Computerised Accounting Software A Curriculum That Enhances An Accounting Programme
Computerised Accounting Software A Curriculum That Enhances An Accounting Programme
org
DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2017.050310
1
Department of Accounting and Finance, Faculty of Business and Accounting, Botho University, Botswana
2
Department of Finance and Banking, Faculty of Business and Accounting, Imperial School of Business and Science, Botswana
Copyright©2017 by authors, all rights reserved. Authors agree that this article remains permanently open access under the
terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License
Abstract There has been an outcry in commerce and accounting software challenges during their internship
industry about students who fail to perform in the accounting period. The accounting software that students are expected to
department due to lack of “practical accounting skills”. It is have knowledge include: spreadsheets software,
from this background that the researchers were motivated to quick-books and sage pastel accounting. Focus group and
investigate the impact of a Computerised Accounting face to face interviews were used to collect data from
Software Curriculum that enhances an Accounting students enrolled in the Bsc Hons in Accounting at Botho
Programme. At Botho University a degree in Bsc Hons in University Gaborone Campus, Maun and Francistown. The
Accounting is offered and it is perceived that the graduates study focuses the students who were on the internship period.
of this programme will be all rounded after completing this However the majority of the accounting students faces
qualification. The Accounting programme at Botho accounting software challenges and agreed that a
University includes all the aspects that are needed for a Computerised accounting software curriculum should be
novice accountant. However, the only shortcomings are the proposed and implemented at Botho University in the
inclusion of a Computerised Accounting Software Department of Accounting and Finance. This is done so in
Curriculum into this Accounting Programme. It is believed order to enhance the Accounting Programme and meets
that higher education students experience problems during industry and commerce expectations.
their internship semester as they are expected to use
Computerised Accounting Software. This study investigates Keywords Enhances, Curriculum, Spreadsheets,
whether the students at Botho University who are enrolled Quick- books and Sage Pastel Accounting
for the Bsc Hons in Accounting Programme face any
Figure 1. Themes for Bsc Hons in Accounting: Adapted from the researchers
Universal Journal of Educational Research 5(3): 372-385, 2017 373
Chart of accounts: this is a list of all the accounting codes as for example:
Process:
The process feature includes: the journals, cash book, bank reconciliation, customers, overdue customers interest, suppliers,
inventory journals, manufacture, count inventory, match open item, time and billing and receipts.
Universal Journal of Educational Research 5(3): 372-385, 2017 375
Trial Balance: The trial balance shows comparative figures from last year.
Income Statement
Balance Sheet
376 Computerised Accounting Software; A Curriculum that Enhances an Accounting Programme
Graphs: The feature provides with all the graphs that may be needed by the accountant.
With a click of this icon a graph will be produced from the applications.
Universal Journal of Educational Research 5(3): 372-385, 2017 377
Business Intelligence Center Dashboard: This shows top and bottom items in the business.
1.3. Aim of the Study The significance of this study is that, it would benefit
many stakeholders that include: educators in the accounting
To investigate the perceptions of the students towards the field, accounting students, universities, colleges and captains
378 Computerised Accounting Software; A Curriculum that Enhances an Accounting Programme
of industry. The implementation of an inclusive curriculum course materials should be taught in all accounting courses.
that takes cognisance of practical skills will reduce costs of The teaching of accounting software applications enhances
training for prospective employers. Furthermore, the and enriches education. There are similarities between this
graduates of accounting programme will be hands - on hence study and the study for [4] as follows: This study involves
may be able to: set - up their own consulting firms and accounting degree students’ feedback during their internship
reduce the level of unemployment. If this study is published and the study for [4] involves accounting students who
it would add value to the body of knowledge as it improves participated, before and after the internship and the aim for
and enhances the practical skills for accounting students. both studies were to determine the importance of practical
computer skills to accounting students. The results in [4]
study reveals that accounting students, faculty and certified
2. Literature Review public accountant firm recruiters believe that computer skills,
accounting software, databases, email / internet,
programming, spreadsheets and word processing were
2.1. The Importance of Capstone
important skills to accounting students. There are many
According to [12] many universities and colleges offer accounting applications and software but this study focuses
capstone course in the form of: an individual course, on Quick Books, Sage Pastel Accounting and Spreadsheets.
internship, volunteer or out-reach experience, consultation,
research project, academic professional partnership or a
2.2. Out-come Based Education (Learning)
combination of several experiences. In the context of this
study, a capstone is viewed into two aspects as follows: Outcome - led curricula are increasingly relevant to
individual course and internship experiences. The students at modern accounting education as employers prefer
Botho University are placed on internship during semester 7 accounting graduates who have hands on competencies.
