Research Proposal: IT Impact on Accounting Efficiency

This research proposal investigates the impact of Information Technology (IT) on accounting efficiency. It begins by defining IT and its role in business, emphasizing its potential to streamline operations and replace manual labor. The proposal aims to examine the influence of IT on accounting efficiency, focusing on the need for financial departments to be lean and efficient. The research will address objectives such as understanding IT concepts, analyzing its influence on accounting efficiency, identifying the relationship between IT and accounting efficiency, and providing recommendations for improvement. The literature review explores accounting efficiency, its factors, and the role of IT in business. Factors affecting accounting efficiency include knowledge of accounts, cooperation with management and team members, available resources, and transparent management. The proposal also examines the factors affecting the use of IT in business, such as available funds. The research methodology and expected outcomes are also included. This research will help to understand the importance of IT in the field of accounting.

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Research aims and objectives..........................................................................................................3
Research Aim...............................................................................................................................3
Research Objectives.....................................................................................................................3
Research Questions......................................................................................................................4
Literature review..............................................................................................................................4
Accounting efficiency..................................................................................................................4
Factors affecting Accounting efficiency......................................................................................5
Information technology in business.............................................................................................7
Factors affecting the use of Information technology in the business..........................................8
Research Method...........................................................................................................................10
Structure of the Paper....................................................................................................................12
Expected outcomes....................................................................................................................13
Timeline.....................................................................................................................................13
References......................................................................................................................................14

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Topic: The impact of IT on accounting efficiency
Introduction
The information technology can be mentioned to be the use of various computers,
networking, storage, and other such physical devices and processing systems to create, secure,
and exchange all forms of electronic data in an enterprise, which thereby makes the entire
procedure rather efficient (Andrade & Doolin, 2016). Information technology can be understood
to be used to bring about better communication and overall efficiency in the various operations
of the business. This term focusing on information technology, is thereby focused on ensuring
that the technology replaces the general manual labor, and all the tasks and related subjects can
be carried out successfully. The information technology tends to involve several layers of
concrete equipment along with the various levels of operating systems and automation tools
along with the software to perform the necessary functions. In line with this, it is integral to
understand that the information technology defines the methodologies and the regulations which
are made use of in the storage of the data (Baller, Dutta & Lanvin, 2016).
The business applications in the information technology comprise the SQL server, real
time order entry, email servers like the exchange, and the Web servers for customer relationship
management, enterprise resource planning, and other systems. According to Beames et al.
(2015), these applications, in return, are programmed in a manner such that they can be modified
to fulfill a business function. This study is centered around understanding the impact of
Information technology on accounting efficiency. Therefore, it has to be assumed that the
financial departments in the businesses are required to be lean and in consideration with this, it is
essential to understand that, the accountants are being required to manage with considerably

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limited resources and are asked to push their intellect and abilities to the maximum extent. In
consideration of this, the accounting department would be necessarily required to be more
efficient as their overall duties involve checking that the right financial standing of the enterprise
can be represented accurately.
Therefore, accounting efficiency can be rightfully described as a practice concerning
which an enterprise is successfully able to manage the accounting functions and reflect the actual
image of the enterprise to its investors and at the same tie ensuring that all the activities are
carried out transparently (Zare & Rhee, 2017). For the accounting domain, the efficiency can be
measured in terms of all the employees being trained adequately, the accounting managers being
able to communicate effectively, and ensuring that all the deadlines are met with adequately.
Hence, regarding this, it can be considered integral for the accounting department to comply with
all the expectations present and additionally be able to see to it that they can focus on the
building up of a sound competitive positioning. Hence, the main objective of the study can be
stated to be to examine the influence of Information technology on accounting efficiency. The
proposal aims at setting the background of the paper and mentioning how the study will be
conducted and how it shall be designed.
Research aims and objectives
Research Aim
The main aim of the research can be mentioned to be to find the impact of Information
technology on accounting efficiency.

