INSTRUCTOR: Niranjan Chipalkatti
OFFICE HOURS: 11:00-12:00 MTWThF
OFFICE LOCATION: Huber 111
TELEPHONE: 772-2071
CLASS TIME: 1:00-2:50 WF; Huber 208
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
A study in the use, evaluation and design of accounting information systems. Emphasis upon the interface of accounting systems and computer technology.
READINGS:
Bodnar and Hopwood, Accounting Information Systems, Fifth Edition, Prentice Hall.
Robert Harper, Projects for
Accounting Systems, Harper Enterprises [Note: 1 copy per group only]
COURSE PREREQUISITES: ACCT 303
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
General coverage of transaction processing, internal controls, systems development, reporting systems and computer technology. Emphasis will be placed on internal controls and systems reports. The entire course will be based on group work.
REQUIREMENTS:
(1) For this course, you are required to form groups of three or four students. All course assignments are group projects. Each group should elect a project leader who will be responsible for the full completion of the project concerned. It is the responsibility of the team to ensure full participation by all members of the group and to report to the instructor in case of any problems.
(2) Group assignments: Each group has to carry out four group assignments. The four assignments are described in full in the attachments to this syllabus. Very briefly, the assignments are:
1. The documentation of the accounting information system including internal controls of a business. This will involve visiting a reasonably big-sized business operation you are familiar with and reporting on their AIS for a transaction cycle.
2. A systems analysis and design report on the accounting information needs of a specific small business. The report should include a survey of accounting packages available in the market and should select the most suitable package.
3. Class presentation of a transaction cycle application given in Chapter 7 or 8.
4. Completed projects for accounting systems (7 chapters).
(3) There will be one final exam on Chapters 5,7, 8, and 11.
Questions will relate to the assessment of the internal controls of an application system and database management concepts. The exam will also be a group exam with a group grade.
(4) Groups are encouraged to meet me on a regular basis for continuous feedback on their projects. This is the best way to ensure that you are on the right track. Please note that for the group assignments I am not looking for the one correct answer (there is no such thing!) but for a logically sound conclusion.
ROLE OF INSTRUCTOR:
1. I will use the first hour of the scheduled time to lecture on the assigned topic and act as a moderator of any discussion of class assignments. The remaining 50 minutes will be devoted to group assignments especially the "projects in accounting systems". Note that this time allocation is subject to change if desired by the class.
2. This is not intended to be a traditional accounting class. My role will be that of a facilitator and guide. You should feel free to consult me and seek my advice on any of the group assignments (except the final exam!!). I will ask questions and challenge you in class and I will encourage class participation at all times. It is your responsibility to read each chapter and come to class armed with challenging questions.
3. It is my job to help you if you or your group is feeling lost!
GRADING: Point allocation will be as follows:
Assignments (#) %
1 25
2 15
3 10
4 35
Final Exam 10
HW & Class Participation 5
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS: The course schedule lists the homework
assignments required for each chapter covered. All HW assignments will be discussed in class. I will randomly choose a group to initiate discussion on a HW assignment. Solutions to HW assignments will be on reserve in the Library.
CLASS PARTICIPATION: I encourage class participation as it
will make the class discussions more interesting. I do expect students to come prepared to discuss the problem assigned for that day. Please note that points have been allocated for class discussion/participation.
ATTENDANCE & ACADEMIC HONESTY: Please read the University
position statement on attendance and academic honesty in the University Catalog 1994-95 on page 39.
COURSE CONTENT:
CHAPTER TITLE
1 AIS: An overview*
2 Systems techniques and documentation
3 Intro to computer technology*
4 Intro to transaction processing
5 Transaction processing and internal control structure
7 Revenue and expenditure cycle
8 Production and finance cycle
11 File processing and data management concepts
13 Electronic data process systems
16 Systems planning and analysis
17 Systems design*
*Read on your own. Only partial coverage in class.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Date Chapter CW & HW Assignment
Sept.
7 Introduction/Objectives/Syllabus
9 11 17, 22, 25, 33
14 4 31, 32
16 p. 575-582, 16 28, 29, 33
21 16/17 22, 23, 24, 25
23 17/2
28 2 (p. 65 onwards) 23, 24, 26, 28, 31
30 2
Oct. 5 5*
7 5 52, 54, 55, 56
12 5 59, 64
14 7 57, 61, 62, 63
19 7 66, 67
21 8 68, 72, 76, 77
26 8
28 3 32, 36
Nov. 2 3/13
4 13 TBA
9 3rd Wave: A Reading from "Account-ing Horizons" and Video on EDI
11
16 Final Exam, 4:00-6:00
*do not read appendix
! Group Assignment 1
You are required to approach any business (should be a medium to big-sized business) that you are familiar with (e.g. had a summer job at, etc.) and examine and document the accounting system for the purchases, or, sales, or, inventory, etc. application cycle. If necessary, I can furnish your group with a letter of introduction and also contact the manager concerned over phone. For the purposes of the assignment, I would like a typewritten report with the following:
(i) an analytic flowchart of the application system you are examining;
(ii) a description of the primary accounting entries in that application system with relevant account codes;
(iii) examples of documents used;
(iv) samples of any special journals used;
(v) a discussion on internal control strengths and weaknesses.
This report will be graded based on the completeness of your report, the quality of your analysis, your writing style, and the creativity you display.
Group Assignment 2
Assume you are the owner-managers of a small business. For the purposes of this assignment, you may even contact small businesses (or not-for-profit) organizations in Ada. Analyze the accounting information system needs of this business using systems analysis and design techniques you have learnt. Prepare a chart of accounts for this business and detail the journals, subsidiary ledgers, registers, documents this business will need. Based on a survey of available computer packages, recommend a suitable accounting package which the business could use. Specify and cost the computer hardware and software requirements of the business and justify the investment in such software and hardware for the accounting information system needs of the business.
Group Assignment 3
Choose any of the application systems in Chapter 7, 8 or 13.
Your group will be responsible to present to the class the related analytic flowchart and transaction processing controls of the application system.
Group Assignment 4
Each group should purchase one copy of "Projects for Accounting Systems". Over the quarter, we shall complete Chapters 1 to 7 in class. I will require each group to provide me a file of outputs generated for in-class work, and for the assignments. You are not responsible for the "extended assignments".