ACCT 3533 Final
Maintenance phase
making changes, corrections, additions, and upgrades to ensure the system continues to meet the business requirements that have been set out for it. Continues indefinitely because the system must continue to evolve as the business evolves
Internal controls
processes that an organization implements to safeguard assets, provide accurate and reliable information, promote operational efficiency, enforce prescribed managerial policies, and comply with applicable laws and regulations. Is a management responsibility according to SOX
Service activities
provide the support of customers after the products and services are sold to them
Human Resource management
recruiting, hiring, training, and compensating employees
7. What is an Activity Model?
represents the sequential flow and control logic of a set of related activities. Tools for planning, documenting, discussing, and implementing systems; also facilitates use of systems once implemented. (BPMN flowcharts)
What is a Gateway?
shows process branching and merging as the result of decisions. 1st gateway = branching, 2nd gateway = merging
Planning phase of SDLC
summarizing the business needs with a high-level view of the intended project. A feasibility study is often used to evaluate economic, operational, and technical practicability. Includes making a business case for the system.
6. What is the System Development Life Cycle?
the process of creating or modifying information systems to meet the needs of its users. Foundation for all systems development
What do firms use internal controls for?
As a means of preventing errors and deterring fraud
What does a collapsed sub-process look like?
A rectangle with a plus sign on the bottom
What does it look like?
A rectangle with an electric bolt attached to the corner
What is the symbol used to represent a class?
A rectangle with three components: Class name, attributes, and operations
28. Define linking table. What purpose does a linking table serve? How is it created in Access?
A type of table that is used to establish a many-to-many relationship. Is a relational database requirement. To make, you create a new table, import relevant data from the tables being linked, set the two primary keys of tables as the single primary key
5. What impact does AIS have on the Value Chain?
Adds value by making each primary activity more effective and efficient, as well as support activities more effective and efficient.
How does a Structure model differ from an Activity model?
An activity model represents the sequential flow and control logic of a set of related activities within a business, whereas a structure model describes the blueprint for the development of a relational database
17. Define Primary Keys.
An attribute or combination of attributes that uniquely identifies each instance in a class or row in a table.
32. What is an intermediate error event used for in an activity model?
An exception that occurs when a certain item or product isn't available
31. What is a collapsed sub-process used for in an activity model?
An item within the BPMN that contains a series of steps that are hidden from view
Scope creep
Change in scope comes from small, relatively insignificant change requests that the project team accepts. Changes become so numerous that it changes the scope of the project. The larger the scope expands, the more the project will drift away from its original purpose, timeline, and budget.
29. What is a Type Image? What is an example of a Type Image?
Class that represents management information (such as categorizations, policies, and guidelines) to help manage a business process. Allows process information to be summarized by category. Ex: Products => Product Categories
3. Define "Relevant" in the context of useful information.
Has PREDICTIVE VALUE (helps with forecasting the future), FEEDBACK VALUE (corrects or confirms what had been predicted in the past), and TIMELINESS (available when needed or in time to have an impact on a decision)
15-15 rule
If a projects is more than 15% over budget, OR 15% off the desired timeline, it will likely never recoup the time or cost necessary to be considered successful
What are the resources, events, and agents usually involved in the Purchases Process?
Resources: Inventory, cash Events: Purchases, cash disbursements Agents: Employees, Suppliers Linking table: Purchase Order Detail
What are the resources, events, and agents usually involved in the Sales Process?
Resources: Inventory, cash Events: Sales, cash receipts Agents: Employees, customers
10. What is the symbol for an Activity in BPMN?
Rounded rectangles
How an AIS further adds value
- Helps with the firm infrastructure by giving management information relevant to the decision makers - Helps provide internal control structure needed to make sure the information is secure, reliable, and free from error - Helps produce external and internal financial reports efficiently and helps decision makers get timely access to the processed information - Supports human resources by assisting employees; includes easy access to payroll information, compensation policies, benefits, tax benefits, etc. - Assists procurement by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the supply chain. Helps ensure that the right product is at the right location at the right time, including receipts of raw material from suppliers to delivery of finished goods to the customers
What does an Activity model need to be able to describe?
1) Events that start, change, or stop flow in the process 2) Activities and tasks within the process 3) The sequence of flow between tasks 4) Decision points that affect the flow 5) Division of activity depending on organizational roles
What are the different phases of the Systems Development Life Cycle?
1) Planning Phase 2) Analysis Phase 3) Design Phase 4) Implementation Phase 5) Maintenance Phase
20. Define Database.
A collection of related data for various uses. Maintains information about various types of objects, events, people, and places.
25. How do we ensure that these two rules are followed when we build relationships in Microsoft Access?
Click on "Enforce Referential Integrity" within the "Edit Relationships" window, designate primary keys before creating tables
19. Define Attributes.
Data elements that describe the instances in a class. Includes descriptive information
1. What is the difference between Data and Information?
Data: simply raw facts that describe the characteristics of an event that, in isolation, have little meaning. Information: Data organized in a meaningful way to be useful to the user.
