Question

Q1 The following is a description of the conversion cycle of Central Production Limited: The conversion cycle of the company is triggered by a report from the warehouse. When the quantity of an inventory item falls below a pre-set minimum level, the warehouse manager sends an online inventory status report to production department advising them to schedule a production batch run for the item. Upon receipt of the report, the production clerk assesses the digital bill of materials and the route sheet files for the item to be produced and adds the production details to the online production schedule. The system automatically adds a record to the open work order file and sends an online work order to the work centre supervisor’s computer and to the accounting clerk’s computer. The work centre supervisor receives the work order from his computer and print hard-copy move tickets and materials requisitions for each production process. Production employees take the materials requisitions to store clerk and receives the materials and subassemblies needed to perform the production tasks. If additional materials beyond the standard amount is needed, the work centre supervisor prepares additional materials requisitions. Production employees complete job time tickets after completing a production process to record the time spent on the job. The job time tickets are then sent together with the move tickets to the accounting department. After releasing the materials into production, the store clerk updates the material inventory records and send the materials requisitions to accounting department. The clerk prepares a journal voucher and posts to the general ledger material control account at the end of each day. The accounting clerk assesses the work orders and set up a work-in-process account for a production batch. Throughout the production period, the clerk also receives move tickets, job tickets, and materials requisitions, which he uses to post to the work-in-process account. At the end of each day, the accounting clerk prepares a digital journal voucher and post it to the general ledger work-inprocess and finished goods control accounts. Q) Identify the risks exist in the conversion cycle of Central Production Limited. (10 marks 300 words) Q3 Elegant Limited sells restored classic cars. Most of its customers are private buyers who buy cars for themselves. However, some of them are investors who buy multiple cars and hold them for resale. All sales of Elegant Limited are for cash. Depict the association and cardinality for the sales of cars at Elegant Limited based on REA model. (10 marks, maximum 300 words) Q4 You are currently working in a mid-tier accounting firm. In an engagement meeting with a client, the management of your client is concerned that the audit tests that you perform will disrupt operations. Your client has recently implemented a data warehouse and the management suggests that you draw the data for analytical reviews and substantive testing from the data warehouse instead of the operational database. The management points out that operational data are copied weekly into the data warehouse and all data you need are contained there. Outline your response to the management’s proposal and mention any concerns you might have. (10 marks, maximum 300 words) Q5 The Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the Managing Director (MD) of Illustrious Limited recently had the following conversation regarding the development of a new information system for the company: CIO: The way to go about the analysis is to first examine the old system, such as reviewing key documents and observing the workers performing their tasks. Then we can determine which aspects are working well and which should be preserved. MD: We have been through these types of projects before, and what always ends up happening is that we do not get the new system we are promised. Instead we get a modified version of the old system. CIO: I can assure you that will not happen this time. My team just want a thorough understanding of what is working well and what is not. MD: I would feel much more comfortable if we first started with a list of our requirements. We should spend more time in determining what exactly we want the system to do upfront. Then your team can come in and determine what portions to salvage if you wish. Just don’t constrain us to the old system! Required: a) The CIO and MD have different views on how the system analysis should be performed. Comment on whose position you sympathise with the most. (6 marks, maximum 200 words) b) What method would you recommend to Illustrious Limited for system analysis? Explain. (4 marks, maximum 150 words)

Answer 1

a)

To my view, the MD viewpoint is better. In companies the existing process is usually analyzed and the pain points identified whenever there is a need for change. The new system is simply a change to the existing system. The stakeholders' specific needs are not completely addressed. The MD calls for a collection of and analysis of demands from scratch to share its needs , requirements and inhibitions between the principal stakeholders. The CIO and their staff would be able to assess in the requirements review process what worked and what did not work well for the organization.

In assessing the current process, the CIO and his team will align their thinking process with the pain points and correct the existing system. They are not going to build the system in a fresh light. A new system that meets the needs of stakeholders can be developed. For everybody, this is a win-win situation. The point of view of MD is therefore more logical and related.

b)

In the particular case, the most logical and comprehensive system analysis method is:

Primary stakeholder requirements collection: Primary stakeholders using the system must be consulted on their specific requirements and needs. It is also necessary to consider the limitations identified by stakeholders.

Comprehension of existing system and pain points: the current system can be analysed based on requirements collection and pain points can be emphasized in the current system.

A new system that will win for everyone: the new system must primarily comply with the needs of the stakeholders.

Presentation and approval of the system blueprint to stakeholders

Development and implementation of the system: system development can be carried out by the agile method of sprinting.

Monitoring and control of the system: to check for performance deviations, the system implemented should be observed. In order to monitor deviations, specific intervention can be implemented.