BACC 337 Accounting Information Systems Midterm Study Guide

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the BACC 337 Accounting Information Systems course.

Accounting Information System (AIS)

A subsystem of the Information System that collects, processes, and reports financial data.

Data vs. Information

Data are raw facts, while information is processed data useful for decision-making.

Enterprise Systems

Systems that integrate processes across departments using a central database.

ERP Systems

Core software that supports enterprise systems and integrates functions like accounting and HR.

Value Chain

Activities that add value to products or services.

E-Business

The electronic exchange of business transactions.

Batch Processing

A processing type that involves group processing and updates are delayed.

Real-Time Processing (OLRT)

Processing type that provides immediate updates.

Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs)

Diagrams that show the flow of data within a system, including processes, data stores, and external entities.

Normalized Forms

Database design forms that reduce redundancy and errors: 1NF (no repeating groups), 2NF (no partial dependencies), 3NF (no transitive dependencies).

SQL (Structured Query Language)

A language used to query and manage databases.

COSO Framework

A framework for internal control consisting of five components: Control Environment, Risk Assessment, Control Activities, Information & Communication, and Monitoring.

Preventive Controls

Controls designed to stop problems before they occur.

Detective Controls

Controls that identify problems after they have occurred.

Corrective Controls

Controls that fix problems after they occur.

SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act)

Legislation that requires internal control reporting, specifically Section 404.

Business Intelligence (BI)

Supports decision-making by using data analysis.

Primary Key

A unique identifier for a database entity.

Foreign Key

A key that links tables in a database.

Control Environment

The culture, ethics, and tone at the top of an organization that influence internal control.