LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Integrated Project
SPRG 2019
ACCY 310 – Accounting Systems Due as indicated on Blackboard
After completing and discussing the Integrated Project, you should be able to:
Document business processes using BPMN Activity Diagrams.
Document data structures using UML Class Diagrams and the REA Framework.
Develop an understanding of firm performance by collecting, organizing, and analyzing data
provided by the firm.
Develop effective written communications for clients and/or supervisors.
Convey accounting concepts in language non-accounting business users can understand.
Understand and make recommendations on control weaknesses in firm’s business processes.
Understand and develop business cases that support or reject the use of technologies in business
processes.
Communicate persuasively, effectively, and professionally.
BACKGROUND
Mr. X (Phineas Eckstein), a Washington native, runs X Curators, a successful chain of cured food shops in the Pacific Northwest specialize in cured meats, cheeses, tofus, and other product. He also sells his products over the internet. He is considering expanding his business, but he thinks his current accounting and financial systems are restricting his ability to expand. He has come to your firm for assistance – X Curators is your new client.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
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Your manager met with Mr. X and discussed his requirements in detail. At that meeting, your manager instructed you that you will need to prepare the following deliverables for your project:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Document X Curators business processes using BPMN activity diagrams. After gaining an understanding of the key business processes, you will document current processes using business process modeling notation (BPMN). This involves documenting at least five current business processes. These diagrams will serve multiple purposes. Mr. X hopes to use them to train new employees. In addition, they will provide information about potential improvements to those processes by the efficient use of information technology. Finally, they will also highlight areas where Mr. X is exposed to unnecessary risks in his business.
Prepare an integrated data model in the form of a UML class diagram prepared using the REA framework. This data model will serve as the blueprint for X Curators’ prototype database, which you will also develop. Also, prepare a corresponding table and column/field listing for the prototype database. Identify where different fields/attribute names provide the same information and develop recommendations for changes in field names.
Create a new prototype database for X Curators, using your primary database developer’s ShortID in all table, query, and report names. Mr. X has agreed to gather and provide you financial data from his business for the 1st quarter of the fiscal year. That data will be provided in an Excel workbook. You must import the data into your newly created Access (or Base) database, structure it appropriately, and set relationships consistent with your data model. Make changes as necessary in file structures and/or import processes to implement efficient tables and reduce data redundancy. Keep in mind that you may have some data cleanup work to get your tables in order.
Prepare financial reports in your database, using your database software’s query and report tools. You should prepare the queries necessary to support all values needed in your reports. You will provide the following reports and management information in your database:
a. Income statement for the 1st quarter (using accrual accounting).
b. Balance sheet as of the end of the 1st quarter.
c. Income statements by store/location for the 1st quarter.
d. Other performance measures that you believe the company should adopt.
e. Answers to other questions posed by management as outlined in the Deliverables
Details document.
f. Answers to any other questions you wish to investigate and present to management.
Evaluate the financial performance of X Curators for the 1st quarter. Use your database queries and reports to prepare semi-formal financial statements and compute appropriate ratios to evaluate performance against the industry and past company performance, if available. Clearly explain what those ratios mean for the business, including how they compare to their peers. Include these financial statements, ratios, and explanations in your report.
Assess the business case for use of information technology in the business (see chapters 13 and 14 in the text). Your client wants to move to a cloud-based accounting system, such as NetSuite or QuickBooks Online (QBO). Ideally, they would like to upload transactions daily
5.
6.
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Integrated Project
from new point-of-sale machines in each store, perhaps using Square readers. Your assessment should identify the costs of the change in technology, while also specifying which business processes would change and how they would change in as much detail as possible.
7. Recommend changes to your client’s business processes that will make them more effective and efficient.
CASE REPORT
You will submit all the deliverables from items 1, 2, 5, 6 & 7 above in a single report at the completion of your engagement. You will also submit your prototype database (Access or Base) with all the queries and reports needed to satisfy items 3 & 4 above with your report. Your reports and queries should be clearly named so that a user can select the appropriate report/query for each item presented in your report. Your database should be set up in such a way that your client can use it going forward.
Your report should be prepared using a professional layout and reporting style. It should not be longer than 5000 words of body text (not counting any charts, graphs, tables, appendixes or attachments). The appendixes or attachments should include any required documentation not included in the body of the report, plus other information necessary to support your analyses and conclusions. The content of the report should be clear to a relative novice to accounting and information systems concepts (such as Mr. X). Your report may include tables, charts, graphs, and bullet points where appropriate to emphasize or summarize key points, but should include the body text to support any such visuals. You should avoid long paragraphs and use an active voice in your writing where possible. Although there is no prescribed format for your report, you should consider including the following distinct components:
Title page
Contents
Introduction/Executive Summary
Review of risks and controls
Review of financial performance
Business case for use of technology
Appendixes as required
Requirements
1. Using these instructions plus other materials available on Blackboard, evaluate the case company and develop the following deliverables as directed:
Case Report
Prototype Database
2. Submit your case deliverables by the due date indicated on Blackboard.
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Grading Guidelines: Integrated Case
Required
Possible Points
Integrated Case
Case Deliverables
Case Report evaluation points
o Grammar/language use
o Organization and writing flow
o Technical interpretation of case company
o Effective communication and presentation of
information Prototype database
o Effective import of data
o Appropriate relationships in database
o Appropriate query and report strategy for
investigating case details
o Appropriate naming of tables, queries and
reports
o Database queries and reports support findings
presented in report Group effort
o Availability for group meetings
o Contribution to group effort
o Openness to ideas
o Creativity in contributing ideas
o Supportive of other group members o Accountability for work products
o Communication
o Meeting target dates
80
Total
80
Penalties:
Late Submission: 50%+
Not using
Incorrect file name: 10%+
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