An Implementation Strategy For Developing Interdisciplinary Professional Skills Within The Accounting Curriculum

Accounting students are aware of the increasing demand generated from the use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems within the world’s major companies. This paper describes the use of this technology within an undergraduate accounting curriculum. The objective is to teach business processes and integration issues. Students simulated a manufacturing ERP implementation by organizing themselves as an implementation team, developing an implementation plan, designing a simple product and product structures, populating the master records, and executing a system walk-through. Students also script core business processes and develop a demonstration of their implementation system for interested parties in the business school. The paper evaluates the implementation project and offers suggestions for enhancing the benefits capable from such pedagogy

Star Enterprises Inc: Getting Control of Your Fixed Assets

Investment in fixed assets constitutes the largest part of the asset side of the balance sheet. This paper looks at the processes to create, purchase, manage, and evaluate the value and effectiveness of fixed assets using an SAP R/3 Resource Planning System. The case can be used to discuss a variety of issues associated with Asset accounting. This case is appropriate for an undergraduate course in accounting informational systems and/or intermediate accounting. The case does require access to an SAP R/3 server, and some knowledge of how to navigate the SAP R/3 system. The scenario uses the current version (ECC6.0) of SAP available to members of the SAP University Alliance

The Young Professional: A Personal Budgeting Challenge

A common dream of many college students is to have a job within their chosen field awaiting them when they graduate. However, given the economy and other situational factors, this may not become a reality for all students. In this case study, a soon-to-be-graduate, Kate Denny, has been fortunate enough to have received a job offer in her chosen field commencing upon graduation. She has worked extremely hard to place herself in this situation. Offered, what she considers a generous starting salary and benefits package, she is beginning her journey into the real world and living independently and being truly self-supportive. However, she is not quite sure whether or not she will be able to live within her means, support herself, fulfill her obligations and at the same time, live the good life of a young professional. A personal budget is what Kate needs. She seeks your advice and counsel to help her manage her finances so she can have her cake and eat it too

Cap And Trade Allowance Accounting: A Divergence Between Theory And Practice

This study concerns one of the most significant and glaring divergences between theory and practice that has emerged since the accounting discipline’s conceptual framework was developed in the late 1970s.  Through an extensive empirical examination of extant practices with respect to cap and trade allowances allotted to U.S. electric utilities under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, this research demonstrates a surprising—and possibly unsupportable—divergence between expected and actual practice.  The results of this research show that practice and theory diverge in a substantial and negative way.  EPA-issued emissions allowances meet the accepted definition of an economic resource that will provide a future benefit, i.e., an asset.  Yet, examination of five years’ of public financial disclosures for the entities affected by the CAAA shows scant recognition for the acquisition, disposition, or year-end existence of these tradable emissions permits.  Financial statement users and other stakeholders of the affected entities may be seriously misled by the failure to recognize the allowances.  This divergence between theory and practice does not appear to be justifiable

Business Warehouse Modeling Using SAP: Simulating A Business Case To Apply Strategic Enterprise Management To Accounting

The goal of this research project is to develop a simulation model specifically for the Management Accounting Information Systems course – an SAP enabled course for junior Accounting majors at Saint Joseph's University. The purpose of this simulation is to present students with a set of business scenarios, and have the students make a knowledgeable decision using SAP Business Warehouse software. The scenarios will act as a simplified replication of the business environment; thus, they will provide the students with an integrated learning experience. They will make business decisions to ensure the profitability and cash flow of a corporation. While making these decisions, students participate in the application and analysis provided by PC4YOU, which is a simulated company within SAP for demonstration and education purposes. Eventually, the students will need to justify the existence of their strategic plans by evaluating benefits of the system using the reporting tools available within SAP. To provide a “learning by doing” experience, the scenarios will be used to demonstrate the reporting functionality within PC4YOU, the simulated company integrated into the SAP SEM system. Today’s global economy is putting a premium on the ability of students to evaluate a broad range of decisions in collaboration with adaptive supply chains. A critical component of the evolving accounting curriculum lies in the ability to extend students beyond the numbers to evaluate the effective and efficient delivery of these supply chains

