ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS
SYLLABUS Spring 2005



Course:   Accounting 427-506 (3:55-5:10 TR, WCBA#155).
Instructor:   Dr. L. M. Smith, CPA, Professor
              Office:  WCBA#460D (was 401D), Phone:  979-845-3108
E-mail: Lmsmith@tamu.edu
Office Hours:  Anytime by appointment; 3:30-3:55 Tue&Thu & 3-5 M&F.
Required Materials:
1.  Accounting Information Systems, 4th Edition by L. Murphy Smith, Katherine T. Smith,
     and David S. Kerr. Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Custom Publishing © 2004. ISBN:  0618-469095
2.  Microsoft Excel for Accounting: Auditing and AIS; Smith, Smith, and Smith; 2002;
     Prentice Hall; ISBN: 0130085529.
3.  The Bottom Line is Betrayal, 3rd Ed.; Smith; 1999; Thomson Learning: ISBN 0-87393-
     388-5.
Prerequisites:  Acct 327 or Equivalent.

Classroom Etiquette:
 We have beautiful and state-of-the-art classrooms in the Wehner Building. We want to maintain the high quality conditions of these classrooms for current and future students. Thus, please do NOT bring BEVERAGES, FOOD, OR TOBACCO PRODUCTS into the classrooms. Please do NOT leave behind any newspaper or other publications that you might have brought with you to the class. To walk out of a classroom with the floor littered with newspapers isn’t fair to the incoming class. Your understanding of the necessity for this policy and cooperation will be greatly appreciated. If you have a special condition that requires the intake of water during the class period, please see me. In this circumstance, an exception will be granted.

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Date                               Assignment
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NOTE:  Q=text discussion questions, E=text exercises, Case=text cases, Excel=assignments from Microsoft Excel book.
"When, if not now? Who, if not you?" (Winston Churchill).

Jan    18         Get Acquainted

          20       Quiz #1 over Flowcharting, DFDs, and spreadsheet design.
                      Read Chapter 8 in the Excel book (pp. 39-44).
                      Ch1   Intro to AIS   Flowcharting & DFD Assignment. Ch1-Q1,3,5,7,9.
                      Case 1. For Case 1, in addition to the DFD, prepare a system flowchart.

“Look up, and not down:
Look out, and not in;
Look forward, not back;
And lend a hand.”
(from the novel, The Man Without a Country, Edward Everett Hale, chaplain of the U.S. Senate)

Jan 25       Quiz #2
                  Ch2   Overview of Acct DP     Ch2-Q2,4,8,9,10.

Jan 27       Film:  Money Laundering    Handout. Web Assignment: 2-page report with
                 3+ website resources regarding money-laundering. Complete Excel #1 (p. 55).
                 Meet with Website Group.

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both" (Dwight D. Eisenhower).

Feb 1         Quiz #3
                  Ch3   International              Q4,5,6;E1,3,5; Group Website Outlines Due.

Feb 3         Film:  Going International    Web Assignment: 1-page report with 3+ website
                  resources regarding international accounting standards. Excel #61,62,67.
                 Excel 61 started. Example of import quota problem, like #67, on book website.

"If we want to produce people who share the values of a democratic culture, they must be taught those values and not be left to acquire them by chance" (Cal Thomas).

Feb   8          Quiz #4
                     Ch4   Hardware & Software       Q1,3,5,7.

Feb  10         Exam #1, Chapters 1-4, Bottom Line Chapters 1-6

"Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides"  (Margaret Thatcher).

Feb 15         Ch5   DSS and ES                      Excel #11,12.
                    Film:  Embezzlement      

Feb 17        Meet with website groups.

"Associate with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company” (George Washington).

Feb 22      Guest Speaker: Joseph Meyer, Deloitte & Touche
                 Group website files and printouts due in class today.

Feb 24        Quiz #5 (Chapter 7 only)
                   Ch6   E-Bus. & Comm.    Ch6-E1,2,3,
                   Ch7   Database                 E4,5,6.

