Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2010-2011 (archived)

Module BUSS2091: AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Department: Economics, Finance and Business (Business) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

BUSS2091: AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Type Tied Level 2 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2010/11 Module Cap None. Location Queen's Campus Stockton
Tied to N420
Tied to NN43

Prerequisites

  • Introduction to Accounting.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • Information Systems.

Aims

  • To provide an introduction to the development, implementation and management of information systems.

Content

  • Introduction to Information and Information Systems (IS)
  • Information systems strategy
  • Development and implementation of information systems
  • Introduction to Accounting Information Systems (AIS)
  • Accounting Information System Applications
  • Interpretation of financial reports
  • Information Security
  • Introduction to Auditing and Assurance
  • The Audit Market
  • Auditing, organisation and governance
  • Ethics for professional accountants

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of this module, students are expected to:
  • Understand the sources of value from information systems;
  • Appreciate the role and contribution of IS to organisational strategy;
  • Understand the business activities performed in the major business cycles and the flow of accounting data and information in those systems;
  • Appreciate internal control objectives, the effect of IT on those objectives as well as the specific controls used to achieve those objectives;
  • Develop a working knowledge of computer and information security;
  • Understand the roles/responsibilities of internal and external auditors;
  • Understand drivers for audit regulation and public oversight.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of this module, students are expected to:
  • Apply a range of approaches to identify opportunities for information systems in an organisation;
  • Design an AIS to provide the information needed to make key decisions in each major business cycle;
  • Be able to prepare a financial report sourcing and analysing financial data and interpreting corporate performance;
  • Differentiate the different types of audits;
  • Identify auditor’s liability issues;
  • Explain what ethics means to professional accountants and auditors.
Key Skills:
  • Written Communication - e.g. through preparation of seminar tasks.
  • Interpersonal Communication – e.g. using e-mail to communicate with other students and tutors; discussing solutions to exercises in workshop meetings with both the workshop leader and other students in the group, for example, working as a group to prepare the case study presentation and report required for formative assessment.
  • Planning and Organising - e.g. preparing for fortnightly workshops; preparing the relevant material before lectures. Large amounts of information need to be organised in a meaningful manner for students to be successful in this module.
  • Problem Solving - e.g. by applying the necessary analytical and quantitative skills, to make use of the taught material.
  • Initiative – e.g. by searching relevant literature and information sources in preparation of formative and summative assignments.
  • Computer Literacy - e.g. by word-processing and spreadsheet applications in tackling workshop questions; accessing, and downloading information from the module's web pages; using e-mail to communicate with tutors and other students.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Teaching is by lectures and seminars. Learning takes place through the attendance of lectures, preparation for and participation in seminars and private study.
  • Formative assessment is by means of a contribution to a case study based group presentation and written report of 1500 words maximum.
  • Summative assessment is by one written assignment, 4500 word maximum.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 22 per week I hour 22
Seminars 8 4 in term 1; 4 in term 2 1 hour 8
Preparation and reading 170 170
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 50%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written examination 2 hours 100%
Component: Assignment 1 Component Weighting: 25%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
One written assignment 1500 words max 100%
Component: Assignment 2 Component Weighting: 25%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
One written assignment 1500 words max 100%

Formative Assessment:

Case study based group presentation and written report of 1500 words maximum.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University