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Research Objectives
The research objectives which have been set down for the paper can be mentioned to be
as follows:
1. To understand the concepts relating to Information technology and its related use
in the business along with understanding the Accounting efficiency.
2. To analyze how Information technology influences accounting efficiency.
3. To find the relationship which exists between the Information technology and the
accounting efficiency?
4. To provide recommendations based on which the accounting efficiency can be
considerably improved based on Information technology.
Research Questions
The research questions which have been outlined for the study can be mentioned to be as
follows:
1. What are the concepts relating to Information technology and its related use in the
business along with understanding the Accounting efficiency?
2. What is how Information technology influences accounting efficiency?
3. What is the relationship which exists between the Information technology and the
accounting efficiency?
4. What recommendations can be provided based on which the accounting efficiency
can be considerably improved based on Information technology?

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Literature review
Accounting efficiency
The term efficiency can be rightfully defined as the capability of getting a particular task
done in the shortest period but attaining the overall quality of the work as well. The efficiency in
the field of accounting does not always refer to the speed of the task being done but is primarily
focused on the quality of the job being produced (Zare & Rhee, 2017).
In the domain of accounting, efficiency measures the overall productivity of the different
assets of the enterprise. This efficiency is often measured in comparing the various levels of
assets to the revenues which are produced by the assets. In line with this, it is integral to ensure
that the right functions of accounting as a function are being carried out quickly with the help of
the different employees present in the enterprise. Efficiency in the field of accounting assists in
brings about efficiency in the workplace and ensures that the enterprise is successfully being able
to achieve all its objectives successfully.
Factors affecting Accounting efficiency
Although accounting efficiency is widely promoted, it needs to be understood that there
are a certain number of elements in a business that can affect the overall accounting efficiency.
Regarding this, it is integral to know that an understanding of these factors is essential to finding
how the accounting efficiency is affected and how the firm can ensure better quality functions.
Knowledge of the accounts
To enable accounting efficiency, it is integral for the enterprise to ensure that the firm has
an adequate understanding of accounts. This means that the team which is involved in the
function of accounting should be fully equipped with the knowledge of accounting. Regarding

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this, it becomes essential for all the members to be updated with the overall idea of the latest
accounting rules, accounting legislative, accounting regulations, and other such compulsory
requirements. This would substantially contribute towards seeing to it that the effective
statements and calculations can be produced effectively and efficiently, the knowledge of the
accounts cannot be considered to be adequate, and the efficiency cannot be implemented (Tu et
al., 2019).
Cooperation with the management
The collaboration with the administration is a critical regulation that assists in seeing to it
that the accounting efficiency can be made adequately. In addition to this, all the information is
transferred in the right manner. According to Senft, Gallegos & Davis, (2016), the management
is mainly required to cooperate with the accounting team in the right way, and they are required
to be given all the relevant information about the different operations of the enterprise. Very
often, the management is not willing to cooperate with the administration in the right way, and
this often leads to unethical activities. Additionally, to meet their overall business targets, the
different enterprises often engage in activities whereby the accountants are asked not to present
the full truth scenario and are instead asked to see to it that the management can reflect that their
targets have been achieved (Setyowati, & Utama, 2018). Hence, in this case, cooperation with
the administration is essential to ensure accounting efficiency and effectivity.
Cooperation amongst the team members
The collaboration amongst the team members is very critical to ensure (Schwalbe, 2015).
This means that the partnership with the team members can be considered to be essential to
ensure. All the accounts team members need to be such that they are necessarily able to serve the

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enterprise in the right manner and are willing to function in coordination with one another. This
means that all the members of the accounting department need to be in full cooperation and need
to work effectively as a team with the help of which these employees would be able to ensure
long term efficiency and effectivity.
Resources available
The resources which are available for the accounting team also have a pivotal role to play
in determining the overall accounting efficiency. According to Schaltegger and Burritt (2017),
this means that when the accountant team is being provided with all the adequate tools and well
overall efficiencies, then in such a case, it is integral to see to it that the accounting team can
ensure overall accounting effectivity. In line with this, it is essential to note that, when the
different database, software’s and related training facilities are provided to the employees of the
accounting team on a regular basis than in such a scenario, it becomes integral to note that, this
assistance to the team is helpful in ensuring that the resources can be availed on a regular basis
and the effectivity and the efficiency of the accounting function of the enterprise.
Transparent management
The transparent management of the enterprise also has an influencing role to play in the
domain of accounting (Romano, Molinos-Senante & Guerrini, 2017). This means that all the
operations of the management team need to be communicated to the different departments
transparently. This shall then contribute towards seeing to it that the services can be carried out
successfully and that the accountant department is being able to manage the overall operations of
the business effectively. The transparent management is crucial to ensuring the achievement of
efficiency in the field of accounting.

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Information technology in business
The information technology is popularly known to drive the innovation and to attain the
path to overall success (Marchewka, 2016). Additionally, information technology is a set of
software which is generally made use of in an enterprise to make the global operations
comparatively easier. The information technology is applied in the field of production, in the
service industry, in terms of financial planning and the technological advancements as well.
Hence, when all the functions of the business are mixed with information technology, then it
leads to the overall effectivity of the enterprise (Trantopoulos et al. , 2017).
Additionally, it is essentially able to bring about better business results. The dependency
of the business enterprises on information technology has increased to a great extent, and this has
brought about considerable efficiency and ease of operations as well. Information technology
tends to foster innovation in the domain of business. According to Rieckhof, Bergmann and
Guenther (2015), the change has brought about positive results in smarter applications, improved
the data storage, and made the overall distribution broader and better. The innovation makes the
global businesses run effectively and enhances the quality and productivity of the operations.
Factors affecting the use of Information technology in the business
There are various factors which have a long term impact on Information technology
adoption in the enterprise. With consideration of this, it is integral to ensure that the enterprise
would be required to adopt the right kind of motivation to take Information technology in
business operations (Demerjian, 2018). Regarding this, the following section will state the
factors affecting the activities of the enterprise and then influencing them to adopt the use of
Information technology in the business enterprise.

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Funds available with the enterprise
The funds which are available with the enterprise have a crucial role to play in seeing to
it that the enterprise is being able to adapt Information technology as a suitable means of
business. In addition to this, the funds available with the enterprise and the extent to which the
firm is willing to spend on information technology have a significant impact on how the various
Information technology tools ae adopted for the firm and how they are primarily utilized (Dunant
et al. , 2019).
The capability of the employees
The capability of the employees also has an impact on the adoption of the Information
technology for the various operations of the business. This means that, in order to ensure that
such advanced technologies are being applied for the various business operations, it is crucial to
certify the different capabilities of the firm are being met with adequately. According to Goh and
Ang (2019), this also hints that the different employees would be required to be provided with
adequate training facilities with the help of which the organization will be able to meet its overall
objectives.
Customer demand
The customer demands also have a key role to play in determining the manner in which
the firm will be willing to adopt the Information technology (Lara, Osma & Penalva, 2016).
This means that, very often the different customers demand a certain level of optimization in the
different operations of the enterprise and it is based on this that the firm would be required to
meet with these needs and adopt the information technology in its related operations.

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Employee motivation
The employee motivation can be defined as the overall motivational level of the various
employees who are present in the enterprise. This means that, if the employees are motivated
within the enterprise, then in such a case, they would be essentially willing to adapt to the new
and better technology (Lloyd, 2017). With the help of this, the firm will be able to engage in
long term success and therefore, be able to certify that the accounting efficiency can be verified.
The competition in the business environment
The various enterprises and firms are often influenced by the other firms which are
present in the business environment. This means that if the rival firms have the latest technology
which is updated in nature then in such a case, they will be able to indulge in fair competition
and adopt a similar technology on the basis of which, the firm can engage in the adoption of the
same features and technologies.
Research Method
A research paper is rather incomplete without a research method. The given section lays
down the research methods which will be applied for the paper.
Research Philosophy: The research philosophy can be rightfully defined as the overall
assumptions which are undertaken by the researcher before the researcher is carried out
successfully (Bresler & Stake, 2017). The research philosophy which will be followed for the
paper can be stated to be the Positivism research philosophy. In this type of a research
philosophy, the study will be focusing on the factual knowledge which is gained through

