Brief Summary of the Theory and Progression in the Field:
Dandago and Rufai (2014) have taken the topic of technology and then established a relationship of it on the accountant. Variables in the study are information technology and its impact on accounting information systems. The Nigerian Banking Industry has been taken as a case in this research where information technology is linked with the expansion of banking networks. However, the information technology has been studied in its strength and ability to influence the production of information in the Banking Industry of Nigeria. Certainly, the availability of more information is more convenient and an increased level of effectiveness for accountants and accounting information. The research has found that information technology in accounting helps make the issues simple and increases the quality of processes. The study helps to shed light on the efforts of banks as they consume their resources on the application of information technology. There is, however, another application or use of information technology or simple technology that accounting practices get simpler and high in quality.
Gunay (2014) has studied the impact of technology, and it has related it to accounting and e-accounting. Again, it is apparent that any change or betterment in accounting or e-accounting would lead to having a positive effect on accountants. The researcher has discussed technology concerning information processing and sharing considerably and related it with accounting discipline. Among different applications of technology, the research has discussed the application of technology in accounting by giving it the name of E-accounting. An important part of the research is to see the application of technology on various stakeholders where different parties have been considered as important in information sharing. The research has taken employees, managers, customers, public body businesses, and suppliers into this process of information sharing. This process of information sharing is also helpful for accountants as the study has taken all internal and external parties as beneficiaries of this system.
Lim (2013) has researched by seeking the relationship between information technologies and accounting information systems applied in an organizational setting. It makes it easy to understand that accounting systems are being discussed about information technology. Although, the use of technology is going to be studied, the focus has been given to information technology. The research is mainly based on application and resultant benefits of technology in the accounting information systems. Information technology has a close effect on the variable of accounting information systems through processes and systems under which accuracy in systems increases with the enhancement of speed in accounting information systems. The focus of technology is on information where different applications of it can bring more efficiency and flexibility in the system. If any change is needed, then technology makes it happen easily, and information safety is also possible through technology. These benefits from the application of technology lead to affect accountants positively.
Acevedo (2019) has taken a broader application of technology by taking business and its benefits because of information technology. Technology and its application for business or accountants are inevitably linked with information. The researcher has taken different perspectives on information technology in business. It is to remember that accountants are part of businesses, and they are affected using technology. Some of the benefits of information technology are benefits to communication, improved level of efficiency at the workplace, source of competitive advantage, and source of economic efficiency and cost-effectiveness. These benefits are directly helpful for business as open and easy communication helps businesses to be efficient and cost-effective because the availability of information leads to these benefits. These benefits are there for businesses in the long and short run because information availability and its management are helpful for various benefits for business guaranteeing strategic and operational benefits.
Common Themes/Findings across the Four Articles:
The four articles briefly summarized above have common themes and findings. These articles have stressed the effectiveness of the impact of information technology on accounting practices. The addition of information technology to accounting practices has increased the level of its application. It has been noted that such use of information technology in accounting increases flexibility to be able to introduce change and information can also be stored safely. Furthermore, there have been discussed some ways which lead to business benefits due to information technology where these benefits have been associated with communication, workplace efficiency improvements, and development of competitive advantage and economic efficiencies. Then, the application of the relationship between accounting and information technology has been made in the banking industry. The application has also led to these benefits as they have been mentioned and discussed in other research articles.
However, in the article on accounting and e-accounting, these common themes and findings have been related to advancements in technology. Although, the discussion in the article has been developed based on positive attributes of information technology, at the same time, it has gone beyond the application. It has proposed the concept of e-accounting where technology is linked and integrated with technology.
Different Themes/Findings across the Four Articles:
It is very easy to find common themes in reviewed articles, but it is noted that changing orientation and perspectives in these articles have caused different themes or findings as well. One of the most significant differences in themes or findings has been the link of accounting with the e-accounting concept through technological advancement. Other articles have focused on the benefits of information technology for accounting, but the article on e-accounting has taken a broader perspective. Linking the evolution of e-accounting with technological advancement indicates an ongoing process where things are consistently evolving. This theme may be broadened further because there is no limit to technological advancement.
Another difference in the theme is in terms of focus on accounting information system which is also a broad terminology as compared to merely accounting field. Accounting information system systematically contains plenty of information. However, after a discussion on the accounting information system, it starts focusing on the impact of information technology on accounting systems. The accounting information system has been taken by another article as well, but the application of the relationship between information technology and accounting information system on a banking sector is another difference in themes.
Managerial Implications of Four Articles:
Managerial implications of these four articles are important to be discussed because the accounting discipline has a direct impact on managerial performance and its implications. Four articles are rich for managerial implications. For example, the article on accounting and e-accounting exclusively discusses the managerial application of e-accounting. The article has continuously related the concept with real-time managerial practices, and it is due to the application potential of the concept of e-accounting. Moreover, the application of the relationship of technology on accounting information system has been made on the banking industry in Nigeria. In this way, the article has managerial implications clearly where recommendations on cost control have been given by researchers.
Moreover, the application of information technology on various functions of business has practical implications for these functions. Communication, workplace efficiency, and economic efficiency are topics showing managerial implications due to information technology. The use of information technology leads to change in these processes within the organization. On the other hand, the impact of information technology has been studied on accounting systems, and positive benefits have been noted. Enhancement in flexibility and safe storage of information shows the managerial implications as these benefits can be taken by adopting information technology in accounting systems.
Study Limitations and Future Research Directions Proposed:
Study limitations and future research directions have been proposed in reviewed articles. It has been mentioned that employees and researchers should be taught so that they can learn how to keep records electronically. The application of information technology has been proposed for the curriculum as well, and it has been recommended that trained individuals should be able to use technology in their performance of duties. Moreover, legal regulations have been given the importance that their knowledge is also particularly important.
Although limitations have not been mentioned specifically in articles, recommendations give the impression that future research should look like in this manner. The focus and importance of privacy policy, ensuring control on frauds, and provision of infrastructure by governments are some of the areas which have been mentioned for application of information technology. Similarly, researchers are encouraged to take these topics in their research so that more findings in these areas can be taken.
Moreover, it has been identified that information technology is not perfectly applied in businesses, and it is noted that ineffectiveness in the system may occur. There is a guideline for business entities to use compatible systems of accounting. These suggestions can be considered as future research directions because they have been given because there should be some more discussion on them. However, each article has detailed discussion on information technology and has taken one broad aspect of information technology and its impact on accounting. These effects are important for accountants as they should be related to changes in technology and research in the field.
References
Acevedo, L., 2019. Business Benefits of Information Technology. [Online] Available at: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/business-benefits-information-technology-4021.html.
Dandago, K.I. & Rufai, A.S., 2014. Information Technology and Accounting Information System in the Nigerian Banking Industry. Asian Economic and Financial Review, 4(5), pp.655-70.
Güney, A., 2014. Role of Technology in Accounting and E-accounting. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 152(7), pp.852-55.
Lim, F.P.C., 2013. Impact of Information Technology on Accounting Systems. Asia Pacific Journal of Multimedia Services, 3(2), pp.93-106.
