Midterm Exam 1- Acct 308-summer School

Documentation methods such as DFDs (Data Flow Diagrams) and flowcharts provide visual representations of processes and systems within an organization. These diagrams help in understanding the flow of information, data, and activities, which in turn improves communication and collaboration among team members. By documenting processes and systems, organizations can identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement, leading to time and cost savings. Additionally, well-documented processes enable easier training of new employees and facilitate troubleshooting and problem-solving. Therefore, the use of documentation methods like DFDs and flowcharts can indeed save both time and money, ultimately adding value to an organization.

A DFD (Data Flow Diagram) is a visual representation of how data flows within a system. It consists of four basic elements: data sources and destinations, data flows, transformation processes, and data stores. Each of these elements is represented by a different symbol on the DFD. Therefore, the given statement is true as it accurately describes the four basic elements of a DFD.

The general ledger is a comprehensive record of all financial transactions and accounts of an organization. It contains detailed information about each account, including the inventory account. Therefore, the general ledger would contain the total value of all inventory owned by an organization.

Online, real-time processing refers to the recording and processing of information about a transaction immediately as it occurs. This means that the transaction is captured and processed in real-time, allowing for immediate updates and access to the information. This type of processing is commonly used in systems such as online banking or point-of-sale systems where transactions need to be processed and reflected immediately.

The function of an AIS (Accounting Information System) is to transform data into useful information. An AIS collects, records, processes, and stores financial and accounting data, and then converts that data into meaningful reports and analyses. By transforming raw data into useful information, an AIS helps managers and decision-makers make informed decisions, monitor performance, and evaluate the financial health of an organization. It also aids in compliance with financial reporting requirements and facilitates internal and external communication.

A software program that runs a database system is known as a DBMS (Database Management System). DBMS is responsible for creating, managing, and manipulating databases. It provides functionalities such as data storage, retrieval, and security. DQL (Data Query Language), DML (Data Manipulation Language), and DDL (Data Definition Language) are all components or languages used within a DBMS to interact with the database, but they are not the software program itself.

If customers pay for each sales transaction with a separate check and are not permitted to make installment payments on any sales, then the relationship between the Sales and Cash Receipt events would be modeled as a 1:1 relationship. This means that for every sales transaction, there is only one corresponding cash receipt, and vice versa. Each sales transaction has a unique cash receipt associated with it, and each cash receipt is linked to a specific sales transaction.

Accounts receivable is most likely to be a general ledger control account because it is used to track the total amount of money owed to a company by its customers. This account is updated regularly as sales are made and payments are received, and it provides a summary of all outstanding customer balances. By using a control account like accounts receivable, companies can easily monitor and reconcile their customer accounts, ensuring accuracy and completeness in their financial records.

Accountants need to have the ability to read documentation in order to understand how the system works. This is important for them to effectively analyze and interpret financial information. By reading the documentation, accountants can gain insights into the processes and procedures of the system, enabling them to make accurate financial decisions and provide valuable insights to the organization.

Data and information are two distinct concepts. Data refers to raw facts, figures, or symbols that have not been processed or organized in any meaningful way. On the other hand, information is the result of processing and organizing data, making it meaningful and useful. Therefore, data are input, as they are the starting point for generating information, while information is output, as it is the outcome of processing data.

Turnaround documents refer to records of company data that are sent to an external party and then returned to the system as input. These documents are used to update or input data into the system, allowing for a seamless flow of information between the company and the external party.

A DFD (Data Flow Diagram) is a graphical representation that shows the flow of data within an organization. It illustrates how data moves between different processes, data stores, and external entities. By using symbols to represent these components and arrows to indicate the direction of data flow, a DFD helps to visualize the movement of information and understand the relationships between various elements in an organization's data processing system.

The correct answer is the logical view because it refers to how a user conceptually organizes and understands data. The logical view focuses on the logical structure and relationships of the data, rather than the physical implementation or organization. It involves defining data elements, their attributes, and the relationships between them, allowing users to understand and manipulate the data in a meaningful way without concerning themselves with the underlying physical storage or organization.

