Acct 4310 schedule: Fall 2011

1. Analyze data to provide insights about business operations and performance: Spreadsheets and database manager
2. Design business processes and represent them with documentation tools
3. Design and implement well-structured databases to enable business processes.
4. Evaluate internal control in information systems and design controls to mitigate risks associated with information systems.
   
   

   

Because accountants' work and achieving learning objectives requires thriving in digital environments, you will develop expertise for that too.

Class day: Objective

1. Examine learning outcomes
2. Find course resources
3. Course performance
   1. Identify graded items
   2. Develop course progress spreadsheet.
      1. Like other files on the course Web site in myRobinson, this one requires the course site password, which is the same for everyone and is available in Links on the MyRobinson course home page.
      2. When saving a file from this Web site, change the type to "All files" and edit the filename to have the appropriate extension, e.g., ".xlsx" for spreadsheet and ".mdb" for database.
         
   3. Prepare for exam questions
   4. Develop time management spreadsheet
   5. Evaluate CSP 2 Basic Microcomputing Spreadsheet Skills
4. Complete learning research consent form in uLearn
5. Begin analysis for WheelsNow case Part 1

1. Work on CSP 2 Basic Microcomputing Spreadsheet Skills if needed, e.g., eTraining Excel Levels 1 and 2.
2. Satisfy CSPs for CSP 1 Basic Skills and CSPs 4-5 Database Skills in uLearn by attaining 100% correct for both.
3. Complete analysis for WheelsNow case Part 1
   1. Verify that common spreadsheet errors have not occurred
4. Design an analysis for WheelsNow case Part 2

1. Examine WheelsNow case Part 1 analyses
   1. Did common spreadsheet errors creep into your spreadsheet? How would you know? How could you avoid them?
2. Discuss analysis for WheelsNow case Part 2
3. Begin work on Car Maker/Car Dealer case

1. Query the Car Maker/Car Dealer case database (both parts), using as much of the provided assistance as you need. Repeat the querying until you can complete each part in 30 minutes or less.
   
   To facilitate querying and following the directions simultaneously, resize and reposition the windows with the directions and the Access program to make them appear together on the screen.
   
   
2. Watch the movie Outer joins until you are able to explain outer joins to a friend.
3. Repeat the Car Maker/Car Dealer case querying

1. Evaluate Car Maker/Car Dealer case progress
2. What did you find out from the database for each part?
3. Search the web (google.com, ask.com, yahoo.com) and Alexander's ebook for Access help, e.g., for functions (MIN, ABS, ROUND) and for joining tables

1. Scan chapters 1-2 and the Aggregate Queries section in chapter 3 (pp. 1-60) in Alexander to learn concepts that are not perfectly clear to you
2. Answer Car Maker/Car Dealer questions in uLearn until you attain 100% correct.
3. Begin querying the inventory database. If you wish, work with other students.

1. Query the inventory database.
   

1. With one or more other students, complete the inventory database querying. For help with Access functions, see Appendix A (pp. 355-396) in Alexander.
2. With one or more other students, prepare a list of analysis objectives for the WheelsNow case part 2

WheelsNow case part 2

1. Examine and refine analysis objectives
   1. Part 1
   2. Part 2
2. Analyze the data

1. WheelsNow case part 2
   1. Re-perform the analysis
   2. For help with calculations in Access, see chapter 5 through the section Understanding the Order of Operator Precedence (pp. 121-131) in Alexander.

1. Complete WheelsNow case part 2 data analysis
   
   
2. Interview staff from Ernst & Young Advisory (IT Risk & Assurance, Performance Improvement, and Risk)

1. Prepare to answer exam questions on the WheelsNow case Parts 1 and 2 by mastering:
   1. The Car Maker/Car Dealer case
   2. Inventory database querying
   3. WheelsNow case Parts 1 and 2 data analysis
   4. Explanations of common spreadsheet errors
   5. Alexander's explanations of querying: Chapters 1-2 and the Aggregate Queries section in chapter 3 (pp. 1-60), chapter 5 through the section Understanding the Order of Operator Precedence (pp. 121-131), Appendix A (pp. 355-396)

1. Exam 1 Data analysis: WheelsNow case: Answer questions in uLearn
2. Prepare for studying business processes by answering EasyBuy questions in uLearn

Catch up on other matters!

