1) Is it reasonable to expect accountants to be proficient in information technology? Why

2) What are the components of an accounting information system? 

Answer:

1) YES, the accountants are expected to be proficient in information. Accounting information helps the business with data required to determine whether a company is earning profit or suffering loss, how much it owes others, how much debtors owe, and other required financial reports; thus assists management in the making of decision and fits into the value chain of an organization. It enhances the quality and declines the costs of each activity, enhancing efficiency of supply chain, improving internal control structure, improving decision making, and improving knowledge sharing. All of this is accomplished with an accurate and proper data, summarizing it appropriately for each specific user, and providing the information when it is needed. It helps to steer the management in the right approach with an accurate figures, and not just the gut-feelings; thus adds into the value chain of a business.

2) In an accounting information system there are mainly six components:
-- People: People are the users of the system
-- Procedure: Procedures refers to the methods and techniques utilized for collecting, retrieving, storing, and processing of the data
-- Data: The data consists of all the financial information in regard to the business practices of the company.
-- Software: The computer software is used to save, store, retrieve, process and analyze the company's financial data.
-- Technology Infrastructure: It includes the hardware used in operating the accounting information system
-- Internal Controls: These controls are the security measures for providing a protection on the sensitive data