Upgrading IT is considered a support activity in the value chain concept. Support activities are those that provide assistance to the primary activities of a business, such as procurement, technology development, human resource management, and infrastructure. Upgrading IT falls under the technology development support activity, as it involves improving and enhancing the technological capabilities of the organization to support its primary activities.

The attribute "supplier number" would most likely be a primary key because it is a unique identifier for each supplier. Primary keys are used to uniquely identify each record in a database table, and "supplier number" seems to be the most appropriate attribute for this purpose. The other attributes, such as "supplier name", "supplier zip code", and "supplier account balance", may not be unique for each supplier and therefore would not be suitable as primary keys.

A record is a collection of related data items that are stored together. In the context of this question, it is stated that all the information about a particular student, including their name, GPA, major, etc., is stored in a record. Therefore, a record is the correct answer as it is the data structure that holds all the relevant information about a specific student.

Increasing information overload is not a means by which information improves decision making. Information overload refers to the situation where the amount of information available exceeds a person's ability to process and comprehend it. When there is too much information, it can actually hinder decision making by causing confusion, overwhelm, and a lack of focus. Therefore, increasing information overload does not contribute to better decision making.

The correct answer is the expenditure cycle. This cycle involves the interactions between an organization and its suppliers, which includes activities such as purchasing goods and services, receiving and inspecting them, and making payments to suppliers. This cycle is crucial for managing the organization's expenses and ensuring that it obtains the necessary resources from suppliers to support its operations.

The revenue cycle is the correct answer because it involves the process of selling goods or services to customers and receiving payment for them. This cycle includes activities such as generating sales orders, delivering the goods to customers, issuing invoices, and collecting payments. It is an essential part of a company's operations as it directly impacts its cash flow and profitability.

The given answer, "It is inexpensive," is not a characteristic that makes information useful. The usefulness of information is typically determined by factors such as its reliability, timeliness, and relevance. The cost or expense of obtaining the information does not necessarily impact its usefulness. Therefore, being inexpensive is not a characteristic that contributes to the usefulness of information.

A company that focuses its marketing efforts on a specific subset of the population, such as college students, is likely pursuing a needs-based strategic position. This means that the company is targeting a specific group of customers who have unique needs and preferences. By understanding and catering to these specific needs, the company can differentiate itself from competitors and create value for its target market. This approach allows the company to tailor its products, services, and marketing messages to meet the specific needs and desires of the chosen customer segment.

The relational data model portrays data as being stored in tables. In this model, data is organized into tables with rows representing records and columns representing attributes or fields. Each table has a unique identifier called a primary key, which is used to establish relationships between tables. This allows for efficient storage, retrieval, and manipulation of data. Tables in the relational data model provide a structured and organized way to store and manage data, making it a widely used and accepted approach in database management systems.

The focus on improving the efficiency of the manufacturing process suggests that the company is pursuing a low-cost strategy. By investing in ways to make the manufacturing process more efficient, the company aims to reduce costs and produce goods at a lower cost than its competitors. This strategy is focused on achieving cost leadership in the market, allowing the company to offer products at lower prices or with higher profit margins.

The external-level schema represents an individual user's view of the database. It defines how a specific user or group of users perceive and interact with the data. This schema is customized to meet the specific needs and requirements of the user, providing a simplified and tailored view of the database. It allows users to access and manipulate the data without needing to understand the underlying complexities of the database structure.

In an REA data model, entities represent the basic building blocks of the system. They are the objects or concepts that are of interest to the organization. In this case, all of the options listed - customer, sale, and finished goods - can be considered entities in an REA data model. The customer entity represents individuals or organizations who engage in transactions, the sale entity represents the transaction itself, and the finished goods entity represents the products that are being sold. Therefore, all of the above options are correct entities in an REA data model.

