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