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Title: Accounting Information Systems by James A. Hall, Nancy Coffelt ISBN: 0-314-04468-X Publisher: West Pub. Date: January, 1999 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $106.95

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Average Customer Rating: 3 (2 reviews)

Rating: 1
Summary: Very poorly organized and written book
Comment: This is one of the worst books I've ever read. The headings and subheadings are often very confusing; what should be
subheading is often listed in the same font/size/color as the its corresponding heading. It is very hard to dicipher how the authors are
classifying things at times. Some of the classifications are
very poor and not even parallel. For example, on page 88, the authors classify data processing into four "general approaches":
batch processing using sequential files, batch processing using direct access files, batch processing with real-time data collection, and real time processing. The headings on page 88 are ALTERNATIVE DATA PROCESSING APPROACHES and BATCH PROCESSING USING SEQUENTIAL FILES. (These headings have exact font/size/color. ) It would be much more helpful to students if the print the four approaches in one font/size/color which is different from the overall header of "ALTERNATIVE DATA PROCESSING APPROACHES."
After reading the following 6-7 pages of discussion, I could not help shaking my head about the poor classification. To me, data processing should simply be classified in 2 categories: batch and real-time. THe authors added more classifition using another criteria of file structure. However, they mix these categories together. What they called "batch processing with real-time data collection" is really just half batch and half real-time (which in the aggregate should probably be called batch processing).

So, in essense, the authors' classification of the four approaches is exactly the same as the following classification of cars:
(1) red cars with 2 doors
(2) red cars with 4 doors
(3) half-red, half-white cars
(4) white cars

The discussion about each approaches are also confusing.
For example, on page 95, under the heading "Batch processing using real time data collection", the author wrote "The systems examined thus far describe a process by which transactions are sent in batches to a central location for conversion to magnetic media. A popular alternative is to capture transaction data at its source in real time. Real-time processing is also called "on-line" because the system, in this case the data collection portion of it, is available to the user at all times. By distributing data input capability to users, certain transaction errors can be prevented or detected and corrected at their source. The result is a transaction file that is free from most of the errorss that plague data processing. Figure 2-39 illustrates this approach. Real-time data collection can be used with both the batch/sequential and the batch/direct access update techniques. In both cases, however, the transaction file produced in the data collection stage must be a direct access structure."

This is just one example. I am from a computer science and MIS background, and can kind of figure out what the authors are trying to say, but many students are confused
by this book, and are complaining about this book (which is why I am writing this review).

Rating: 5
Summary: Modern, not Legacy AIS
Comment: It is a rare distinction to have written an Accounting textbook that works this well outside of the classroom. I have been reading this to update my knowledge in this area and with a possible eye to writing system documentation or perhaps designing a system of my own.

The only topic I missed seeing in the index regards solving the coding problem that would allow generating an accurate statement of cash flow. Why this doesn't pop to the top of the request list among Accounting professionals I don't understand, but so far the treatment is inadequate.

The other textbook of note in the AIS area is by Gelinas and Sutton and might fill whatever holes exist in Hall's textbook.

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