Accounting Information Systems: Accounting Information Systems: Essential Concepts and ApplicationsEssential Concepts and Applications Fourth Edition by Wilkinson, Cerullo, Raval, and Fourth Edition by Wilkinson, Cerullo, Raval, and Wong-On-WingWong-On-Wing

Module 2: Decision Support and Expert Systems

Slides Authored by Somnath Bhattacharya, Ph.D.Florida Atlantic University

Decision Support Systems: Advantages

Improved effectiveness in making strategic and tactical decisions

Greater timeliness in collecting and processing the needed data that bear on unstructured and semi-structured decisions

Broader understanding by the decision makers of the array of factors involved in problems requiring complex decisions and their relationships to each other

Key Components of a Decision Support System

DSS data base DSS model base

DSS userinterface

Terminal ormicrocomputer

User

Figure M2-1

A Comprehensive Data Base that Spans a Firm’s Decision Needs

Environmental Data Internal Planning Data

Other Model Data Summaries

Chart of Accounts

CustomerData

InventoryData

SupplierData

EmployeeData

Property(plantassets)Data

Sales Order Production& ShippingRecords

PurchaseOrders

TimeRecords

DisbursementRecords

}

}*

**

* = Planning data base** = Operational data base

Figure M2-2

DSS Model Base

Decision Models Decision models Optimization models

Firm-wide Planning Models Corporate models Financial planning models

Modeling LanguagesModel Base Management Systems

A Variety of Models Used by Decision Support SystemsModel Description 1) Regression 2) Exponential smoothing 3) PERT 4) Linear programming 5) Line-of-balance 6) Economic order quantity 7) Supplier evaluation 8) Transportation 9) Discounted cash-flow 10) Production cost-variance 11) Cash-flow 12) Budget

13) Manpower planning

Typical Function Aided 1) Sales forecasting 2) Sales forecasting 3) Engineering design 4) Production scheduling 5) Production routing 6) Inventory control 7) Purchasing 8) Physical distribution 9) Investment planning 10) Cost analysis 11) Financing 12) Accounting control 13) Personnel planning

Figure M2-3

Model Manipulation Techniques Used with Financial Models

Time-Based Simulation

“What-If” Analysis

Sensitivity Analysis

Goal-seeking Analysis

Figure M2-4

More on Model-Base Management Systems

This is a modeling counterpart to a DBMSIts functions usually consist of providing

Links between models in a DSS A model definition language Mechanisms for modifying decision

models A user-friendly means of

executing and manipulating models

User Interfaces

Query Languages

Command language approach

Menu approach

GUI

Group Decision Support Systems

GDSSs allow for the rapid dissemination of information and support collaboration among group members Electronic mail software Lotus Notes

Expert Systems

An Expert System is a computerized software model that simulates the thinking process of one or more human experts in solving a complex problem or in making a decision.

Components of an Expert System

Knowledge BaseTask-specific Data BaseInference Engine

Forward chaining Backward chaining

Development Engine

Components of an Expert System

Inference Engine Knowledge Base

User Interface

Task Specific Data Base

Users

Figure M2-6

Decision Situations and DSSs

Complex

Simple

Expert Systems

Conventional Software Statistics

Neural Network Technology

Pro

ble

m C

omp

lexi

ty

Structured Semi-structured Unstructured Completely Random

Decision SituationFigure M2-7

Factors to Consider when Selecting Accounting ES Applications - I

Problems or decisions requiring judgment are moderately complex to very complex and well-defined

Operational and tactical problems are highly structured to somewhat semi-structured, recurring, and repetitive

Expertise is difficult to acquire. Human experts are expensive and in short supply. Non-human expertise is available in the form of authoritative pronouncements, such as APBs, FASBs, and IRS tax regulations

The accounting problem can be solved in a relatively short period of time

The accounting problem is rule-intensive and can be solved with “if-then” rules

Figure M2-8

Factors to Consider when Selecting Accounting ES Applications - II

Common sense or intuition is not required to solve the problems

The accounting problem cannot be solved efficiently with traditional or conventional computer software programs, such as COBOL or FORTRAN

The body of knowledge is being continually updated

The problem’s conversion to a computer-based expert system must result in a high payoff

The expert system must produce clearly identified solutions with which most experts must agree among themselves

Figure M2-8 Continued

Areas of Accounting Expert Systems: Auditing (Internal & External)

Deciding whether to accept a prospective auditeeEvaluating risks and the internal control structure

in computer systemsReviewing prior years’ working papersIssuing audit reports and forming audit opinionsWriting audit programsAssisting in making a going-concern judgmentScheduling audit personnelAnalyzing the adequacy of the allowance for

doubtful accountsAnalyzing unusual transactions

Figure M2-9

Areas of Accounting Expert Systems: Taxation

Advising on potential acquisitions and mergers

Claiming a dependentAuditing deferred tax accrualsDetermining corporate tax statusDetermining if a firm qualifies for

Subchapter S tax statusOffering personal and corporate tax

planning advice

Figure M2-9 Continued

Areas of Accounting Expert Systems: Cost/Managerial

Analyzing significant variances and explaining the variation

Assisting in monthly closingsAllocating revenue and expensesAnalyzing performance of projectsReviewing trial balances

Figure M2-9 Continued

Areas of Accounting Expert Systems: Financial Accounting

Accounting for non-monetary transactions (APB No. 29)

Accounting for contingencies (FAS No. 5)Purchasing vs. pooling (APB No. 16)Accounting for futures contracts (FAS No.

80)Developing expert systems for other

professional pronouncementsClassifying financial transactions correctlyEvaluating credit worthiness

Figure M2-9 Continued

Examples of ES in Accounting: Auditing

Name Purpose Developer

Loan Probe To assist banks inassessing commercialloan portfolios

KPMG PeatMarwick

Auditor To assist in evaluatingthe adequacy of theallowance for baddebts

Dungan(University ofSouth Florida)

EDP-XPERT To aid auditspecialists inevaluating thereliability of controlsin computer systems

Hansen andMessier(University ofFlorida)

GC-X To aid in makinggoing-concernjudgments

Biggs andSelfridge(University ofConnecticut)

Audit Planner To aid in makingmateriality judgments

Steinbart(Arizona State

Figure M2-10

Examples of ES in Accounting: Tax

Name Purpose Developer

TAXADVISOR To aid tax specialistsin rendering estateplanning advice

Michaelson(University ofNorth Texas)

ExperTAX To aid in tax planningand corporate taxaccruals

Coopers andLybrand

Taxpayer ServiceAssistant

To aid IRS agents inanswering taxpayerquestions on complextax issues

IRS

Figure M2-10 Continued

Emerging Developments

Intelligent Agent SoftwareIntegrating DSSs with other support

systemsFuzzy LogicDevelopments in Multimedia and

Hypertext

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Accounting Information Systems: Accounting Information Systems: Essential Concepts and ApplicationsEssential Concepts and Applications Fourth Edition by Wilkinson, Cerullo,Fourth Edition by Wilkinson, Cerullo,Raval, and Wong-On-WingRaval, and Wong-On-Wing