1. Re-perform construction of SuperSushi diagram
2. Review construction steps
3. Prepare to answer SuperSushi construction questions

1. Exam 2 part 1 Business process: Answer SuperSushi construction questions in uLearn
2. Examine inferencing objectives

1. Reflect on SuperSushi construction questions
2. Prepare to answer SuperSushi inferencing questions

1. Exam 2 part 2 Business process: Answer SuperSushi inferencing questions in uLearn
2. Extract processes from 24-Seven part 1, in uLearn

1. Finish extracting processes from 24-Seven part 1, in uLearn

1. Ask questions about 24-Seven part 1 diagrams
   1. Current system
   2. Contemplated system

1. Construct diagrams
   1. Current system
   2. Contemplated system

1. Inspect 24-Seven part 1 diagrams
2. Exam 2 part 3 Business process: Answer 24-Seven part 1 construction questions, in uLearn

1. Read documentation of information systems
2. Answer documentation questions
3. Answer 24-Seven part 1 practice inferencing questions, in uLearn
4. Refine diagrams

1. Consider responses to documentation questions
2. Clarify thinking about practice questions
3. Exam 2 part 4 Business process: Answer 24-Seven part 1 inferencing questions, in uLearn

Catch up on other matters!

1. Identify differences between flowcharts and BPDs: Warranty Call Center diagrams: BPD, flowchart
2. BloomScape
   1. Form teams for BloomScape
   2. Examine querying objectives for assuring data quality

BloomScape

1. Read the BloomScape conversation
2. In teams, develop querying objectives for analyzing business performance
3. Like 24-Seven part 1, BloomScape focuses on the company's supply chain. Scan Wikipedia's entries on supply chain and supply chain management to see the terminology associated with supply chains generally.

BloomScape:

1. Develop a BloomScape process diagram
2. Develop objectives for assuring data quality

BloomScape

1. Study how to prepare an REA diagram: Directions
2. Sketch an REA diagram for BloomScape. For cardinality shapes, see Excel, Visio.

1. BloomScape
   1. Review directions for preparing an REA diagram
   2. Develop a BloomScape REA diagram. For cardinality shapes, see Excel, Visio

1. Identify and implement queries to implement the BloomScape REA model in an Access database
   
   For help with querying, see Alexander chapters 4-5 and the chapter 6 section Using Conditional Functions (pp. 159-170).

1. Implement the BloomScape REA model in an Access database
2. Improve learning strategies: GIFT questions
   (1:00 and 5:30 sections only): Results

1. Develop queries for analyzing business performance
   
   
2. For help with querying, see Alexander chapters 4-5 and the chapter 6 section Using Conditional Functions (pp. 159-170).

1. Edit the objectives for analyzing business performance
2. Ask questions about queries for analyzing business performance
3. Improve learning strategies: GIFT questions
   (11:00 section only): Results

1. Identify BloomScape journal entries

1. Confirm journal entry identities
2. Answer the BloomScape practice 1 questions in uLearn
3. Work in teams

1. Develop queries and document the results
2. For help with querying, see Alexander chapters 4-5 and the chapter 6 section Using Conditional Functions (pp. 159-170).

1. Refine BloomScape analysis objectives and develop queries
2. Work in teams

1. Develop queries and document the results
2. For help with querying, see Alexander chapters 4-5 and the chapter 6 section Using Conditional Functions (pp. 159-170).

1. Develop BloomScape queries
2. Answer BloomScape practice 2 questions in uLearn
3. Work in teams

1. Complete BloomScape entries
2. Submit all BloomScape project parts in a zip file by attaching the zip file to a discussion message:
   1. BloomScapeReport.htm
   2. BloomScapeQueries.mdb

1. Before class, zip BloomScape files and attach the zip file to a discussion message
2. Identify exemplary aspects of BloomScape projects: Evaluation template

1. Review BloomScape projects
2. Prepare to answer exam questions

1. Exam 3 design databases: Answer questions in uLearn

1. Define internal control
2. Examine the need for internal control and controls to mitigate weaknesses

1. Review
   1. Definition of internal control
   2. Need for internal control and controls to mitigate weaknesses
2. Read:
   1. Internal control in payables
   2. Payables in Apex
3. Answer Apex questions in uLearn

1. Unpack the logic of the Apex questions

1. Develop the table of control weaknesses and potential misstatements for Apex

1. Develop the table of control weaknesses and potential misstatements for Apex

1. Finish the table of control weaknesses and potential misstatements for Apex
2. Look for control weaknesses in the procure-to-pay process in 24-Seven parts 1 and 2, in uLearn

1. Confirm the need for access control
2. Begin the table of control weaknesses and potential misstatements in 24-Seven parts 1 and 2, in uLearn

1. Prepare the table of control weaknesses and potential misstatements in 24-Seven parts 1 and 2, in uLearn

1. Examine the table of control weaknesses and potential misstatements in 24-Seven parts 1 and 2, in uLearn
2. Answer practice questions for internal control in 24-Seven parts 1 and 2, in uLearn

1. Prepare to answer exam questions

Exam 4 internal control: Answer questions ( based on 24-Seven parts 1 and 2, in uLearn

11:00 section 81324: Thursday 12/8 10:45-1:15
1:00 section 83578: Tuesday 12/6 10:45-1:15
5:30 section 85501: Tuesday 12/6 4:15-6:45