Singapore Management University
Course Outline
School of Accountancy
Accounting Information Systems – ACCT203
Course Outline – Fall Semester 2002
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Office Hours:
Mitchell Williams, Ph.D
#05-11 – School of Accountancy
65 – 6822 – 0609
mitchellw@smu.edu.sg
Tuesday – 1:30pm to 2:30pm
Friday – 10:30am to 12:00pm
Or by Appointment
Class Hours:
G1: Tuesday – 8:30am to 11:45am – Room A2MT
G2: Thursday – 8:30am to 11:45am – Room A2MT
Required Textbook and Reading Material
Rommey, Marshall B. and Steinbart, Paul J. (2000) Accounting Information Systems
(International 8th Edition) Prentice Hall International Editions, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey,
U.S.A. (ISBN 0-201-68417-9).
Role of Course and Expected Outcomes
The role of this course is to provided a specialized in-depth accounting course that addresses the
following key notions:
(1) role of information systems within accounting;
(2) documentation of accounting information systems including data flow diagrams and
flowcharts;
(3) database management, processes and modeling;
(4) exposures and risks associated with accounting information systems;
(5) evaluation of information technology internal controls and impact on internal control;
(6) impact of information technology on the audit process;
(7) relationship of accounting information systems to major processes of the business
cycle; and
(8) development, design and analysis of accounting information systems.
By the end of this course you should be able to:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
Identify, explain and differentiate key fundamental concepts underlying the
importance of accounting information systems within the business environment
and cycle.
Display critical thinking and analytical abilities via examinations and the analysis
of problems and case studies.
Be competent in applying the concepts taught to diverse and difficult situations
facing you as an accountant.
Have developed an appreciation and be able to demonstrate the role information
technology plays in the accounting and business processes.
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(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)
(ix)
Understand the fundamentals of reporting of accounting information via
electronic mechanisms.
Have developed an enhanced understanding of the perplexing problems
associated with information technology, the threat of computer fraud and need
for proper ethical behaviour.
Comprehend the fundamentals of internal control systems.
Develop a greater understanding and appreciation of business processes.
Grasp the basics of accounting information system design and analysis, and
strategies for implementing information technology within a firm’s business
process.
Expanded Description of the Course
This course is effectively divided into four major parts. The first part of the course begins with an
overview of the underlying conceptual foundations underlying accounting information systems
and organizational structures in business firms. Key concepts, such as information and
knowledge, are examined, and methods and mechanisms by which accounting information are
transmitted to internal and external stakeholders are addressed. The development of information
systems and documentation techniques, in particular data flow diagrams and flowcharts, are
reviewed and practiced. Data management is covered in the last section of part one including
characteristics of file-orientation, database systems and models.
Part two of this course concentrates on the need for internal controls within accounting
information systems and the auditing of such systems. Initial emphasis in this part is the
identification of risk exposures related to accounting information systems particularly issues such
as information technology problems, computer fraud and security. Reasons and incentives for
why computer fraud and other security breaches occur are explored. Internal controls within an
information technology environment are covered with discussion on both general and application
controls. There is also coverage of security for transaction/information processing support
systems. The final focus of part two is a review of principles and techniques for the auditing of
internal controls in computer-based accounting information systems. Computer-assisted auditing
processes are also covered.
The central emphasis of the third part of this course is the application of accounting information
systems to key elements of the business cycles. This systematic discussion provides a basis
holistic understanding of the structure of accounting information systems. Specifically, the role of
accounting information systems in the (1) revenue; (2) expenditure; (3) production and (4) human
resource management cycles are covered in this part.
The last part of this course provides an introduction to the development systems and analysis.
Procedures and phases of systems development are outlined whilst key issues and steps involved
in analyzing systems are covered. Strategies and techniques for the development and
implementation of accounting information systems are presented and discussed.
Teaching Mode
Seminar presentation and class discussions form the major mode of teaching throughout the
course. The first segment of each class time will be taken up with a short seminar presentation
presentation by the course instructor to introduce the basic tenets of the topic being addressed.
Following this presentation the class will be either: (a) broken into small groups to analyze,
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discuss and then present their response to specific conceptual questions or (b) participate in a
discussion on a pre-assigned case study. To supplement the seminar presentation presentation,
small group discussion and case study analysis, you will able apply skills practically in the
documentation of accounting information systems through various in-class computer labs.
Course Assessment
Assigned Points
Evaluation Technique
Multiple Choice Quiz #1
Multiple Choice Quiz #2
Multiple Choice Quiz #3
Final Examination
Major Project
Class Participation
10 points
10 points
10 points
35 points
20 points
15 points
Total Points
100
Your final overall grade for this course will be based on the total points you acquire from the
various forms of assessment. The maximum amount of points you can achieve is 100.
Project and Examinations
Project
During the semester you will be required to complete on group project (groups will comprise
three people). The project will be worth 25% (25 points) of your overall grade. The project is
designed to test your ability to gather, evaluate and analyze financial and non-financial
accounting information and to present material deemed relevant in a fully operational electronic
format. The written and communication skills of each group will also be tested as each group will
be required to prepare a formal written summary justifying the reasons for the information
presented and mechanisms utilized in presenting the information. Finally, oral presentation skill
will be analyzed as each group will be required to make a formal presentation of their project to
the class. The oral presentation will be between 5-7 minutes in length. Groups should be capable
of defending their positions after their presentations in response to any questions forwarded.
