NaimExplain

How can the value of the information produced by an accounting information system be determined? What would a measurement and verification expert think about quantification and verification of such information? Answer: : A well-designed AIS improves the efficiency and effectiveness of the value chain by improving the quality and lowering the overall cost of products or services, improving efficiency of operations, improving decision making, and enhancing the sharing of knowledge. These are the benefits of possessing and using information. Drawbacks to possessing and using such information are the costs of obtaining and maintaining such information. These costs include investments in people, processes, and computing and networking hardware and software on an ongoing basis. Costs of the information are quantifiable to some extent. However, some of the benefits of using the information involve numerous estimates and assumptions. As such, the quantification of the benefits of utilizin

How can an AIS become part of the firm's value chain and add value to the business? Answer: : The AIS can add value by: helping to improve products and services an organization offers for sale; increasing the quality of products and services; creating greater efficiency by reducing costs and saving time; and improving the overall efficiency of the organization. Decision making is enhanced by the better availability of timely, complete, reliable, verifiable, and relevant information. A firm can enjoy a competitive advantage with better customer ordering, billing, and customer service made possible by an improved AIS. The AIS can also enhance overall communication and use of knowledge in a business by making the knowledge readily available to interested parties.

How can an AIS add value to the organization? Answer: : An AIS can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the value chain by improving the quality and lowering costs of products or services, improving efficiency of operations, improving decision making, enhancing the sharing of knowledge, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of its supply chain and improving the internal control structure.

Differentiate between an AIS course and other accounting courses. Answer: : Other accounting courses assume the preparation or reporting of accounting information is for external or internal users. However, the AIS course focuses on the flow of accounting information in the organization from a systems perspective. The AIS course traces the origin, processing, storing, and ultimate disposal of information. An AIS course also focuses on business processes, organization structure, information systems, and corporate planning and goals.

What is the CITP designation and why is it important to AIS? Answer: : The CITP designation stands for "Certified Information Technology Professional." It is awarded to CPAs who have demonstrated a broad range of knowledge and skill sets in the areas of accounting and information systems and technology. The AICPA (American Institute of CPAs) has acknowledged the importance and close relationship that accounting and information systems share in creating this specialty designation for accounting information system professionals.

True or False: An accounting information system requires at least one computer. Answer: : FALSE

Why have accounting software packages been designed with separate transaction modules? Answer: : Since every organization does not necessarily use all of the transaction cycles in its operations, it is to the advantage of the organization to be able to "pick and choose" from among various software modules that track and record different transaction cycles. For example, a law firm would have no need to implement a production cycle module. Also, the nature of a transaction cycle varies across the broad spectrum of business organizations. Again, a law firm would have a revenue cycle, but it would not involve the purchase, receipt, and payment for products or merchandise; likewise a retail store chain may not sell any consulting services to its customers.

Explain what an AIS is, describe the basic tasks it performs in an organization, and give some examples of the types of accounting transactions it processes. Answer: : An AIS consists of six components: people, procedures and instructions, data, software, information technology infrastructures, and internal controls and security measures. The AIS performs three major functions: 1) it collects and stores data about activities and transactions so that the organization's management, employees, and interested outsiders can review what has happened; 2) the AIS processes data (that is, facts that have been collected and stored) into information that is useful for making decisions, and is of value to the organization; and 3) the AIS provides adequate controls designed to safeguard the organization's assets, including its data and information. Common examples of accounting transactions that an AIS helps to process and track are the sales of products to customers, cash collec

Identify the components of an accounting information system. Answer: : A well-designed AIS consists of people, procedures and instructions, data, software, information technology infrastructures, and internal controls and security measures.

Define an accounting information system. Answer: : An AIS is a system that collects, records, stores, and processes data to produce information for decision makers.

How are "Give and Take" transactions classified in business today and what impact does this have on AIS? Answer: : The concept of "Give and Take" transactions has been used to classify business transactions into "cycles" that have starting points, processes, and end points (or closure). The majority of business transactions can be classified as revenue, expenditure, human resources (payroll), production, and financing cycles. AIS has been modeled after these transaction cycles to achieve its basic functions of collecting and processing data, providing information useful for decision making, and establishing adequate controls.

Discuss the concept of a system and the issues of goal conflict and goal congruence. Answer: : A system is a set of two or more components that are somehow interrelated and interact together to achieve a specific goal. A system usually consists of smaller components called subsystems. These subsystems have specific and defined functions, which interact with and support the larger system. The concept of systems is key to information technology and AIS. All systems, including the AIS, must work to achieve one or more organizational goals. Goal conflict results when a decision or action of a subsystem is inconsistent with another subsystem or the system (organization) as a whole. Goal congruence results when a subsystem achieves its goals while contributing to the organization's overall goal. Subsystems should maximize organizational goals.

Discuss the seven characteristics of useful information. Answer: : The seven characteristics of useful information are: relevant, reliable, complete, timely, understandable, verifiable and accessible. These characteristics are qualities that information should possess to be useful in a business environment. Briefly stated, in order for information to be useful it must be: 1) relevant, meaning that it reduces uncertainty and adds to the decision-making process; 2) reliable information is information that is free from error, and is accurate in its nature; 3) complete information is information that does not omit any important data, facts, or aspects about events or activities; 4) information is timely when it is fully available to enable the decision-making process to proceed; 5) understandable information must be both in an intelligible and useful format; 6) information is considered verifiable if two people, acting independently of each other, produce the same informa

Discuss the concept of a system and the issues of goal conflict and goal congruence. Answer: A system is a set of two or more components that are somehow interrelated and interact together to achieve a specific goal. A system usually consists of smaller components called subsystems. These subsystems have specific and defined functions, which interact with and support the larger system. The concept of systems is key to information technology and AIS. All systems, including the AIS, must work to achieve one or more organizational goals. Goal conflict results when a decision or action of a subsystem is inconsistent with another subsystem or the system (organization) as a whole. Goal congruence results when a subsystem achieves its goals while contributing to the organization's overall goal. Subsystems should maximize organizational goals.

Define data, information, and how the value of information is determined. Answer: Data: facts that are collected, entered, recorded, stored, and processed by an AIS. Information: data that has been organized and processed and is meaningful to its users. Such information is accessible, relevant, timely, reliable, verifiable, complete, and understandable. Information is of value when the benefits received from using or acting upon it outweigh the cost to produce the information.

Define the concept of a system. Answer: : A system is a set of two or more components that are somehow interrelated and interact together to achieve a specific goal.

Discuss the components of a supply chain. Answer : The supply chain shows how an organization interacts with suppliers, distributors, and customers to provide value in the products it sells. The supply chain depicts the creation and sale of a product—the chain is somewhat different when a service is involved. The supply chain has five components: raw materials; manufacturer; distributor; retailer; and the consumer. Raw materials come from any number of suppliers, which in turn become part of a manufacturing process, which produces a product. The business then provides the product to distributors, who in turn sell the product to retail businesses. The product is ultimately purchased and used by consumers (who may be individuals or businesses). It is important to realize that AIS can greatly impact the traditional supply chain by creating a more efficient and timely environment in which a business can operate. More efficient operations are more effective, which in turn lowers costs

How can a well-designed AIS improve the efficiency and effectiveness of a company's value chain?  Answer: The AIS can be designed to allow customers direct access to a company's inventory and sales order entry systems. This allows the customer to do more of the work that traditionally has been done by sales, marketing, and administration personnel. This allows for faster ordering, and cuts the company's labor costs. It may also have the effect of allowing the customer more control in a purchase transaction that may bring more satisfaction and value to the customer.

What is the purpose behind the five primary activities in the value chain? Answer: : The goal of the five primary activities in the value chain is to facilitate the business in providing value to its customers. The five primary activities allow the business to create, market, and deliver its products and services to its customers, as well as providing post sale support.