1 Accounting Information Systems An Overview（课件）- 《会计信息系统英文版》同步教学（人民大学版）

Chapter 1 Accounting Information Systems: An Overview 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. 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 1-3 Process1 Process2 Goal 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. 1-4 data data data Information 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 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