Lecture 1- Introduction to information systems and accounting

Information technology- The [blank_start]computer[blank_end] & [blank_start]telecommunications[blank_end] equipment used to [blank_start]capture[blank_end], store & [blank_start]distribute[blank_end] data

Hardware- Refers to [blank_start]physical[blank_end] technology [blank_start]equipment[blank_end] such as computers, [blank_start]printers[blank_end], projectors, etc

Operating system software- Performs a computer’s [blank_start]basic functions[blank_end], such as: application management, [blank_start]input/output[blank_end] management, device management, [blank_start]memory[blank_end] management, processor management & [blank_start]hardware[blank_end] management

Application software- Describes a [blank_start]computer program[blank_end] that is designed to perform a [blank_start]specific[blank_end] purpose. It is designed with the [blank_start]end-user[blank_end] in mind and provides a [blank_start]user-friendly[blank_end] interface which can be lacking in some operating systems software. It [blank_start]communicates[blank_end] with the underlying operating system software to perform common tasks

One effect the [blank_start]advent[blank_end] of the [blank_start]internet[blank_end] had on business is that it had allowed [blank_start]traditional[blank_end] businesses to [blank_start]trade online[blank_end] & has provided new [blank_start]business[blank_end] models

Another effect the advent of the internet had on [blank_start]business[blank_end] is that it has generated a more [blank_start]competitive environment[blank_end], where information is quickly available to [blank_start]consumers[blank_end]

Network- A [blank_start]collection[blank_end] of [blank_start]computers[blank_end] & other equipment [blank_start]connected[blank_end] to each other either [blank_start]wired[blank_end] or [blank_start]wirelessly[blank_end]. Networks allow computing resources to be [blank_start]shared[blank_end]

Local area network- Network that is usually [blank_start]restricted[blank_end] on a [blank_start]single[blank_end] building or buildings in [blank_start]close proximity[blank_end] to each other

Wide area network- Network that [blank_start]covers[blank_end] a much [blank_start]wider geographical[blank_end] area, across several [blank_start]sites[blank_end] or even [blank_start]countries[blank_end]

Going online for small businesses mean [blank_start]24/7[blank_end] service [blank_start]availability[blank_end], [blank_start]lower[blank_end] overheads & increased [blank_start]growth[blank_end]

Business model- [blank_start]Story[blank_end] of [blank_start]business[blank_end] ([blank_start]what[blank_end] it does, [blank_start]how[blank_end] it does it, how [blank_start]money[blank_end] is made & [blank_start]who[blank_end] is [blank_start]customer[blank_end])

Four types of business models include: [blank_start]direct sales[blank_end], [blank_start]advertising[blank_end], [blank_start]commission/affiliate-based sales[blank_end] & [blank_start]transaction-based[blank_end]

Two types of new business models include: [blank_start]freemium model[blank_end] & [blank_start]subscription model[blank_end]

First SAP was designed for [blank_start]payroll[blank_end] & [blank_start]accounting[blank_end]

[blank_start]IBM 700 series[blank_end] computers were some of first [blank_start]mainframe[blank_end] computers used by [blank_start]large organisations[blank_end] & [blank_start]government[blank_end] departments

[blank_start]Technology[blank_end] is driver of [blank_start]accounting change[blank_end]. [blank_start]Management[blank_end] accountants rate [blank_start]technology[blank_end] as an on-going/future business [blank_start]issue[blank_end]

Technology effects accountants through: [blank_start]skill requirements[blank_end], being [blank_start]challenge[blank_end] or [blank_start]enabler[blank_end] for accountants, level of [blank_start]information summary[blank_end], [blank_start]devolution[blank_end] of accounting information & [blank_start]new[blank_end] accounting/decision-making [blank_start]tools[blank_end] & [blank_start]techniques[blank_end] – within information systems

There is an [blank_start]increasing[blank_end] need for [blank_start]non-IT[blank_end] managers/accountants to [blank_start]learn basics[blank_end] of technology & [blank_start]IT[blank_end]

Information- Consists of [blank_start]processed data[blank_end], processing directed at [blank_start]increasing[blank_end] its usefulness. Information is [blank_start]contained[blank_end] in [blank_start]descriptions[blank_end]

Data- Refers to [blank_start]symbols[blank_end] that represent [blank_start]properties[blank_end] of [blank_start]objects[blank_end] & [blank_start]events[blank_end]. Data can be considered as [blank_start]factual[blank_end] or [blank_start]statistical[blank_end] items

Knowledge- Conveyed by [blank_start]instructions[blank_end], [blank_start]answers[blank_end] to how-to [blank_start]questions[blank_end]

Accountants need to understand how [blank_start]data[blank_end] are [blank_start]organised[blank_end] & [blank_start]stored[blank_end] in an accounting information system (AIS) & how they can be [blank_start]accessed[blank_end]

[blank_start]Accountants[blank_end] & other [blank_start]system users[blank_end] play [blank_start]significant[blank_end] role in [blank_start]data processing cycle[blank_end]

One type of hardware is [blank_start]input devices[blank_end] (allows [blank_start]user[blank_end] to [blank_start]input/capture[blank_end] data). Examples include: keyboard, [blank_start]touchscreen[blank_end], mouse, [blank_start]bar-code reader[blank_end], microphone, [blank_start]pointing devices[blank_end] & scanners

Another type of hardware is [blank_start]processors[blank_end] (performs [blank_start]calculations[blank_end] & executes tasks). Examples include: Intel range of [blank_start]microprocessors[blank_end]

Third type of hardware is [blank_start]output devices[blank_end] (provides [blank_start]data/information[blank_end] in format understandable to [blank_start]humans[blank_end]). Examples include: [blank_start]display screens[blank_end], printers & [blank_start]speakers[blank_end]

Fourth type of hardware is [blank_start]communication devices[blank_end] (allows [blank_start]computers[blank_end] & computer [blank_start]users[blank_end] to [blank_start]communicate[blank_end] with each other across [blank_start]networks[blank_end]. Examples include: [blank_start]routers[blank_end], modems, cabling & [blank_start]switches[blank_end]

Fifth type of hardware is [blank_start]storage devices[blank_end] (allows [blank_start]data[blank_end] to be [blank_start]retained[blank_end] when power is switched [blank_start]off)[blank_end]. Examples include: [blank_start]hard disks[blank_end], CD/DVD/Blu-ray disks, [blank_start]USB sticks[blank_end]

Key element of any computer network is [blank_start]protocol[blank_end] ([blank_start]set of rules[blank_end] governing [blank_start]communications[blank_end] across [blank_start]network[blank_end])

Most common protocol for local networks is [blank_start]Ethernet protocol[blank_end], while [blank_start]TCP/IP[blank_end] is most common protocol used on larger networks like the [blank_start]internet[blank_end].

Star topology- All [blank_start]devices[blank_end] are [blank_start]connected[blank_end] to central computer or through a [blank_start]central communications[blank_end] point

Bus topology- All [blank_start]devices[blank_end] share [blank_start]common communications[blank_end] line

Ring topology- All [blank_start]devices[blank_end] are connected in [blank_start]ring[blank_end]