"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold" (Proverbs 22:1).

Mar   1        Group Presentations on Business Websites.

Mar   3        Introduction to Ethics        Web Assignment: 1-page report on ethics resources on
                    the Web; include 3+ websites e.g. ethics hotline at imanet.org.

"Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?  Forbid it, Almighty God!  I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!" (Patrick Henry)

Mar     8     Quiz #6
                   Ch8   Ethics/Comp. Crime      Q1,2,3,4,5;E1,2,3

Mar   10     Meet with role-play groups.

"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;  He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword; His truth is marching on.  ...He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave;...  (Battle Hymn of the Republic)

March 14-18    Spring Break!

Mar    22       Film: Cooking the Books    Handout.

Mar    24       Quiz #7
                      Ch9  Auditing the AIS      Q6,7,8,9. Excel #8,9,10. Excel #8 Started. For Excel #10,
                                                                show the $ change and % change between years for each
                                                                income statement item.

"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in;...  (President Lincoln's second inaugural address, March 4, 1865)

Mar    29      Exam #2, Chapters 5-9, Bottom Line Chapters 7-12

Mar    31     Ch10  System Development    Case1. Web Assignment: 2-page report on information
                     security risks. Use 2+ Web resources e.g. itaudit.org or cpaj.com.
                     Meet with Role-Play Group.

"...It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task
remaining before us__that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this new nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth"  (The Gettysburg Address, President Lincoln, November 18, 1863).

*Last Day to Q-drop is Tuesday, April 5. 

Apr    5        Quiz #8
                    Ch11  Revenue Cycle       Q2,4; Excel #35,36,37.
                    Video Role-Play Outlines Due.

Apr    7       Quiz #9
                   Ch12  Expenditure Cycle      E1,2,3. Excel #45.

"To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men" (Abraham Lincoln).

Apr   12       Quiz #10 (Chap 13  & Excel #48 only)
                    Ch 13 Conversion Cycle    E4,5,6. Excel #48.
                    Ch14 Financial Cycle         Q1,2,3.

Apr   14       Guest Speaker: Agent Angel Martinez, FBI

"God bless America, Land that I love, Stand beside her and guide her Through the night with a light from above.  From the mountains to the prairies, To the oceans white with foam, God bless America, My home, sweet home.  (God Bless America, Irving Berlin)

Apr 19         Video Role-Play Presentation Report and Tape Due.
                    **This is the last day to turn in any late homework for credit**

Apr 21         Exam #3, Chapters 10-14, Bottom Line Chapters 13-18

*April 21 - Muster, 7 pm

"My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing;...
Long may our land be bright, With freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King."  (America, Samuel F. Smith)

Apr 26         Watch role-play video presentations.

Apr 28         Review for Final Exam.

"O beautiful for spacious skies,...  O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life!  America!  America!  May God thy gold refine, Til all success be nobleness And every gain divine! (America the Beautiful, Katherine Lee Bates)

COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM:
     For         427-506: May 10, Tuesday, 1-3 p.m.  Results

COURSE POLICIES for ACCT 427

Course Description:
       Accounting is a demanding field of work that requires integrity, intelligence, fortitude, dedication, and interpersonal skills. To succeed in this course will require the same. You should expect extensive reading and homework assignments.  For college classes in general, for each hour of class time, two hours of outside preparation time should be anticipated.
      Accounting 427 is a survey course that overviews current information systems concepts, Web technology, online auditing issues, and contemporary accounting issues. Specific topics include e-business, computer hardware and software, accounting cycles, systems development, computer crime, auditing, and expert systems. Readings will be assigned from the textbook and articles from professional accounting journals. Some assignments will require use of the computer (e.g. Excel). Group presentations are assigned to foster development of interpersonal and presentation skills. Also, an accounting novel is assigned to enhance appreciation of practice issues.

