Decision support tools for choosing accounting software

• Published in: The CPA journal (1975) Vol. 62; no. 11; p. 82
• Main Authors: Bagranoff, Nancy A, Simkin, Mark G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants 01.11.1992
• Subjects: Accountants; Accounting; Accounting systems; Automated accounting systems; Computer programs; Decision making; Decision support systems; Evaluation; Financial software; Implementations; Purchasing; Software; Software packages; Specifications; United States > US
• ISSN: 0732-8435

The accounting software decision making process is important because of the large number of choices available, the strengths and weaknesses of the various packages, and the cost of those packages. The software selection process is a 2 step process in which the first decision is to determine which features are most important, and the 2nd decision is to select the software best matching those important features. Probably the most direct decision support tools for chosing accounting software are the packages designed expressly for this process. However, the weighing schemes of a more generalized decision support system may make a difference between a system that is superior and one that is merely satisfactory. The most flexible decision support tool is probably a spreadsheet. The costs of installing an accounting package, operating it, training employees, converting data, and maintaining software and equipment are likely to far exceed the initial cost of a decision support package. However, purchasing the wrong accounting package is likely to cost much more.