Read the text to find out what subsystems management information systems consist of.

The computer is an electronic tool that is used to collect, organize, and communicate information. This is generally done with great speed. They say, accountants were among the earliest and most enthusiastic users of computers. Before the invention of computers the millions of transactions had been recorded by hand. It often took months to produce financial reports while now it takes days and even hours. But still it would be exaggeration to say that computers do the accountant's job. In fact, it is only an electronic tool doing routine book-keeping operations. But they make accountant's work easier and what is more important increase its efficiency.

Today computers perform a number of functions. First, they collect and store data, information and instructions. Second, they calculate and generate information from various data. Third, they control processes and machines by giving instructions. And last but not least they communicate data and information to other machines. It should be stressed that computers work at least a million times faster a human being, they never make mistakes, do not get bored and more accurate than people. That's why computerized accountancy systems are quite common these days. Many businesses can produce detailed accounts and send out bills using computer programmes. Computers may be used to generate complete sets of financial reports immediately upon the request. As it is known, they can add and subtract at the speed of light.

Since computers perform complex analyses for decision-making purposes, many businesses have got management information systems (MIS) and such systems consist of subsystems which provide information needed to ran a business. The most important of these subsystems is the accounting information system. In fact, it plays the primary role of managing the flow of economic data.

At the same time, it is fair to say that although computer systems can perform a lot of functions, there are still activities they cannot replace. These are as follows: first, directing a business to seek future objectives; second, negotiating agreements between parties and third, designing and selling new products or services.

Answer the following questions.

1. What is a computer used for?

2. Why were accountants among the earliest and most enthusiastic users of computers?

3. Is it right, to say that computers can do accountants' job?

4. In what way does a computer affect accountants' work?

5. How many accounting tasks can a computer perform?

6. What is the first function of a computer?

7. What other functions can computers perform in accounting?

8. What are the advantages of using computers in accounting?

9. Why have many businesses got management information systems?

10. What is the role of the accounting information system?

11. What activities are computer systems not able to perform?

SOME LEADING ACCOUNTING ORGANISATIONS OF GREAT

BRITAIN

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 744