A cash budget is the most useful tool for projecting the need for short-term borrowing because it provides a detailed analysis of a company's expected cash inflows and outflows over a specific period. By examining the cash budget, a company can determine if it will have enough cash on hand to cover its expenses and obligations or if it will need to borrow funds to meet its short-term needs. The income statement, performance report, and balance sheet provide valuable financial information, but they do not specifically focus on cash flow projections like a cash budget does.

Management's attitudes toward internal control and ethical behavior have a significant impact on employee beliefs and actions. When management demonstrates a commitment to ethical behavior and internal control, employees are more likely to follow suit. This can create a positive control environment where employees understand the importance of following policies and procedures and are motivated to act ethically. Conversely, if management does not prioritize internal control and ethical behavior, employees may be more inclined to disregard policies and engage in unethical actions.

The entity integrity rule states that all primary keys must have non-null data values. This ensures that each record in a table is uniquely identified and prevents any null or missing values in the primary key field. This rule is an important aspect of maintaining data integrity and ensuring the accuracy and consistency of the database. It helps to enforce the uniqueness and reliability of primary keys, which are crucial for proper data management and relationships between tables.

The correct answer is "internal control policies." COSO, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, identified five interrelated components of internal controls: risk assessment, monitoring, information and communication, control activities, and the control environment. Internal control policies are not specifically mentioned as one of the components, making it the correct answer.

The correct order of the risk assessment steps discussed in this chapter is to first identify threats, then estimate risk and exposure, followed by identifying controls, and finally estimating costs and benefits. This order allows for a systematic approach to assessing and managing risks by first identifying potential threats, then evaluating the likelihood and impact of those threats, determining appropriate controls to mitigate the risks, and finally considering the costs and benefits associated with implementing those controls.

The correct answer is referential integrity rule. This rule ensures that there is consistency and accuracy in the relationships between tables in a database. It requires that all foreign keys, which are used to establish relationships between tables, must have either null values or the value of a primary key in another table. This ensures that the data remains valid and prevents any inconsistencies or errors in the relationships between tables.

The relationship between agent entities and event entities is 1:N, which means that one agent can be associated with multiple events, but each event is associated with only one agent. This implies that an agent can participate in or be responsible for multiple events, but each event has a single agent associated with it.

Lower level management employees are most likely to make structured decisions involving operational control. This is because lower level managers are responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and ensuring that tasks are carried out efficiently and effectively. These decisions typically involve routine and repetitive tasks that can be standardized and controlled. Strategic planning and decision-making are usually the responsibilities of higher-level managers who have a broader perspective and are involved in long-term planning.

A supply chain refers to the network of organizations involved in the production, distribution, and consumption of goods or services. This includes the firm, its suppliers, and its customers. They work together to ensure the smooth flow of products or services from the initial production stage to the final delivery to the end consumer. Therefore, the correct answer is supply chain.

Sequentially prenumbering sales invoices is a control procedure relating to both the design and use of documents and records. This practice ensures that each invoice is assigned a unique number in a sequential order, which helps in tracking and identifying individual transactions. It helps to prevent the occurrence of duplicate or missing invoices, reducing the risk of fraud or errors in recording sales transactions. Additionally, it facilitates the organization and retrieval of invoices, making it easier to locate and reference specific transactions when needed.

A budget is a report that expresses goals in financial terms. It outlines the expected income and expenses for a specific period, typically a year. It helps organizations plan and allocate resources effectively, ensuring that financial goals are met. A budget provides a detailed breakdown of projected revenues, costs, and investments, allowing businesses to track their financial performance and make informed decisions. It serves as a financial roadmap, guiding organizations towards their objectives and enabling them to monitor their progress.

The answer is correct because the COSO's internal control integrated framework report is indeed widely accepted as the authority on internal controls. This report provides a comprehensive framework for designing, implementing, and assessing internal control systems in organizations. It is recognized and used by many organizations, auditors, and regulators as a standard for evaluating the effectiveness of internal controls.

