1. Chapter 1 Accounting Information Systems: An Overview Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-1

2. 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

3. 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 Process1Process2 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. Information data Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-4 The case of 7-11 in page 30

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 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

7. 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). Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-7

8. Information Visualization  Map of the Market Map of the Market  以 TreeMap 呈現一個業務部門 以 TreeMap 呈現一個業務部門  以 TreeMap 呈現 iTune 上 100 首最流行歌曲 以 TreeMap 呈現 iTune 上 100 首最流行歌曲 Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-8

9. Business Process  Systems working toward organizational goals Revenue Expenditure Production Human Resources Financing Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-9 Definition in page 31; Table 1-2 for an illustration Figure 1-1 shows interactions between different parties thru AIS

10. Business Transactions  Give–Get exchanges  Between two entities  Measured in economic terms Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-10

11. Business Process Cycles  Revenue  Expenditure  Production  Human Resources  Financing Pages 32-3 for definitions Table 1-3 for major cycle activities in each cycle Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-11

12. Business Cycle Give–Get Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-12

13. 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 1-13

14. 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 1-14

15. 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 1-15

16. 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 1-16

17. 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 1-17

18. 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 1-18

19. Value Chain—Primary Activities Inbound Logistics Operations Outbound Logistics Marketing/SalesService Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-19

20. Value Chain—Support Activities Firm Infrastructure Human Resources Technology Purchasing Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-20

21. Value Chain Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education 1-21

22. AIS and Corporate Strategy AIS IT Developments Business Strategy Organizational Culture 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 1-22