16. Define Multiplicities
Describes the minimum and maximum number of times instances in one class can be associated with instances in another class.
Design phase
Describing in detail the desired features of the system that was uncovered in the analysis phase. May be described using screen layouts, process and event diagrams, or other documentation.
11. What is the symbol for a Gateway in BPMN?
Diamond
Primary activities of the value chain
Inbound Logistics => Operations => Outbound logistics => Marketing and sales activities => Service activities
33. Describe a generic Purchasing Process
Includes business activities related to buying inventory from suppliers, maintaining supplier records, and making payments to suppliers for trad accounts payable while taking appropriate purchase discounts
Describe a generic sales process
Includes business activities related to selling products and services, maintaining customer records, billing customers, and recording payments from customers. Follow the REA format
2. What makes Information useful?
Information must be BOTH relevant and reliable
39. Perceived Ease of Use and Perceived Usefulness
Involves the technology acceptance model (TAM). Suggests that if the user of a new system BELIEVES the system is easy to learn and use (ease of use) and will help them perform their job better (perceived usefulness), then the user will make the effort to learn the new system and ultimately adopt it.
4. Define "Reliable" in the context of useful information.
Is VERIFIABLE (can be confirmed by an independent party), has REPRESENTATIONAL FAITHFULNESS (reports what actually happened), and is NEUTRAL (information is not biased)
Cost of Dempster's Triangle
Keeping the project within the planned budget. initial budget may not reflect all of the costs to bring the project to completion. Additional costs may be needed to successfully complete the project
12. What are the differences between swim lanes and pools, and how are each used?
Pools: identifies the organization Swimlanes: Individual departments within the organization Each are used to identify the both the organizations and the departments/individual actors participating in a process
Support activities of the value chain
Procurement => Information technology => Human Resources Management => Infrastructure
Time of Dempster's Triangle
Projects are given a timeline which project managers must follow to make sure the project is successful and effective
9. What is the symbol for a start and end event in BPMN?
Start: Single-ringed thin line circle End: Single-ringed thick line circle
Dempster's triangle
States that all information technology and other projects are constrained by three factors: cost, scope, and time constraints. Also called the "triple constraint". For a project to be successful, these three constraints must be held in balance
24. What is the Referential Integrity Rule?
The data value for a foreign key must either be null or match one of the data values that already exist in the corresponding table
23. What is the Entity Integrity Rule?
The primary key of a table must have data values (can't be null)
Value chain
a chain of business processes for a firm. Products pass through all activities of the chain in order, with the product gaining value at each activity
Analysis phase of SDLC
a complete, detailed analysis of the systems needs of the end user. Refines goal of the project into carefully specified functions and operations of the intended system. Involves looking at the entire system in different pieces and drawing various flowcharts and diagrams (BPMN) to better analyze the situation and project goals
Inbound logistics
activities associated with receiving and storing raw materials and other partially completed materials and distributing those materials to manufacturing when and where they're needed
Procurement
activities involve purchasing inputs such as raw materials, supplies and equipment
Firm infrastructure
activities needed to support the firm, including the CEO and the finance, accounting, and legal departments
Operations
activities that transform inputs into finished goods and services
Outbound logistics
activities that warehouse and distribute the finished goods to the customers
18. Define Foreign Keys
an attribute or combination of attributes that allows tables to be linked together. Is linked to the primary key of another table to support a defined association
14. Define Classes
any separately identifiable collection of things (objects) about which the organization wants to collect and store information
8. What is BPMN?
business process modeling notation. Specifically designed for process modeling use and to be understood by business people. Provides a starting point for business process improvement
Scope of Dempster's Triangle
defined in the initial stages of the project. Begins to expand when additional features are added to the original specifications to add desired functionality
15. Define Associations
depicts the relationship between two classes. Allows navigation between instances in one class and instances of another class
13. What is a Structure Model (class diagram)?
describes the data and information structures inherent in a business process or processes. Primary purpose is to create a blueprint for the development of a relational database; tools for planning, documenting, discussing, and implementing databases, and facilitate use after implementation
Preventive internal controls
deters problems before they arise. Requires compliance with preferred procedures and thus stops undesirable events from happening
Implementation phase
development, testing, and implementation of the new proposed system. Is the process of transforming the plan from the design phase into an actual, functioning system. Involves testing for errors and interoperability of other parts, as well as verifying all business requirement from the analysis phase are met; place system into production for users to utilize
Detective internal controls
finds problems when they arise. Designed to identify undesirable events after they have already occurred. Ex: bank reconciliations and monthly trial balances
Corrective internal controls
fix problems that have been identified, such as using backup files to recover corrupted data. Typically accompanied by detective controls
Marketing and sales activites
identify the needs and wants of customers to help attract them to the firm's products and then buy them
Information technology
includes all technologies necessary to support value-creating activities. Includes research and development to develop new products or determine ways to produce products at a cheaper price