Grading Structure:
Four exams @ 100 points each (includes final)   400
Quizzes (10 @ 10 points each)   100
Group website project     30
Group role-play video presentation     30
Homework     30
Class participation     10
Total points possible  600

Grading Scale: 540-600 points = A; 480-539 points = B; 420-479 points = C;
360-419 points = D. Below 420 points = F.


Homework and Class Participation:
Homework is generally graded on effort; thus, you do not always have to get every answer exactly right to get  full credit. Class participation involves making positive contributions in the classroom. During my 20 plus years  of college teaching, I have noted that coming to class prepared (e.g. having homework done) is closely linked to  a student's ability to make a positive contribution. Furthermore, prior research has shown that class attendance  is the only factor significantly correlated to grades. In other words, coming to class should result in your making a better score on tests and quizzes, and ultimately on your final grade.

Extra Credit:
By preparing a term paper, you may earn up to 5 points of extra credit (bonus points). You must get approval from Dr. Smith in advance before starting this assignment (no later than half-way through the semester). Requirements: (1) Thoroughly research an information systems topic; the topic must be approved in advance by the instructor. Possible topic areas include new information technology, internal control, computer viruses, business fraud, and money laundering. (3) The report should include an introduction, major points, analysis, and conclusion. (4) The report must include 8 to 10 pages of double-spaced text, 2 to 3exhibits, a references page of at least 12 references (journal articles, books, and Web sites referred to in the paper). (5) The paper must be prepared in good form (The Accounting Review style).

Ethics and Scholastic Dishonesty:
The accounting profession has a long-established reputation for its high level of ethical conduct.  The reputation reaches into the academic arena where the profession’s future leaders are being prepared.  Consequently, accounting students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is above reproach in their own course-related actions.  Scholastic dishonesty is discussed in Honor Council Rules and Procedures. Dishonest acts include, but are not limited to: copying, sharing, or obtaining information from any unauthorized source during examinations, quizzes, or other assignments; attempting to take credit for the intellectual creation of another person; falsifying information; giving information about a test, quiz or assignment to students in the same or other sections of the course. I believe in the Aggie honor code:

                            An Aggie do not lie, cheat or steal
                            or tolerate those who do.

Unless otherwise specified, all work is to be done individually.  Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated.  The full consequences of scholastic dishonesty will be pursued, consistent with university policy as it appears in the Honor Council Rules and Procedures (http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor).
For all assignments, I expect each student to be able to sign the following statement:

"On my honor, as an Aggie, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work."

                                                        ______________________________
                                                        Signature of student

Other policies:

     ADA Statement. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities.  Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities.  If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Koldus Building, or call 845-1637. Please let me know if I can be of assistance with any special needs; I will do everything that I can to help all my students with their educational process.

     Final Exams. When a student is scheduled for three final examinations in one day, the student may request his or her dean rescheduling of one of the three examinations.  The dean, department head, and faculty member will make every effort to accommodate the student when a request is made.

GROUP PRESENTATION PROJECTS:
(1) WEBSITE AND (2) ROLE PLAY VIDEO

DESIGN A BUSINESS FIRM WEBSITE:

Design a Website: Groups of 3 to 4 students will work together to create a website for a fictitious business firm. The website can be for any type of firm such as a service firm (e.g. a public accounting firm), a retail firm, or a manufacturing firm. Each group will make a formal presentation of its website to the class (8-10 minutes). Your website will be graded by Dr. Smith. Also, the class will view and evaluate your website presentation. In addition to being set up on the Web, the website files (i.e., htm files) should be submitted on disk to Dr. Smith, along with printouts of the Web pages. The website will be evaluated for originality, creativity, presentation quality, ease-of-use, and features. On the homepage of your fictitious firm, be sure to indicate that this is a student project and not a real company (otherwise, you may get some business).