During the systems analysis stage of database design, data modeling is performed to identify and define the data requirements of the system. This involves analyzing the business processes, identifying entities and their relationships, and creating a conceptual data model. The conceptual design stage further refines the data model by adding attributes, defining data types, and establishing relationships between entities. Therefore, data modeling occurs during the systems analysis and conceptual design stages of database design.

In the REA data model, every event must be linked to at least two agents. This means that for each event, there must be at least two different agents involved or participating in that event. This ensures that there is a clear relationship and interaction between multiple agents in the system. This requirement helps to capture and represent the various exchanges and transactions that occur between different parties in a business process.

The correct answer is inventory (1,1) - (1,1) sales. This means that the inventory of the construction company is always 1, indicating that they only have one custom home available at a time. The sales also indicate that they sell one house at a time. This is consistent with the information given in the question, where none of the customers have ordered two houses at once.

The entity integrity rule in database design states that the primary key in a table should not be null. This means that every record in a table must have a unique identifier, and this identifier cannot be empty or null. The primary key ensures the uniqueness and integrity of the data in the table, allowing for efficient data retrieval and manipulation.

Post-sales service is considered a primary activity in the value chain because it involves activities that directly add value to the product or service after it has been sold. This includes activities such as customer support, warranty services, repairs, and maintenance. By providing excellent post-sales service, a company can enhance customer satisfaction, build customer loyalty, and potentially generate repeat sales.

In a data flow diagram, data sources and destinations are represented as squares. This is because squares symbolize external entities or processes that provide or receive data. These squares serve as the starting or ending points of data flows within the diagram. The other options, such as curved arrows, circles, and parallel lines, do not accurately represent data sources and destinations in a data flow diagram.

The attribute "customer number" in the Cash Receipts table would most likely be a foreign key because it represents a reference to the primary key in the Customers table. This allows for the establishment of a relationship between the two tables, where each cash receipt is associated with a specific customer.

The statement "DFDs help convey the timing of events" is false. Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) are used to represent the flow of data between different processes, entities, and data stores in a system. They do not provide information about the timing or sequencing of events. Timing diagrams or sequence diagrams are typically used to convey the timing of events in a system.

To achieve effective segregation of duties, it is important to separate certain functions. This is because it helps to prevent fraud and errors by ensuring that no single individual has complete control over a transaction from start to finish. The correct listing of accounting-related functions that must be segregated is authorization, recording, and custody. Authorization involves approving and initiating transactions, recording involves accurately documenting the transactions, and custody involves safeguarding the assets or resources involved in the transactions. By separating these functions, it helps to create a system of checks and balances and reduces the risk of fraudulent activities.

Invoices are not likely to be depicted as an entity in the REA data model because invoices are typically considered as a transaction or event in the model rather than an entity. The REA data model focuses on capturing economic exchanges between entities, such as sales between customers and the company. Invoices are generated as a result of these transactions and serve as documentation, but they do not represent a separate entity in the model.

In the REA data model, each event is generally linked to at least one resource. This means that in any transaction or business process, there is typically an event that occurs and this event is associated with a resource. The resource can be a physical asset, such as inventory or equipment, or it can be a non-physical asset, such as a service or a contract. The link between the event and the resource helps to capture the flow of resources in the system and is a fundamental concept in the REA data model.

The recommended guidelines for making flowcharts more readable, clear, concise, consistent, and understandable include dividing the flowchart into columns with labels, designing the flowchart so that flow proceeds from top to bottom and from left to right, showing the final disposition of all documents to prevent loose ends, and ensuring that each manual processing symbol has an input and an output. However, the guideline of "flowcharting all information flows, especially exception procedures and error routines" is not one of the recommended guidelines.

In a relational database table, each row is called a tuple. A tuple represents a single record or instance of data in the table. It contains a collection of attributes or fields that define the characteristics of the data. Tuples are used to organize and store data in a structured manner, allowing for efficient retrieval and manipulation of information within the database.