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Chapter 9. Controlling Information Systems: Application Controls. Learning Objectives. Know steps in control framework Be able to prepare control matrix Know generic application control plans Describe how these controls accomplish control goals
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Chapter 9 Controlling Information Systems: Application Controls
Learning Objectives • Know steps in control framework • Be able to prepare control matrix • Know generic application control plans • Describe how these controls accomplish control goals • Appreciate importance of controls to organizations with ERP systems • Appreciate importance of controls to organizations involved in E-Business
Control Matrix • Control Goals of the • Control Goals of the Information System Operations System Ensure For transaction For the Master effectiveness Ensure inputs, ensure: File, ensure: of operations by efficient ensuring the employment Ensure following of security of IV UA IC IA UC systems goals: resources resources • Recommended A B Control Plans P-1 Immediately endorse incoming checks • P -1 M-1 M-1 M-1 M-1 Immediately separate checks & RAs P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 Plan 3 (describe) M-2 Plan 4 (describe) M-2 M-2 M-2 Key: IV - Input validity I C - Input completeness IA - Input accuracy UC - Update completeness UA - Update accuracy • Four key elements: • Control goals • Recommended control plans • Cell entries • Explanations of cell entries A = To accelerate cash flow by promptly depositing cash receipts B = To ensure compliance with compensating balance agreement • P-1: “deposit only to the account of Causeway Company”
Systems Flowchart: Data Entry Without Master Data Data Entry Clerk 1 Data Entry Devices (Networked PCs) Start P-1 Input document Key document Edit Input P-5 P-3 M-1 Display input or error P-4 Transaction data Remove discrepancies if any P-7 Key corrections/ accept input Record input Accepted for processing P-6 Input documents A
Processing Steps • Transaction occurs • Record in transaction file • Update master files • Generate outputs
Processing Modes • Periodic • transactions posted after delay • master files updated after delay • output generated after delay • Immediate - all three done immediately • Combination • immediate posting; delayed update/generation • immediate posting & update; delayed generation
Control Matrix • Control Goals of the • Control Goals of the Information System Operations System Ensure For transaction For the Master effectiveness Ensure inputs, ensure: File, ensure: of operations by efficient ensuring the employment Ensure following of security of IV UA IC IA UC systems goals: resources resources • Recommended A B Control Plans P-1- Document design P-1 P-1 P-1 P-2 Written approvals P-2 P-3: Prenumbered forms P-3 P-3 P-3 P-4: Online prompting P-4 P-4 P-4 P-5 Programmed edit checks P-5 P-5 P-5 P-6: Interactivefeedback checks P-6 M-1: Key verification M-1 P-7: Procedures forrejected inputs P-7 Key: IV - Input validity I C - Input completeness IA - Input accuracy UC - Update completeness UA - Update accuracy A =To ensure timely processing of data B = (describe)
Online processing control plans • P-1 Document design. Source document is designed in such a way that makes it easier to prepare initially and later to input data from the document • P-2 Written approvals.A signature or initials on a document to indicate that a person has authorized the event.
Online processing control plans (cont.) • P-3: Preformatted screens • help guide entry of data. May fix length of fields, “case” of field entered. Cursor moves to fields. • P-4: Online prompting • program prompts user to work in sequence and asks questions that control operations.
Online processing control plans (cont.) • P-5: Programmed edit checks • automatically performed when data entered • Reasonableness (limit checks) - tests whether data fall within predetermined limits. (< $5,000/wk pay) • Dependency - logic of data entered to other data entered. • Math accuracy - does math independently; checks user’s calculations
Online processing control plans (cont.) • Programmed edit checks (Cont) • Format checks - tests format on input • missing data • alpha in alpha fields; numbers in numeric fields • input field proper size • input field within set range (ex. - customer #s) • P-6: Interactive feedback checks • feedback to user that entry is accepted/rejected
Online Processing Control Plans (cont.) • M-1: Key verification • Documents keyed by one individual and rekeyed by another individual. Very expensive • P-7: Procedures for rejected inputs • designed to ensure that rejected data - not accepted for processing - are corrected and resubmitted for processing.
Control Matrix Control Goals of the Control Goals of the Information System Operations System Ensure For transaction For the Master effectiveness Ensure inputs, ensure: File, ensure: of operations by efficient ensuring the employment Ensure following of security of IV UA IC IA UC systems goals: resources resources Recommended A B Control Plans P-1 Enter data close tooriginating source P -1 P -1 P -1 P -1 P-2 P-2 P-2: Digital signatures P-2 P-3: Populate inputswith master data P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P4: Compare input data with master data P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 Key: IV - Input validity I C - Input completeness IA - Input accuracy UC - Update completeness UA - Update accuracy A = Ensure timely processing of inputB= (describe)
Control Plans - Batch • Calculate batch totals - • Document/record counts • Item or line counts • Dollar totals • Hash totals - total of fields not normally totaled • Example - invoice #s, part #s, social security #s • Computer agreement of batch totals • batch total calculated manually and entered with batch • computer accumulates batch total during processing • computer generates report comparing totals
Control Plans - Batch (cont.) • Manual agreement of batch totals • similar to above except manually calculated batch totals not submitted to computer • computer produces report with batch total • person compares two and takes appropriate action • Sequence checks • applies to sequentially numbered documents; account for all numbers in sequence to find missing docs. • also applies to sequentially numbered batches of documents to ensure they are in order
Control Plans - Batch (cont.) • Key verification • extremely expensive control plan where a second data entry person keys in source data to compare with data already entered. Rarely used in practice. • Written approvals • requirement that handwritten signatures be affixed to documents indicating approval/authorization • Computer preparation of business documents • part of output of computer process • more efficient (and legible) than manual processes
Control Plans - Batch (cont.) • Rejection procedures • establish procedures to be followed when errors are entered and erroneous records rejected by computer • may write rejected records to suspense file and require periodic follow-up • Prerecorded data • examples: serial numbers, MICR a/c #s, dept. #s • printed on forms so that manual entry not required • Turnaround documents - prerecorded data to capture input on subsequent processing. Ex: RA stub attached to invoice
Learning Objectives • Know steps is control framework • Be able to prepare control matrix • Know generic application control plans • Describe how these controls accomplish control goals • Appreciate importance of controls to ERP • Appreciate importance to E-Business