Research Proposal- Accounting And Technology

Research Proposal on Accounting and Technology

Research Title: The title for the Research Proposal is the “Use and Role of Technology in the Field of Accounting”.

Research Background: The introduction of the technology in the area of accounting is innovation. From the last few years, a range of technologies such as: accounting software are used in the accounting. For instance, Accounting software had allowed the companies go online and check cash balances or upload journal entries or analyze overall financial performance. In the same way, organizations are able to improve profit, reduce costs, save time, improve staff performance, strengthening competitive position, offer better services to clients etc. Moreover, they can overcome book-keeping errors and frauds via technology. Advanced technology or computerized technologies are improving accuracy, functionality and business performance effectively and properly. Moreover, technology provides immense advantages within the accounting and finance departments. For case, budgetary data can be prepared at the time with the help of advanced technology. Moreover, financial reports, annual records, spreadsheets, and written records can be transformed with the help of new technologies. But, implementation cost of technological tools within finance and accounting is one of the major issues because in order to execute such tools companies have to spend huge money.

Research Objectives & Questions: The main purpose of this research is to analyze and access the role and significance of technology in the accounting. Based on this research objective, the main research questions are given below such as:

• What are the major technological tools used in the accounting & finance?
• What are the key benefits of technology in the Accounting?
• How technology plays fundamental roles in the area of finance and accounting?

Literature Review: According to Dimitriu, & Matei, (2014), the growth and advancement development in the information technology has changed the accounting industry. Technology has changed the way accounting performed. The much use of information and digital technologies has enhanced the productivity and profitability of the organizations. They are able to use financial information in order to generate authentic outcomes. For instance, technology has offered a range of advanced tools and technologies so that companies can identify as well as explore business & economic activities in a more innovative and accurate manner. Technology has allowed the organisations to collect, process, and share financial information and data in a more meaningful manner. For instance, now with the effective use of technology, companies are able to view their financial performance in real time results in increased productivity (Shim, & Siegel, 2005).

In the words of Kumar, & Lu, (2010), in the present time, each and every type of companies including small, large and medium rely on information systems or technology to conduct their financial as well as economic activities and functions. For example, with the advancement in the technology, companies are able to measure, summarize and categorized in a specific and innovative manner. They can interpret financial results and outcomes to make most important and favorable decisions. In the early years, all the types of accounting and financial calculations were done manually. Organizations were spending a lot of money and time in manual methods. But, technology introduced major changes in the traditional accounting systems. For case, with the effective use of technology in accounting, business operations are improved by the companies. Now, companies are adopting advanced technologies to make fast and better decisions on day to day operations. In the present time, there is a range of accounting information systems used to collect and store real time financial data.

Harmon, & Auseklis, (2009) stated that, Quickbook, MYOB, SAP, ERP, Xero, Recon etc. are the major accounting software that utilized by today’s business firms in order to conduct the functions related to accounting and finance effectively. For case, they are developing budgets and making financial decisions by using such software. These software allows the users to develop and make financial transactions, reports and statements in a more specific and accurate manner. With the use of such software, companies are reducing costs, improving profitability. The key features of these are high speed, accuracy, efficiency, Information, management data, Up-to-date data, Legibility, Cost reserve funds, Staff inspiration and Frustration minimization. For example, these are also used to bring accuracy and improve validity of the financial and accounting information/data/transaction.

Research Methodologies and Techniques: In this section different research methods (such as: Research Philosophy, Research Approach, Research Design, Research Strategy/Scheme) would be used to collect and gather the meaningful data related research. Such methods are used to perform the study systematic manner. The proper justification of selection of specific research method and technique will be provided instruction and guidance of the researcher to complete this whole research in a coherent and logical way (Mackey & Gass, 2015).

In order to maintain the reliability, trustworthiness and credibility of the research, appropriate research methods would be used. In this research, both primary and secondary methods of data collection would be used to collect the related information about the topic. The primary data would be gathered via questionnaire survey method. Moreover, secondary information would be gathered via journals, books, articles, websites, newspaper etc. This will help in conducting the literature review successfully. In order to analyze the research insights, qualitative data would be collected. In the same way, research objectives would be attained based on gathered primary and secondary data (Jonker & Pennink, 2010). Random sampling, probability or non-probability sampling, and stratified sampling are mainly used techniques in business research to collect primary data by selecting small sample from the large population according to the data research requirements. In this study, the researcher will use random sampling method to select small sample size. Random sampling method reduce biases that contribute in maintain reliable and credible of data and provide accurate outcome of the study (Mackey & Gass, 2015).

A Project Plan/Gantt Chart: Project plan reflect the time schedule to compete the project successfully. It is also indicate various activities of project. On the other hand, Gantt chart is the horizontal chart that shows step by step progress of the project in the horizontal manner (Flick, 2015). The project plan for the research is given below such as:

Ethical Consideration: In order to maintain the privacy and creditability, ethical and reliable source of information would be used. On the other hand, data and budget privacy would be maintained while doing the research. Misleading data and information based on the technological advancements will be avoided. Moreover, ethical and professional codes would be maintained to conduct the study successfully (Flick, 2014).

References

Dimitriu, O., & Matei, M. (2014). A New Paradigm for Accounting through Cloud Computing. Procedia Economics and Finance, 15, 840-846.

Flick, U. (2014). An introduction to qualitative research. UK: Sage.

Flick, U. (2015). Introducing research methodology: A beginner’s guide to doing a research project. USA: Sage.

Harmon, R., & Auseklis, N. (2009) Sustainable it services: Assessing the impact of green computing practices. Management of Engineering & Technology, 2009. PICMET 2009. Portland International Conference on, 1707-1717.

Howieson, B., Hancock, P., Segal, N., Kavanagh, M., Tempone, I., & Kent, J. (2014). Who should teach what? Australian perceptions of the roles of universities and practice in the education of professional accountants. Journal of Accounting Education, 32(3), 259-275.

Jonker, B. & Pennink, B. (2010). The Essence of Research Methodology: A Concise Guide for Master and PhD Students in Management Science. Germany: Springer.

Kumar, K., & Lu, Y. (2010) Cloud computing for mobile users: Can offloading computation save energy?. COMPUTER, 43(4), pp. 51-56.

Mackey, A., & Gass, S. M. (2015). Second language research: Methodology and design. UK: Routledge.

Shim, J.K. & Siegel, J.G. (2005) The Vest Pocket Guide to Information Technology (2nd ed.).USA: John Wiley & Sons.