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observation and related study. The role of the researcher in this case is largely limited to the
collection and the interpretation of the data.
Research Approach: The research approach can be stated to be the overall approach which is
undertaken for a study. In consideration to this, it can be rightfully mentioned that the research
approach which will be taken for the study can be stated to be the deductive approach. In this
approach, the study will be adopting a rather comprehensive approach whereby the information
which will be adopted for the study shall be deduced in order to find the answers to the research
objectives.
Research Design: The research design which has been adopted for the study can be stated to be
the Descriptive research design. In this kind of a research design, the entire study will be based
in a descriptive format whereby the influence of the Information technology will be assessed on
the Accounting efficiency and in consideration to this, the study will assist in understanding the
exact impact of the Information technology on the overall accounting efficiency.
Research Strategy: The research strategy can be essentially described as the overall strategy
following which the research is essentially outlined. In consideration to this, it becomes
essentially crucial for the research strategy is defined in a manner such that the overall study is
able to achieve its overall objectives (Kumar, 2019). The research strategy which can be adopted
for the study ca be stated to be the Primary Quantitative study. With consideration with this, it
becomes critical to understand that, the Primary Quantitative study will focus towards primary
method of data collection by collecting the responses from various sources. Additionally, the
Quantitative method data collection will be adopted for the study whereby statistical tools will be
utilized for the research.

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Sampling Technique: The sampling technique can be mentioned to be the manner in which the
sampling of the study is carried out effectively. In addition to this, it becomes essential to
identify the sampling size in the manner such that, the data analysis can be carried out in the
right manner. The sampling size has been selected as 100.
Data collection method and analysis: The data collection method which will be adopted for the
study can be mentioned to be the Primary method of data collection whereby the survey of the
respondents will be collected in order to determine their perspectives. Additionally, the data
analysis technique which will be adopted for the study is the Quantitative approach whereby the
data which has been collected for the study will be analyzed using Statistical approach.
Structure of the Paper
The paper will follow a systematic structure as follows:
Introduction: The section of the paper will lay down the research objectives, questions and the
background of the study.
Literature Review: The Literature review will present a critical analysis of the theoretical
concepts related to the study. It will present a comprehensive analysis of the factors which
influence the adoption of Information technology and the Accounting efficiency in any
enterprise.
Research Methodology: The research methodology will lay down the different research methods
which will be adopted for carrying out the study (Silverman, 2016) The research methods will be
defined and the Research philosophy, research approach, research method, data collection

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method, data analysis method and the research design and the sampling technique will be defined
adequately.
Data analysis and discussion: The data analysis and discussion chapter will lay down the overall
findings of the paper and make a critical analysis of the topic.
Conclusion and recommendations: The conclusion and the recommendations chapter will lay
down a summary of the study and will be followed by the recommendations of the study.
Expected outcomes
The expected outcomes of the project can be mentioned to be that the researcher will be
able to determine the overall influence of the information technology on the accounting
efficiency in the various enterprises.
Timeline
Activity Months
M
Jan
M
Feb
M
Mar
M
April
M
May
M
June
M
July
Finalizing of the topic 
Collection of the data from various
secondary sources
 
Formation of the layout of the
research work

Conducting the Literature review   
Formation of the research plan  
Selection of appropriate research
methodologies
 

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Collection of the data from primary
sources
 
Analysis of the collected data sets  
Interpretation of the different
collected data sets

Concluding the Paper and providing
recommendations

Designing of the rough draft  
Submission of the Final Work  

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References
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