after learning all the theory aspects expected of an According to [12] many universities and colleges offer a
accounting student. Based on the study conducted by [3] capstone course in business or accounting. Outcome - based
they appear to be a skills gap in Botho University’s is a criterion or standard that is used to set against the success
Accounting Programme, as students are not taught
of the course and the learners’ competencies at the end of the
Computerised Accounting Skills. A Computerised
programme [18]. In education reflective practice refers to
Accounting module involves teaching students practical
whereby students reflect on what has been taught during the
skills which are beyond the classroom. According to [18]
entire course or programme. Reflection in education is not
modules that teach students practical skills are outcome -
new as it was used in the studies conducted with many
based. Outcome - based modules enables the learners and the
philosophers and educational scholars such as [8]; [5], [6];
instructors in getting constructive feedback on what the
[7]; [20]; and [16]. [14] discusses the role of reflection in the
learner can do after the completion of each out - come hence
experiential learning cycle.
this phenomenon enhances the learners to be hands-on
A reflection may be in the capstone module where
(learning by doing, refer to Figure 2) . The philosophy that
students are required to reflect their past experiences in the
promotes hands- on learning increases the learners’ degree
of employability and chances for becoming a self - reliant entire programme [12]. According to [12] the structure of the
individual. capstone can be as follows; individual course, internship,
volunteer, out-reach experience, consultation, research
2.1.1. Individual Course as a Capstone project, academic- professional partnership, or a
This section discusses a capstone as an individual course combination of several experiences. Many studies on
or module in an Accounting Programme. [1] and [4] capstone courses were written by [13] and [9].
concluded that computer skills and accounting software The theoretical framework that informs this study is [14]
applications must be taught to accountants and additional experiential learning, see Figure 2 below.
Universal Journal of Educational Research 5(3): 372-385, 2017 379
Figure 2. Kolb Model of Experiential Learning Process: (Adapted from Baker, Robinson and Kolb, 2012)
3. Research Methodology
A research design is a plan which explains how a
research would be conducted [17]. In this study a qualitative
approach was used to collect data from the participants. The
study used a focus group and face -to- face interviews as
methods for collecting data from the students on internship
Graph 1. No. of students on internship per Campus
registered in the Bsc Hons in Accounting at Botho
University (semester 7, period July 2016 - December 2016. The focus group of 16 participants was selected from each
The following is a table that represents the internship campus based on the percentages shown in Table 2 above.
population for three campuses (Gaborone, Francistown and The calculation for the sample is shown in Table 3 below.
380 Computerised Accounting Software; A Curriculum that Enhances an Accounting Programme
MAU 6% 16 6% x 16 1
Total 16 16
A brainstorming was conducted in order to conduct the participants about the focus group workshop.The researchers
managed to get the students’ consent to participate in this research.
According to [15] and [2] it is important to protect individual’s autonomy hence researchers should not coerce any
participant to participate in any study. Furthermore in this study the researchers did not divulge any confidential
information to third parties without the participants’ consent as this would be an infringement of the participants’ rights to
privacy. Finally names were not used in this study as each participant during the face -to- face interviews were allocated
with codes.
4.2.1. Results for face- to- Face Interview in an accounting environment as adaption of advanced
The following were the results for the face-to face technology is the right direction for future leaders.
interview: Which computerised accounting and other software
Participant: GAB01 that you are comfortable to use?
What is your view towards the implementation of a I am comfortable working with Sage Pastel
Computerised Accounting Curriculum? Accounting and Excel spreadsheets.
I welcome the implementation of a Computerised
Participant: GAB05
Accounting Curriculum in our Bsc Hons in
What is your view towards the implementation of a
Accounting. This system will assist me and my peers
Computerised Accounting Curriculum?
in gaining computer skills that are needed with
I like the idea for implementing a Computerised
employers. It was a challenge to work in the
Accounting Curriculum in our Bsc Hons in
accounting department without these skills.
Accounting as this enhances our Accounting
Which computerised accounting and other software Programme.
that you are comfortable to use?
Which computerised accounting and other software
The most important software that I want to use during
that you are comfortable to use?
my entire life is Sage Pastel Accounting and Excel
I am comfortable with Sage Pastel Accounting and
Spreadsheets.
Excel Spreadsheets.
Participant: GAB02 Participant: GAB06
What is your view towards the implementation of a What is your view towards the implementation of a
Computerised Accounting Curriculum? Computerised Accounting Curriculum?
The Computerised Accounting Curriculum is long This is a brilliant idea and during my internship I had
over –due, we have been asking management every some challenges working with Sage Pastel Accounting
about its implementation. We have discovered that and Excel Spreadsheets. Therefore, implementing a
many employers prefer accounting graduates with Computerised Accounting Curriculum will assist
who are knowledgeable of Sage Pastel Accounting, especially during internship period and after
Quick Books or ACCPAC. Therefore we have seen completing the Accounting Programme as most
during our internship that knowledge of any of the employers assume that students are already exposed to
accounting packages is very important. any accounting package.
