :O) The post was about whether or not an individual needed to file, what forms would be needed and the difference between certain forms, and the best way to file; online or with an associate. She explained everything clearly and with as much detail as allowed in the profession (I presume). It was very informative and well typed; I didn't notice any grammar or spelling errors, but I'm not an English major. 

The second was titled "2012 tax Refund Delay: What You Need to Know Now." This was just a post with some very useful information straight from the IRS about possible delays for this year's tax refunds. This author stated the issue as explained by the IRS and then gave directions on how to check the status of your refund. 

I decided to look for a third post because I was curious about what they meant by "tax stories." I was only able to find one, "2+4= $52,000 Tax Refund," and it was from 2010. The author used first names (there were no disclaimers or statement that these names were true or false), and gave the refund amount. She stated that the couple had adopted four special needs children that year and received just over $13,000 per child!! Other than the client's names, I suppose that kind of information is public because it is tax credit available to any one who adopts. Then, after the story, the author gave a few facts on adoption tax credits.

The target audience for this blog is EVERYONE who files taxes. I noticed many comments from "regular" people asking questions of all kinds. All three posts that I read were well typed and contained useful information. One problem-- I have been using H&R Block for about 4 or 5 years and have never been told of their blog and how useful it is. I would have never thought to look for a blog on tax advice. As much as I hate to say it, this blog did change the outlook I had on blogging; not completely, but I now realize that there actually are useful blogs for the workplace. It is nothing like the blog I read last week, which seemed to be just a "downer" of a social worker ranting about her day at work. 

This blog pertains to my future career because I am currently studying to be an accountant. I most likely will start out in tax preparations or bookkeeping. After reading this blog, I think it is quite possible that I may blog in the future IF I am able to follow through with my plans to have a small accounting business out of my home. It could be a useful tool to keep clients updated on tax laws and tips, and maybe a way to gain new clients.

I was pretty surprised, and impressed by this blog, maybe you will be too. Here is the URL 

http://blogs.hrblock.com/

Assignment 1

I found quite a few workplace blogs and articles about workplace blogs. The one I chose to read (because it sounded like it would be interesting) was titled "No Miracles Here: Tales of a Social Worker." The purpose of the blog was not stated anywhere, but from what I read it was mainly just for venting about her day. Here is the URL if anyone wants to take a look--http://nomiraclessw.blogspot.com/

The format and content of the blog was really casual. It was similar to a post on Facebook, but much longer. She used sarcasm often and a lot of jargon. Yes, Im sure the blog is mostly intended for other social workers, but it is available for anyone to read and most people don't understand the abbreviations. I also noticed a few misused words and inconsistent pronoun usage.

As for the type of audience of this blog, I only saw two comments, and both from other social workers. But that doesn't necessarily mean that this blog doesn't have other followers; it just means that those were the only two (recent) to leave comments.

In response to the "No Miracles Here" blog, I have to say I feel that it is very unprofessional. It seems to border the legallity line. A social worker bloging publically about how she feels about certain cases and bosses or co-workers, even though specifics were not given, seems like it is almost a violation of confidentiality. She even went as far to say that after discussing her "work and struggles with a friend over dinner and happy hour,"  that her friend asked how she dealt with certain knowledge of her cases and replyed that she "hoped the perpetrator of her client's sexual trauma would be shanked in jail." She claims that she said this jokingly, but then at the closing of the entry said she realized that that is what she really wished for. I'm pretty sure that a social worker talking about her cases in even the slightest detail is a violation of confidentiality, let alone unethical. And that statement about the perpetrator being shanked; suppose something of that nature did happen to that guy in jail or on the street, and someone linked to the case in some way, read that. Then it COULD be used in attempt to link her to the murder. I feel that her blog discredits her integrity, and her objectivity (which in that line of work is hard to control, I'm sure).

I also read a USATODAY.COM article about how blogging about work can get you fired. I don't think that anyone should blog any specifics about their careers. It is different if that blog is about tips on surviving or handling certain situations at work, or advice on handling difficult co-workers, or there are even plenty of leadership blogs. It is fine to say you had a horrible day at work, or a co-worker really irritated you, something kind of generic. I also think that if people you work with read your blog it may cause some tention and un-needed conflict in the work area, or be viewed as a form of bullying.

Some ideas I have for my blog are just to keep it generic and simple. I will never blog again after this class, at least not by choice. I would never blog about my career as an accountant for fear of breaching confidentiality laws or god forbid the client I "vent" about reads it. Also, because accounting is usually a very boring subject. If I need to vent about anything I have a husband, who has no real understanding of accounting, or I could keep a journal if I really just need to let it out.