Question 1

(a) RTY plc is a UK retail company with retail outlets in the south-east and north-west of England. In total the companyhas six retail outlets in the south-east and eight in the north-west. The company currently employs 195 staff. The company has been trading successfully for a number of years.For the year ending 31 December 2015 the company's turnover was £4.8m and its net profit for the yearwas £1.1m.

As part of the company's information technology strategy, RTY plc is considering installing anElectronic Point Of Sale (EPOS) system for use in allits retail outlets.The company is, however, aware that the acquisition and development of an EPOS system would require notonly a substantial capital investment, but also a significant change in operating procedures at each of the retailoutlets - possibly involving staff redundancies.

The management board of RTY plc have asked you, as their recently appointed Systems Accountant, to preparea report on EPOS systems for presentation to the company's management board at its next meeting in June 2016.

Required

Prepare a report for the management board of RTY plc on the development and implementation of an EPOSsystem.

(b)Learn-a-lot Ltd is a small but expanding Leeds-based retail company that provides computer-based educational facilities and equipment for a range of public and private sector colleges and universities specialising in post-graduate professional IT courses. As a result of a recent increase in demand for the courses offered by universities and colleges, the company is considering expanding its current retail facilities. The company is seeking to establish a presence in both Masvingo and Chinhoyi in order to bene?t from the high number of undergraduates studying IT and computer science-related degrees at the local universities. The company is, however, aware that such an expansion would require not only a substantial capital investment, but also a signi?cant change in the company's accounting information systems procedures, especially those concerned with the recording of sales income.

Required

As their recently appointed systems accountant, prepare a report for the management of Learn-a-lot Ltd on the importance for a company like Learn-a-lot Ltd to possessing a cohesive strategy for the development and implementation of information and communication technologies within its accounting information systems.