The Alkin Chemical Company manufactures and sells chemicals for agricultural and industrial use. The company has grown significantly over the past five years. However, the companys AIS is the original one developed and installed by the former presidents son while he was in college. Much of the information generated by the system is irrelevant, and more appropriate and timely information is needed.

The controller is concerned that actual monthly cost data for most production processes are compared with actual costs of the same processes for the previous year. However, the production supervisors contend that the system is adequate because it accounts for discrepancies. The current years costs seldom vary from the previous years costs when adjusted for inflation; thus, the supervisors feel that costs are under control.

The vice president of manufacturing has found that preparing even the simplest of cost analyses requires that she spend days compiling information generated by the current system. She believes the system should be flexible enough for managers to quickly develop their own recurring reports.

As a result of these concerns, the new president has appointed a committee to review the system. It will determine managements information needs for cost control and decision purposes and ensure that the companys and employees behavioral needs are met. The vice president of finance and administration chairs the committee.

Shortly after announcing the formation of this committee, the vice president of finance overheard a cost accountant say, Ive been doing it this way since the company began and now this committee plans to make my job redundant. Several employees in the general accounting department also assumed that their positions would be eliminated or changed significantly. Several days later, the vice president of finance and administration overheard on production manager state that he believed the system was in need of revision because the most meaningful information he was receiving come from a junior salesperson.

Required

1. Identify the behavioral implications of using an AIS that does not appear to meet managements needs.
2. Identify and explain the problems employees have with the AIS.
3. Identify policies or practices the company could follow during systems implementation that would reduce costs without laying off employees
4. Note: this accounting information system chapter 20