Boockhodt (1999), defines accounting information systems as systems that operate functions of data gathering, processing, categorising and reporting financial events with the aim of providing relevant information for the purpose of score keeping, attention directing and decision making.
Studies have shown that successful implementation of accounting system requires a fit between three factors (Markus 1983). Firstly, a fit must be achieved with dominant view in the organisation or perception of the situation.
Secondly, the accounting system must fit when problems are normally solved, i.e. the technology of the organisation. Finally, the accounting system must fit with the culture, i.e. the norms and value system that characterise the organisation. Accounting system will be useful when information provided by them is used effectively in decision making process by users (Christiansen 1994). Otley (1980) argues that accounting information are important parts of the fabric of organisational life and need to be evaluated in their wider managerial, organisational and environmental information not only depends on the purposes of such systems but also depends on contingency factors of each organisation.
Accounting information are said to be effective when the information provided by them serves widely the requirements of the system users. Effective information should systematically provide information which has potential effects on decision making process (Ives 1983). The effectiveness of accounting information has long been a subject of many researches (Chenhall 1986, Chong 1996, Kim 1988, Mia 1994). Accounting information is usually categorised under two groups: information that influences decision making and mainly for the purpose of controlling the organisation; information that facilitate decision making process and mostly used for coordination within an organisation (Kren 1992). Hubber (1990), argues that integration of accounting information leads to coordination in organisation, which in turn, increases the quality of the decision. Some researchers in accounting shows that the effectiveness of accounting information system depends upon the quality of the output of the information system that can satisfy the users’ needs.
Generally speaking, accounting information provides financial reports on daily and weekly basis and also provides useful information for monitoring decision-making process and performance of the organisation. Simon (1987) in his study used the first part of the statement as measure of control for management and the second part for evaluating the effectiveness of the accouunting information via continous monitoring.
Accessibility to information relating to the main transaction of an organisation leads to a categorised detailed information which facilitates decision making in any difficult situation (Mia 1994). Accounting information system is a computer based system that (Nicolaau 2000) defines as a system that increases the control and enhances the cooperation inside the organisation. Quality of information generated from accounting information is very important for management (Essex 1998). Kim (1989) argues that usage of accounting information depends on the perception of the quality of information by the user. Quality of information depends on reliability form of reporting, timeliness and relevance to the decision. Effectiveness of accounting information system also depends on the perception of decision makers on the usefulness of information generated by the system to satisfy informational needs for operation processes, managerial reports, budgeting and control within organisation. Aggregation of information is considered as means of collecting and summarising information within a given time period (Choe 1998).
Historically, accounting is as old as man, but the initial formal literature originated from an Italian monk and mathematician Luca Pacioli (1494). In his famous treatise “Summa De Arithematical Geometrical proportion et proportimalitain” (1494) in Venice, Reverend father Pacioli described the double entry system by giving insight into the reasoning behind accounting records. He postulated that all entries must be double entry, i.e. when one is debited, the other must be credited, or debit receiver and credit the giver. Even though during this period the records were prepared to show statement for the business rather than the owner the yearly preparation was lacking. Longe (1999). After Pacioli, a dutch man advocated the profit and loss account at yearly interval. The level of civilisation and technological advancement helped in the development of modern methods of accounting. During the industrial revolution there was need for sophisticated accounting methods. Different bodies were formed eg ACA (Scotland 1854); ACA (England and Wales 1880); AICPA (USA 1887). With the development of new methods ownership was separated from management Since the discovery of the double entry principle, there has been tremendous development in accounting theories and methods. The introduction of micro and mini computers have brought enhanced performance but the fundamental principle remains unchanged. Locally, in Nigeria, record keeping has antecedents in the ancient kingdoms and empire and prominent then was the periodic contribution which were recorded on the wall, but the granting of royal charter to Royal Nigeria Company was the turning point in record keeping in Nigeria. The governing accounting principle in Nigeria was almost the same as the ones in Britain, our colonial master. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) was established in 1965 and affliated with the professional institutes in Britain and USA.
The Corporate Report of 1975 formulated by the Sandiland Committee in the United Kingdom recognized amongst others, the following user-groups as having a reasonable right to information: