Chapter 1
Accounting Information Systems: An Overview
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education
1-1
Learning Objectives
 Distinguish between data and information.
 Discuss the characteristics of useful information.
 Explain how to determine the value of information.
 Explain the decisions an organization makes and the information needed to make them.
 Identify the information that passes between internal and external parties and an AIS.
 Describe the major business processes present in most companies.
 Explain what an accounting information system (AIS) is and describe its basic functions.
 Discuss how an AIS can add value to an organization.
 Explain how an AIS and corporate strategy affect each other.
 Explain the role an AIS plays in a company’s value chain.
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-2
What Is a System?
 System
 A set of two or more
interrelated components
interacting to achieve a
goal
 Goal Conflict
 Occurs when components
act in their own interest
without regard for overall
goal
 Goal Congruence
 Occurs when components
acting in their own interest
contribute toward overall
goal
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-3
Data vs. Information
 Data are facts that are
recorded and stored.
 Insufficient for decision
making.
 Information is processed
data used in decision
making.
 Too much information
however, will make it
more, not less, difficult to
make decisions. This is
known as Information
Overload.
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-4
Value of Information
Benefits
 Reduce Uncertainty
 Improve Decisions
 Improve Planning
 Improve Scheduling
Costs
 Time & Resources
 Produce Information
 Distribute Information
1-5
Benefit $’s > Cost $’s
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education
What Makes Information Useful?
 Necessary characteristics:
 Relevant
 “The capacity of information to make a difference in a
decision by helping users to form predictions about the
outcomes of past, present, and future events or to
confirm or correct prior expectations.”
 Reliable
 “The quality of information that assures that information is
reasonably free from error and bias and faithfully
represents what it purports to represent.”
 Complete
 “The inclusion in reported information of everything
material that is necessary for faithful representation of the
relevant phenomena.”
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-6
What Makes Information Useful?
 Timely
 “Having information available to a decision maker before
it loses its capacity to influence decisions.”
 Understandable
 “The quality of information that enables users to perceive
its significance.”
 Verifiable
 “The ability through consensus among measurers to
ensure that information represents what it purports to
represent or that the chosen method of measurement
has been used without error or bias.”
 Accessible
 Available when needed (see Timely) and in a useful
format (see Understandable).
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Business Process
 Systems working toward
organizational goals
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Business Process Cycles
 Revenue
 Expenditure
 Production
 Human Resources
 Financing
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-9
Business Transactions
 Give–Get exchanges
 Between two entities
 Measured in economic terms
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-10
Business Cycle Give–Get
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-11
Accounting Information Systems
 Collect, process, store, and report data and information
 If Accounting = language of business
 AIS = information providing vehicle
 Accounting = AIS
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-12
Components of an AIS
 People using the system
 Procedures and Instructions
 For collecting, processing, and storing data
 Data
 Software
 Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure
 Computers, peripherals, networks, and so on
 Internal Control and Security
 Safeguard the system and its data
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-13
AIS and Business Functions
 Collect and store data about organizational:
 Activities, resources, and personnel
 Transform data into information enabling
 Management to:
 Plan, execute, control, and evaluate
 Activities, resources, and personnel
 Provide adequate control to safeguard
 Assets and data
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-14
AIS Value Add
 Improve Quality and Reduce Costs
 Improve Efficiency
 Improve Sharing Knowledge
 Improve Supply Chain
 Improve Internal Control
 Improve Decision Making
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-15
Improve Decision Making
 Identify situations that require action.
 Provide alternative choices.
 Reduce uncertainty.
 Provide feedback on previous decisions.
 Provide accurate and timely information.
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-16
Value Chain
 The set of activities a product or service moves along
before as output it is sold to a customer
 At each activity the product or service gains value
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-17
Value Chain—Primary Activities
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-18
Value Chain—Support Activities
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-19
Value Chain
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-20
AIS and Corporate Strategy
Organizations have limited
resources, thus investments
to AIS should have greatest
impact on ROI.
Organizations need to
understand:
IT developments
Business strategy
Organizational culture
Will effect and be effected
by new AIS
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-21

Accpounting for Information Systems Fraud Error

  • 1.
    Chapter 1 Accounting InformationSystems: An Overview Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-1
  • 2.
    Learning Objectives  Distinguishbetween data and information.  Discuss the characteristics of useful information.  Explain how to determine the value of information.  Explain the decisions an organization makes and the information needed to make them.  Identify the information that passes between internal and external parties and an AIS.  Describe the major business processes present in most companies.  Explain what an accounting information system (AIS) is and describe its basic functions.  Discuss how an AIS can add value to an organization.  Explain how an AIS and corporate strategy affect each other.  Explain the role an AIS plays in a company’s value chain. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-2
  • 3.
    What Is aSystem?  System  A set of two or more interrelated components interacting to achieve a goal  Goal Conflict  Occurs when components act in their own interest without regard for overall goal  Goal Congruence  Occurs when components acting in their own interest contribute toward overall goal Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-3
  • 4.
    Data vs. Information Data are facts that are recorded and stored.  Insufficient for decision making.  Information is processed data used in decision making.  Too much information however, will make it more, not less, difficult to make decisions. This is known as Information Overload. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-4
  • 5.
    Value of Information Benefits Reduce Uncertainty  Improve Decisions  Improve Planning  Improve Scheduling Costs  Time & Resources  Produce Information  Distribute Information 1-5 Benefit $’s > Cost $’s Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education
  • 6.
    What Makes InformationUseful?  Necessary characteristics:  Relevant  “The capacity of information to make a difference in a decision by helping users to form predictions about the outcomes of past, present, and future events or to confirm or correct prior expectations.”  Reliable  “The quality of information that assures that information is reasonably free from error and bias and faithfully represents what it purports to represent.”  Complete  “The inclusion in reported information of everything material that is necessary for faithful representation of the relevant phenomena.” Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-6
  • 7.
    What Makes InformationUseful?  Timely  “Having information available to a decision maker before it loses its capacity to influence decisions.”  Understandable  “The quality of information that enables users to perceive its significance.”  Verifiable  “The ability through consensus among measurers to ensure that information represents what it purports to represent or that the chosen method of measurement has been used without error or bias.”  Accessible  Available when needed (see Timely) and in a useful format (see Understandable). Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-7
  • 8.
    Business Process  Systemsworking toward organizational goals Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-8
  • 9.
    Business Process Cycles Revenue  Expenditure  Production  Human Resources  Financing Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-9
  • 10.
    Business Transactions  Give–Getexchanges  Between two entities  Measured in economic terms Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-10
  • 11.
    Business Cycle Give–Get Copyright© 2012 Pearson Education 1-11
  • 12.
    Accounting Information Systems Collect, process, store, and report data and information  If Accounting = language of business  AIS = information providing vehicle  Accounting = AIS Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-12
  • 13.
    Components of anAIS  People using the system  Procedures and Instructions  For collecting, processing, and storing data  Data  Software  Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure  Computers, peripherals, networks, and so on  Internal Control and Security  Safeguard the system and its data Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-13
  • 14.
    AIS and BusinessFunctions  Collect and store data about organizational:  Activities, resources, and personnel  Transform data into information enabling  Management to:  Plan, execute, control, and evaluate  Activities, resources, and personnel  Provide adequate control to safeguard  Assets and data Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-14
  • 15.
    AIS Value Add Improve Quality and Reduce Costs  Improve Efficiency  Improve Sharing Knowledge  Improve Supply Chain  Improve Internal Control  Improve Decision Making Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-15
  • 16.
    Improve Decision Making Identify situations that require action.  Provide alternative choices.  Reduce uncertainty.  Provide feedback on previous decisions.  Provide accurate and timely information. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-16
  • 17.
    Value Chain  Theset of activities a product or service moves along before as output it is sold to a customer  At each activity the product or service gains value Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-17
  • 18.
    Value Chain—Primary Activities Copyright© 2012 Pearson Education 1-18
  • 19.
    Value Chain—Support Activities Copyright© 2012 Pearson Education 1-19
  • 20.
    Value Chain Copyright ©2012 Pearson Education 1-20
  • 21.
    AIS and CorporateStrategy Organizations have limited resources, thus investments to AIS should have greatest impact on ROI. Organizations need to understand: IT developments Business strategy Organizational culture Will effect and be effected by new AIS Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-21

Editor's Notes

  • #6 Point out to students that these characteristics are from the SFAC #2 Quality of Accounting Information (maybe have them read it). http://www.fasb.org/pdf/aop_CON2.pdf
  • #7 Point out to students that these characteristics are from the SFAC #2 Quality of Accounting Information (maybe have them read it).