ROLE-PLAY VIDEO PRESENTATION ASSIGNMENT:

     Role-Playing Video Presentation: Groups of 6 to 10 students will be assigned to develop an 8 to 10 minute role-playing presentation based on characters, concepts, or situations related to information systems (you may base the presentation on a scene from the educational novel or other sources). Each group will be required to submit a typed report and videotape of their  presentation.  If obtaining a video camera for filming is a problem, please see your instructor for special arrangements.  Your typed report should include the following: 1. a working title of the presentation (e.g. "Hazards of E-Business"), 2. the group number and names of group members, 3. a "screen play" of the presentation (including props to be used), 4. the goals of the presentation (e.g. to show how an interview should be conducted and what to watch for, how an expert system works, the effects of subliminal persuasion, etc.), and 5. how these goals were achieved by the presentation.
     The key to effectively completing this assignment is proper planning.  Before the group begins filming, the script should be prepared and rehearsed.  Any necessary props should be obtained and on-hand.  Each member of the group should conscientiously fulfill his or her part of the assignment.  When filming, be sure to include the title of the presentation and names of the group members at the beginning of the film (you can write this information on paper and film it for 8 or 10 seconds).
     Prior to submission of the report and tape, an outline of the presentation must be submitted.  The date the outline is due is shown on your syllabus.  The outline should follow the same format as the report, except the screen play does not have to be in a word-for-word format but only in an outline format. The report and tape will be graded by Dr. Smith.  Also, the class will view and evaluate the tape.  Both report and tape will be evaluated for originality, creativity, drama/humor, technical quality (can you hear it? can you see it?), and educational merit.  The presentation should stimulate interest in the subject matter through a more captivating format than a simple lecture.
     A final note:  The film should receive a "G" or "PG" rating. Humor (inoffensive) and action are highly encouraged.  Do not clip scenes from TV programs or movies.  Do not use names of real people (that includes Dr. Smith); use only fictional characters.



STUDENT INFORMATION FORM (Optional):

1. Name:

    Major:
   Any prior classes with Dr. Smith?

2. What's your background?  (e.g. Where are you from?  or Why did you pick Texas A&M?)
 
 

3. Work Experience:
 a. Accounting Internship?          Yes No
 b. Accounting work experience:  (Briefly describe)
 

 c. Other work experience:  (Briefly describe)
 
 

4. Overall GPR: __________
 

5. Member of Beta Alpha Psi: Yes     No

6. Career Interests:
 
 
 

7. Who's someone you admire?  Why?
 
 

8. What's a movie or book you like?  Why?
 
 

9. How do you define success?
 
 
 

10. Anything else you would like to tell me (you may use the back of this form): (e.g. do you want to sit on the front row?)


How Do You Measure Success?
(http://acct.tamu.edu/smith/success.htm)

 In 1923, a very important meeting was held at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago.  Attending this meeting were nine of the richest men in the world: (1) Charles Schwab, President of the world's largest independent steel company; (2) Samuel Insull, President of the world's largest utility company; (3) Howard Hopson, President of the largest gas firm; (4) Arthur Cutten, the greatest wheat speculator; (5) Richard Whitney, President of the New York Stock Exchange; (6) Albert Fall, member of the President's Cabinet; (7) Leon Frazier, President of the Bank of International Settlements; (8) Jessie Livermore, the greatest speculator in the Stock Market; and (9) Ivar Kreuger, head of the company with the most widely distributed securities in the world.

 Twenty-five years later, (1) Charles Schwab had died in bankruptcy, having lived on borrowed money for five years before his death.  (2) Samuel Insull had died virtually penniless after spending some time as a fugitive from justice.  (3) Howard Hopson was insane.  (4) Arthur Cutten died overseas, broke.  (5) Richard Whitney had spent time in Sing-Sing.  (6) Albert Fall had been pardoned from prison so he could die at home.  (7) Leon Fraizer, (8) Jessie Livermore, and (9) Ivar Kreuger each died by suicide.

 Measured by wealth and power these men achieved success, at least temporarily.  Making a lot of money may be an acceptable goal, but money most assuredly does not guarantee a truly successful life.  How do you measure success?