Accounting and Decision Support Systems (11216.3)

This unit has three major aims. The first is to develop students' skills in analysing and presenting business data using business intelligence and data visualisation tools. Students will also be introduced to a range of issues relating to the development and use of accounting information systems (AIS), such as the interaction between the AIS and an entity's enterprise resource planning system, systems documentation, internal controls and governance issues. Thirdly, the unit aims to develop technical skills in Microsoft Excel in order to build decision-support models, evaluate their outputs and identify the impacts of assumptions built into these models.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Analyse and communicate business insights using data analytics and visualization software;
2. Assess IT governance frameworks;
3. Explain the importance of internal controls and design internal controls that cover key business processes and support the achievement of goals;
4. Develop complex spreadsheet-based decision support models for a variety of problems; and
5. Identify assumptions used in decision support models and evaluate their impact.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology

Prerequisites

11212 Accounting Systems and Practices

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

6348 Information Systems in Organisations

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

A sound understanding of financial accounting, particularly how to journalise transactions and events.