Using SAP R/3 To Teach Fixed Asset Accounting And Business Process Reporting

This paper describes a simulation model specifically for the Financial Accounting Information Systems course – an SAP enabled course for junior Accounting majors.  Supporting and measuring the Supply Chain through technology is a key goal of Accounting and should therefore be reflected in an Accounting curriculum.  It will assist students to learn both the benefits, and costs, involved with implementing ERP software.  The purpose of this case is to present students with a set of business scenarios, and allow for the students to make educated and knowledgeable decisions using the SAP R/3 software.  The scenarios will act as a simplified replication of the business environment; thus, they will provide the students with an integrated learning experience.  Students make business decisions to ensure the profitability and cash flow of their respective product lines.  While making these decisions, students participate in the application and analysis provided by IDES, the simulated company integrated into the SAP system.  Eventually, they will need to justify the existence of their division by presenting profitability analysis.  To provide a “learning-by-doing” experience, the scenarios will be used to demonstrate the reporting functionality within IDES.  Today’s global economy is putting a premium on the ability of students to evaluate a broad range of decisions in collaboration with adaptive supply chains.  A critical component of the evolving accounting curriculum lies in the ability to extend students beyond the numbers to evaluate the effective and efficient delivery of these supply chains.  This paper includes our Fixed Asset Explorer Scenario, as well as a Capital Budgeting Analysis using Microsoft Excel

Starsearch Technologies: In Search Of Ways To Enhance Controls Using SAP In The Age Of A Risk-Based Approach To Auditing

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act passed in 2002 now constitutes an important part of the audit of a public firm.  This case looks at the processes to define, manage, and evaluate that process using an integrated enterprise resource planning system.  This case can be used in a variety of ways to discuss issues associated with auditing and the test of internal controls.  The case is appropriate for an undergraduate course in auditing and/or accounting information systems.  The case does not require access to an SAP R/3 server.  Student desires of real time learning can use either a live system or the practice capability within the case.  The scenario demonstrated uses the current version (ECC 6.0) of SAP

Teaching Accounting Courses Online: One Instructors Experience

Accounting programs at colleges and universities across the country are offering more online courses, and in some cases entire degree programs. Given increasing enrollments in online accounting education, it is important that accounting educators become aware of the things that work and the things that dont work when delivering courses over the internet. This paper addresses the good and bad aspects of teaching accounting online. It looks at optimal ways to integrate state-of-the-art technology into an online teaching model and explores ways to increase effectiveness of online delivery as compared to traditional courses. This paper examines teaching accounting courses online at a small liberal arts school. Our research identifies features in the course that led to its effectiveness

Incorporating Sarbanes-Oxley Into A College Accounting Curriculum: Lessons Learned

This paper attempts to identify the ways and give examples of how Sarbanes-Oxley compliance can be taught in real time using the SAP R/3 system and the many lessons derived from the experience. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act significantly impacts CEO’s, CFO’s and public accountants. It also applies to all levels of management. Organizations and their managers need to recognize the significance of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance as well as the benefits it can provide. These benefits include reliability of the financial statements, quality of reporting, and also the opportunity to review a company’s processes and enhance the efficiency of all financial and operating departments. Integrating SAP technology into the classroom has been one of the primary initiatives of the Department of Accounting, a signature program at Saint Joseph’s University, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The implementation and roll-out process has covered a variety of areas from navigation to key business processes and accounting within SAP R/3.  With the evolution of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the need for compliance within a company, the department decided that students should be given exposure on how to use SAP R/3 to conduct 404 walkthroughs in consonance with the Sarbanes-Oxley initiatives. Due to the integrative nature of SAP technology the system is best able to conduct audit processes and create exception reports needed to identify material weaknesses and deficiencies

IFRS: Approaching A State Of Convergence

In this paper we will discuss the underlying differences that currently exist between IFRS and US GAAP. Our paper is presented with the belief that convergence is within reach at this point, and no longer an unfeasible event. The systematic rules-based approach and the conceptual principles-based approach are important models for this paper, and we refer to them when discussing the differences and developing our beliefs. The differences that we have chosen to discuss are ones, we feel, that could lead to comparability complications once IFRS is acceptable among US firms and International firms with US subsidiaries. Areas of concern involve items regarding financial statement presentation, revenue recognition, expense recognition, assets, and liabilities. Although there are a great deal of similarities between the US GAAP and IFRS reporting requirements, the specific items presented within this paper need to be addressed before commonly accepted accounting standards are used among encompassing countries