CHAPTER ONE

1.0    INTRODUCTION

In the ancient days, human activities were relatively easy. The difficulties posted by nature then, were considerably simply and demanded solutions of man and his way to solve them necessitated the inventors of machines. Since the invention of the first machines, the world has experienced a tremendous degree of advancement in technology and ones for the machine invented for solving complicated problems in the computer. With increasing frequency, it is recognized that an understanding of the computer how it influences accounting operations and it’s benefits to every accounting students and intend to work this world of advancing technology cannot be over emphasized.

Due to the recent intends in accounting operations and the complexity of these operations with the number of task to be performed constantly on the increase, todays accountants are left with no option other than to always device ways by which these increasing tasks could be processed more speedily and accurately so that there will be no loss of information.

With the advert of computer many organizations have computerized their accounting systems, an example of such organization with computerized accounting system is FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC.

1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In the last few decades, business activities have not only grown bigger and very much complex, but things happen even faster than expected, the combination of complexity, size and faster action and reaction generated a view for new management tools, especially tools for converting the large and complex volume of business data into useful and meaningful terms to assist management in decision making.

The processing of business data and the delivery of information using there machines is known as “AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING” OR “COMPUTERISED OPERATIONS”.

The effectiveness of computer depends on the ability of the user. Inherently the computer has no creative ability than the screw-driver or any simple machine. The fundamental power is it’s ability absorb a mountain data, manipulate the data, and bring out the  results in a summarized meaningful form, quickly accurately for management use.

The entire accounting and management function started in a manual form where the process of accounting data and information was provided in manual form by human beings. This system of providing information manually had it’s short comings later, the use of punched cards was introduced, which involves the use of electromechanically device for the processing of data. This method of processing was later replaced by computer which is made up of processing.