1. Define an Accounting Information System? Discuss the six components of AIS?

2. Some individuals argue that accountants should focus on producing financial statements and leave the design and production of managerial reports to information systems specialists. What are the advantages and disadvantages of following this advice? To what extent should accountants be involved in producing reports that include more than just financial measures of performance? Why?

3. Information technology enables organizations to easily collect large amounts of information about employees. Discuss the following issues:

a) To what extent should management monitor employees' e-mail?

b) To what extent should management monitor which Web sites employees visit?

c) To what extent should management monitor employee performance by, for example, using software to track keystrokes per hour or some other unit of time? If such information is collected, how should it be used?

d) Should companies use software to electronically "shred" all traces of e-mail?