Full details on project requirements and parameters will be discussed during the first seminar
presentation of the course. The project is to be completed and submitted no later than 4:00pm
Friday 8th November, 2002. Projected submitted after this deadline will not be accepted and all
members of the groups will receive zero (0) marks for the project. Presentations by groups that
submit their projects by the specified deadline will be conducted during the seminar presentation
time of the week commencing 18/11/2002.
Quizzes
Three multiple choice quizzes will be conducted throughout the process of the course. Each
multiple choice quiz comprises 10% (10 points) of your overall grade. The function of these
quizzes to provide an on-going assessment of your understanding of the material taught. Results
from the quizzes will provide you with an indication of strengths and weakness in your
understanding. Each quiz will comprise twenty (20) multiple choice questions. Each multiple
choice quiz will be marked out of twenty (each question will be worth one (1) mark). A correct
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question will be result in a mark of one (1). An incorrect answer will not result in a negative
mark.
Each multiple choice quiz focuses on specific topic of the course as defined in the following
Schedule that also details the week in which each quiz will be held:
Multiple Quiz
Number
#1
#2
#3
Topic Covered in Quiz
One, Two and Three
Four, Five, Six and Seven
Eight, Nine and Ten
Week in Which Quiz Held – Week
Starting
9/09/2002
30/09/2002
4/11/2002
Each multiple choice quiz will be conducted during class time. You will have thirty (30) minutes
to complete each multiple choice quiz.
Final Examination
The final examination is three hours in length and will be held at a time and place to be
announced. The final examination will be on a cumulative basis and cover the entire material
taught in the course.
Additional Notes for Quizzes and Examinations
All quizzes and examinations will be closed book. As this course does not involve any numerical
number crunching there is no require to have a calculator on your desk during the quiz or
examination. The only materials that are allowed on your desk during the quizzes and
examinations are pens, pencils, rulers and erasing materials.
Academic Misconduct
You are reminded that the School of Accountancy views any instance of academic misconduct to
be a serious offence. You are referred to the Student’s Handbook for definitions, policies,
administration and penalties.
Other Matters
Email
It is my intention to use information technology as a means of facilitating wider communication
throughout the course. You may use email as a means of getting answers to specific queries.
Some protocol, however, is applicable for making such queries. Please indicate in the subject line
that your query relates to mitchellw@smu.edu.sg. Questions should be stated clearly. If your
question arises from material you have read, a question you may have attempted or any other
relevant sources you have accessed, please indicate these sources and where they were found.
Also, please provide a brief explanation of what you do not understand (numerical results,
concepts or process). All email questions require you to supply your full name and email address
so that I can respond to you. I will attempt to respond to all queries within 48 hours. In the event
that a lengthy answer is required then I will encourage you to see me during office hours.
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Student Consultation
Time will be set aside each week for you to consult with me on matters arising from the seminar
presentations, tutorials, required course reading or from any other relevant sources concerning
material covered in the course. If you wish to see me outside student consultation times then
please feel free to make an appointment by phoning or emailing.
Missed Classes or Switching of Classes
Class attendance is important for developing an understanding of the material taught and to
facilitate skills through practical participation. To enhance overall class cohesion and to enable
greater continuality during the seminar presentation process, attendance during your specific
assigned seminar presentation time is required. That is, students are NOT allowed to switch
between classes. If your seminar presentation time is on Tuesday and you miss that class, you are
NOT allowed to attend a class that may be on a later day and vice versa. Anyone that is absent
from a class is responsible for findings out about any schedule changes.
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Seminar Presentation Timetable*
Week
Number
Start of Week
Date
(Day/Month/Year)
1
19/08/2002
2
26/08/2002
3
2/09/2002
4
9/09/2002
5
16/09/2002
6
23/09/2002
7
30/09/2002
Course Introduction and
Topic One – Introduction to Accounting Information
Systems and Reporting of Accounting Information
Topic Two – Systems Development and
Documentation
Topic Three – Database Management: Processing and
Modeling
Topic Four – Risk Exposure and Internal Control
Structure
Topic Five – General Controls and Application
Controls
Topic Six – Auditing of Accounting Information
Systems
Topic Seven – The Revenue Cycle
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7/10/2002
Semester Week Break
9
10
11
12
14/10/2002
21/10/2002
28/10/2002
4/11/2002
13
11/11/2002
14
18/11/2002
Topic Eight – The Expenditure Cycle
Topic Nine – The Production Cycle
Topic Ten – Human Resource Management Cycle
Topic Eleven – Accounting Information Systems
Development Strategies
Topic Twelve – Accounting Information Systems
Design and Implementation
Project Presentations
Project Presentations
15
25/11/2002
Final Examination Period
Topic Description
Text
Chapter
1&2
3
5&6
8 & 10
9
11
12
13
14
15
17 & 18
19
* This timetable may be subject to change during the semester. You will be informed of any significant
changes.
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