Due Dates :
• Assignment dropbox (Turnitin) closes on 24 June 2016 at 8pm . NO LATE SUBMISSIONS will be allowed.
Section A : Assignment Goals
By completing this assignment you will demonstrate your ability to:
General goals
• Locate, analyse and interpret information to solve specific problems;
• Use the information to draw conclusions, make judgements and produce recommendations;
• Produce a document that is ‘fit for purpose’, i.e., the work is written in a style that suits the intended audience, is easy to understand, is formatted correctly, and represents key data and information using appropriate charts, graphs, and/or other visuals;
• Apply time management skills to meet project milestones, and the assignment deadline; and,
• Apply principles of asset accounting, to analyse and produce recommendations on specific questions (as assigned by your lecturer).
• Use online resources(drop box - turnitin) to submit assignment report
Specific goals
• Investigate and research from multiple sources :
o Reasons for adopting ERP systems o Industries adopting ERP systems o Sarbanes-Oxley Act and its implications for ERP systems o Successes and failure of ERP systems implementation
Section B : What you need to do before attempting the assignment
1. Locate relevant journal articles, books and periodicals to research the areas asked in the question. See last page for access to library.
2. Provide a written report/paper in the suggested format focussing on the question asked.
Section C: Assignment Question
An accounting information system can be loosely described as a system used to record the transactions of a business so as to provide information to both internal and external stakeholders of a business. Many small to medium companies have expanded nationally to trade on a large scale and have even expanded offshore. This has resulted in many large to medium local and global companies making use of Enterprise Resource Planning(ERP) software to integrate their many functions like sales and distribution, material management, production planning, asset management, human resources and many processes like sales, production etc.
SAP has some features to manage credit, cater for subsidiaries, do currency translation, carry out intercompany transactions and provide reports using different languages, amongst various other benefits.
There are a number of case companies that have praised ERP software in resolving many of their problems although there are a few who have indicated that ERP implementations have failed. As a result of the Enron collapse, bankruptcy of high profile companies like WorldCom and Global Crossing, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was passed in the US. This Act had implications for top management accountability, auditor independence and disclosure on reports amongst other things. The Act also had implications for ERP software providers.
The following links may help give you a background to the question:
http://go.panorama-consulting.com/rs/603-UJX-107/images/Clash-of-the-Titans-
2016.pdf?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRoluKrLZKXonjHpfsX57OwsWqO%2BlMI%2F0E R3fOvrPUfGjI4CS8ZiI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFTLDGMbVqwrgMWxY%3D http://go.panoramaconsulting.com/rs/panoramaconsulting/images/2015%20ERP%20Report.pdf?mkt_tok=3Rk
MMJWWfF9wsRoksqzIZKXonjHpfsX57OwsWqO%2BlMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4CTsNjI
%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFTLDGMbVqwrgMWxY%3D
http://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2014/05/12/gartners-erp-market-share-updateshows-the-future-of-cloud-erp-is-now/#5f38bd9274a1
http://panorama-consulting.com/what-you-should-know-about-erp-systems-and-soxcompliance/
REQUIRED
• Discuss why ERP software is increasingly being adopted by medium to large companies. In your discussion focus on which type of industries are making increasing use of ERP software. (Note: Do not focus on a company but the industry and NOT SAP alone but ERP software in general)
• As a result of Sarbane-Oxley Act, ERP software had to be changed to cater for the requirements of this Act. Some of these changes include amongst others Archiving, Authorisation, Tolerance levels, fiscal transparency etc. Research these changes together with any other changes in respect to the SAP software you are using.
• There have been success stories of companies using SAP ERP software and also failures. Identify one company that has successfully implemented ERP software and one that has failed and discuss why this was the outcome in each case.
SUGGESTED STRUCTURE
• Abstract
• Introduction o Overview of each question
• Reasons for adopting ERP software o Reasons
o Which industries are the biggest users if any? Why
• Sarbanes-Oxley Act o Explain the reason for the Act and briefly implications o How does MySAP ERP meet these implications
• Success and Failure of ERP implementations and reasons
• Conclusion
• References
Section C: Important information
1. This assignment must be completed on an individual basis. No groups will be permitted.
2. A diary indicating the day and times spent researching this assignment must be kept and attached to your final submission.
3. Your report should be submitted to the drop box (Turnitin) via a link on VU Collaborate. Your originality report should not be more than 10%. You may submit via the drop box (turnitin) as many times as you wish from now until the due date, but also note that turnitin takes 24 hours to generate an originality report and you will not be able to make any changes or submit after this time. Please submit the entire report/paper as a single file including tables, references and appendices etc. where applicable. Students will NOT be allowed to submit the assignment using multiple files.
4. Entries in the reference list should be sorted alphabetically by author and should conform to the Harvard style. Information on how to prepare a reference list in Harvard format can be found at:
http://w2.vu.edu.au/library/referencing/files/final%20HarvardGuide%202010.pdf .
5. You must acknowledge the originator of any intellectual output in work submitted for academic grading, even if you paraphrase someone else’s work. You must familiarise yourself with VU’s Academic Honesty and Preventing Plagiarism Policy before submitting your assignment: https://policy.vu.edu.au/view.current.php?id=00198
6. Your report length must not exceed 2500 words (The word count does not include diagrams, tables, appendix, abstract and references).
Section D – Submission procedure – See sample assignment for structure Information about drop box (Turnitin) – Please see VU Collaborate for details Please submit your assignment as single file in the following order :
• Only the abstract and content of your assignment including tables, diagrams etc in appropriate parts of the report. (Do NOT place tables, diagrams etc at the end of the report unless it is a large table etc.)
• References, Annexures(eg. Large tables, etc.), Diary of research, Grading report.
• Assignment Declaration form
You can submit as many times as you like until due date.
Section E : Forms
1. Assessment Declaration form – Must sign this form
2. How your grade will be determined - Grading of reports
3. Diary of research – at least 5 entries adequately spaced
1. Assessment declaration forms
You will find this form on VU Collaborate or also download a copy from :
https://www.vu.edu.au/sites/default/files/student-forms/pdfs/college-business-assignmentcover-sheet.pdf
2. How will my report be graded – Please supply this page with your assignment and complete the details
Student ID Number and name __________________________________________
MARKS
Bibliography
A min of 10 sources required – a mixture of books, journals & internet sources. Alphabetical order
5
Citations using Harvard system
Students who don’t use the Harvard System will be awarded zero marks for this component. A Minimum of 10 citations with no maximum.
10
Abstract or Executive Summary
10
Content of Report
• Reasons for adopting ERP software
o Reasons
o Which industries are the biggest users if any? Why
• Sarbanes-Oxley Act o Explain the reason for the Act and briefly implications
• Success and Failure of ERP implementations and reasons
• Conclusion 10
15
10
15
5
Presentation (Index, graphs, tables, appendix etc)
10
Grammar
(English expression, spelling etc)
Diary
(Standard format available on VU Collaborate no other method to be accepted. At least 5 records) 5
5
TOTAL MARKS OUT OF 100
100
Less Penalties: Turnitin %
3. Format of a Diary
________________________________________________________________________ DIARY
Date of Preparation/Research: ______________________________
Time Preparation/Research began: __________________________
Time Preparation/Research ended: __________________________
Location of Preparation/Research: Home/Uni other: ________________________________
Aspects completed
• -
• -
• -
• -
Matters to complete: