Assignment
4: Changing the AIS
Due
Week 10 and worth 320 points
Migrating
to a new accounting information system is not an easy task. Many firms have
struggled with this process, even though our textbook makes the process seem
quite straightforward. Recently, IBM recapped some of the lessons learned in
migrating to a new accounting information system within the federal government.
These lessons can be applied to any accounting information system project.
Others have developed their own recommendations for best practices and lessons
learned involving implementing accounting information systems. However, in
order to appreciate what IBM and others are proposing, we need to apply lessons
learned to a real-life situation involving the failure to implement an
accounting system properly.
For
this assignment, research the Internet or Strayer databases for information
related to a real-life accounting information system failure and best
practices, as well as lessons learned from implementing the accounting system.
In addition to information that you may find during your research, please use
the following IBM article to complete the assignment: (http://www.businessofgovernment.org/article/what-we-know-now-lessons-learned-implementing-federal-financial-systems-projects).
Write
a ten to twelve (10-12) page paper in which you:
1.
Identify three to five (3-5) factors that contributed to the
accounting information system failure within the business that you have
identified. Indicate the impact to the business. Provide support for your
rationale.
2.
Assess senior management responsibility for the failure in
question. Specify what the senior management could have done differently to
avoid the failure. Provide support for your rationale.
3.
Evaluate whether the most significant failure occurred within the
system design, implementation, or operational phase of the process. Indicate
what the company could have done to avoid the failed outcome. Provide support
for your rationale.
4.
Evaluate how implementing best practices would have reduced the
chances for failure. Provide support for your rationale.
5.
Based on your research, develop a list of between four (4) and six
(6) best practices that organizations should use today to reduce the chances
for failure. Provide support for your rationale.
6.
Using the information provided by IBM and others, indicate which
of the principles designed to provide insight into effective and efficient
strategies on how to best deploy financial management systems, which were
outlined within the related article, should serve as an example of whatnot to do when establishing the foundation for a firm to
follow.Your proposed
foundation should consist of at least two (2) principles, but no more than six
(6). Provide support for your rationale.
7.
Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment.Note:Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify
as quality resources.
Your
assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
·
Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12),
with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or
school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional
instructions.
·
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the
student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover
page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page
length.
The
specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
·
Analyze the business activities that comprise an accounting
information system to determine the information needs to support
decision-making function.
·
Examine the phases of the systems development life cycle and key
issues related to systems analysis.
·
Analyze the systems design, implementation, and operational
process.
·
Use technology and information resources to research issues in
accounting information systems.
·
Write clearly and concisely about accounting information systems
using proper writing mechanics.
Clickhere to view the grading rubric for this assignment.