Which computerised accounting and other software Which computerised accounting and other software
that you are comfortable to use? that you are comfortable to use?
As I have mentioned in the earlier question I prefer I am comfortable to work with Sage Pastel
any of the following accounting packages: Sage Pastel Accounting and Excel Spreadsheets as these are the
Accounting, Quick Books and ACCPAC. most popular software with many employers.
Participant: GAB03 Participant: FTW01
What is your view towards the implementation of a What is your view towards the implementation of a
Computerised Accounting Curriculum? Computerised Accounting Curriculum?
I welcome the introduction of a Computerised I welcome the idea for implementing a Computerised
Accounting Curriculum into our Accounting Accounting Curriculum as it enhances our computer
Programme. This curriculum will enhance our skills and communication skills. These are soft skills
computer skills and add value to our Accounting that are needed in commerce and industry.
Programme.
Which computerised accounting and other software
Which computerised accounting and other software
that you are comfortable to use?
that you are comfortable to use?
I am comfortable to use Sage Pastel and Excel
The following are the software that I am comfortable
Spreadsheets.
to use in the accounting department: Sage Pastel
Participant: MAU01
Accounting, Excel Spreadsheets and Power Point for
presentations. What is your view towards the implementation of a
Computerised Accounting Curriculum?
Participant: GAB04 I like this idea of implementing a Computerised
What is your view towards the implementation of a Accounting Curriculum as it enhances critical,
Computerised Accounting Curriculum? analytical thinking skills and problem - solving skills
I welcome the implementation of a Computerised through the use of accounting packages.
Accounting Curriculum and support this motion.
Those students who do not support this idea are Which computerised accounting and other software
technophobia and they will have challenges working that you are comfortable to use?
Universal Journal of Educational Research 5(3): 372-385, 2017 383
I am comfortable to use Sage Pastel, Power Point and students or graduates who are well rounded and skilled. In
Excel Spreadsheets. an accounting environment the introduction of teaching a
Computerised Accounting module is one of the best
In this study it has been shown that theme 4 (key skills –
approaches to learning by doing. Therefore, an Accounting
see figure 1) is a fundamental aspect in the Bsc Hons in
Programme should incorporate a concept that teaches
Accounting. Based on the students perceptions above it
students beyond class- room.
shows that Computerised Accounting Curriculum is critical
to accounting students or graduates as it enhances the
Accounting Programme hence its implementation is very
important. In this day and age students should be exposed to 5. A Detailed Plan for Participants’
a curriculum that requires them to learn by doing as Reactions
confirmed in [14] experiential learning study (see figure 2)
The participants described a detailed plan through their
and Computerised Accounting Package is one of the
reactions which assist in the development of a practical
module in Accounting that encourages learners to learn
curriculum for Sage Pastel Software as shown in figure 3.
through doing (a concept of hands -on). Employers expect
Figure 3. Sage Pastel Accounting Curriculum – Flow Diagram based on participants’ reactions (adapted from the researchers)
384 Computerised Accounting Software; A Curriculum that Enhances an Accounting Programme
The above detailed plan assist accounting educators in If the Computerised Accounting module is approved
developing a computerised accounting curriculum as this by Senior Management, submit for accreditation with
equip accounting students with practical skills that are Botswana Qualification Authority
needed in commerce and industry. Pilot the implementation of the Computerised
The following were detailed curriculum design and Accounting module first before introducing it to many
development strategies based participants’ reactions: students
When designing a computerised and developing an The assessments for this Computerised Accounting
accounting curriculum the following stakeholders should be module should be practical in nature
consulted as suggested by the participants (see table 6). The teaching methodology of a Computerised
Accounting module should be practical based and it is
Table 6. Stakeholders to be involved when designing and developing a also important to involve the industry and accounting
curriculum based on participants’ reactions (Adapted from the researchers,
2016) firms during the implementation of the curriculum
Stakeholders Stakeholders’ significance Coordinate and collaborate with Sage Pastel Vendor
(Suppler in South Africa) for detailed information
1) Students It is imperative to involve the students in
designing and developing a curriculum for Training of faculty members with a Certified Sage
computerised accounting. Pastel Facilitator
2) Alumni A tracer study to former students assist in Future studies:
improving and closing the existing gaps. inquire from employers the relevance or the need
3) Lecturers Lecturers play a key role in developing and for teaching a Computerised Accounting module to
designing a curriculum.
Accounting students
4) Software The vendors are important as they provide
vendors with specifications and training and comparison of performance for students who have
development. been exposed to Computerised Accounting module
5) Industry Industry provides with feedback on the and students not exposed to Computerised
forum curriculum. Accounting module
6) Government Provide support and feedback to the entire
institution.
6. Conclusions REFERENCES
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