Description

Business Information Systems for Accounting Students offers a more practical approach than the typical accounting information systems textbook. The text covers the technical foundations of the topic, and provides a unique insight into what information systems and technology mean for accountants in today's business environment.

Providing a contemporary education for undergraduate accounting students, Quinn and Kristandl offer a fresh perspective that is relevant to both UK and international students of computerised accounting, accounting information systems or accounting technology.

Key features of the text include:

• Real life examples with QR codes for easy access on smart devices . Examples are drawn from leading organizations such as Ryanair, Marks and Spencer, SAP and The World Bank.
• Coverage of the features of selected office, accounting and business software
• Mini-cases to show how technology benefits business 

"Tracking the relationship between accounting and technology in an ever changing world is no mean feat. Now, this book offers a comprehensive overview of technology- using many real-life examples - to introduce why and how technology matters for today's accountant"

Professor Niels Dechow, EBS Business School, Wiesbaden. 

Table of Contents

Part 1 – Introduction to information systems, design and development

Chapter 1 – introduction

·         Outline purpose of the text

·         Outline of how business has changed in past 25/30 years

·         Outline of information systems/technology changes

·         Outline of what this means for accountants/accounting

Chapter 2 – The basics of information systems and technology

·         Refresher of basic IS/IT concepts

·         The prevalence of IS/IT in the business world – covering SME, large firms, service/public sector

·         Software and hardware currently used – desktop software/hardware, hand-held/tablet, internet based software – all quite brief mention with examples.

Chapter 3 – The role of IT/IS in accounting

·         Brief history of information systems in accounting

·         The role of accountants in business – what exactly do (management) accountants do if IS/IT does so much?

·         What should accountants now about IS/IS – this section leads into the remaining chapters

Chapter 4 – Implementation and change management

·         A brief synopsis of the SDLC

·         Brief theoretical review of organisational change and link to how IS/IT implies change and understanding the technology/business link – theory would include traditional approach, contingency, processual change and organisational routines

·         Need for project/change management in IS/IT projects; some basic project management concepts

·         Problems encountered in organisational change efforts

Part 2 – Accounting information systems in larger organisations

Chapter 5 – Enterprise resource planning systems

·         Introduction to  business processes (as opposed to functional approach)

·         Outline of origins/development of ERP

·         Functionality

·         Business process alignment/engineering

·         Role of accountants in ERP installation – role changes, reporting changes, controls, cost centre structures, ledger alignment

      This chapter would include some screenshots/diagrams from SAP

Chapter 6 – Integrating information systems with external bodies

·         Brief outline of IS/IT data integration concepts and interfaces

·         Information duplication/non-standard information problems

·         ERP functionality – standardisation across organisations (brief)

Chapter 7 – An introduction to XBRL

·       Brief history of html/xml/xbrl

·       Internet financial reporting

·       Basic purpose of XBRL

·       XBRL taxonomies

·       XBRL and ERP

Part 3 – Accounting information systems in smaller organisations

Chapter 8 – Accounting software for smaller businesses

·         The accounting needs of a smaller business – sole trader/small company

·         Ways to keep accounting records electronically

·         Small business accounting software – typical functionality

·         Examples of small business software - Quickbooks

Chapter 9 – Software as a Service

·         Introduction to cloud computing

·         Benefits of cloud computing – including some recent CIMA reports/articles

·         Examples of how cloud computing /SaaS is used in accounting – Quickbooks/other software online for smaller businesses/ SAP for larger business

Chapter 10 – Financial modelling and decision support with spreadsheets (MS Excel)

·         Uses of spreadsheets in accounting – simple analysis and reporting

·         Examples of some modelling/decision support tools in MS Excel – capital investment functions, solver, macros/forms – this section will show some screen shots/examples, but will not over do it. Examples/materials/flash videos could be provided on a website.

Back Cover

"Tracking the relationship between accounting and technology in an ever changing world is no mean feat. Now, this book offers a comprehensive overview of technology- using many real-life examples - to introduce why and how technology matters for today's accountant"

Professor Niels Dechow, EBS Business School, Wiesbaden. 

Information systems and technology are integral to most organizations. Any accounting student will need a good knowledge of how present day information systems and technologies affect how business is done, how information can be gleaned from information systems and the integral role that technology plays in an accounting career. 

Business Information Systems for Accounting Students offers a more practical approach than the typical accounting information systems textbook. The text covers the technical foundations of the topic, and provides a unique insight into what information systems and technology mean for accountants in today's business environment. Providing a contemporary education for undergraduate accounting students, Quinn and Kristandl offer a fresh perspective that is relevant to both UK and international students of computerised accounting, accounting information systems or accounting technology. 

Key features of the text include:

• Real life examples with QR codes for easy access on smart devices . Examples are drawn from leading organizations such as Ryanair, Marks and Spencer, SAP and The World Bank.
• Coverage of the features of selected office, accounting and business software
• Mini-cases to show how technology benefits business 

Martin Quinn is Lecturer in Accounting at Dublin City University Business School. He is also a CIMA member and has worked with several companies in information systems and accounting roles.

Gerhard Kristandl is Senior Lecturer in Management Accounting at the University of Greenwich Business School. He is an award-winning author and has previously worked as a management consultant.