Accounting Profession
IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION - A STUDY OF A CPA FIRM’S DISASTER RECOVERY PLANNING
Stanley X. Lewis, Jr., Troy University Eddy J. Burks, Troy University Ernest W. King, University of Southern Mississippi Carl Smolinski, LSU-Shreveport ABSTRACT The results of an ongoing study of professional accounting firms in the U. S existing research methodology and results included in the 2006 IRMA International Conference reporting the strategic planning by a law firm pertaining to its disaster planning and recovery using information technology. All professional firms have certain legal and ethical obligations to protect their clients’ interests and records (including electronic ones). Based upon the experiences of this CPA firm in planning for disaster recovery and its successes (and failures) in protecting its developing decision support capabilities a post-disaster study was conducted to ascertain the impact on the CPA firm’s continued viability and growth, and on the impact on the firm’s clients. INTRODUCTION One professional firm, identified in this research only as the CPA Firm, [CPAF] has undertaken strategic disaster recovery planning efforts that they believe will allow them to recover quickly from a natural disaster. On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. and the planning for a disaster by the CPAF was put to a test. REVIEW OF LITERATURE A review of the literature related to disaster planning by professional firms in the U. S. resulted in minimal literature that was specific to a professional (legal and CPA) firm. The review was limited to the immediate past three year period to gain insight into current usage of the disaster planning for maintaining existing technology usage in a disaster area. No effort was made to review the literature that would establish a need for the use of technology; rather, the review was directed toward learning how planning in the U. S. for natural disasters has been adopted and if planning efforts were
Stanley X. Lewis, Jr., Troy University Eddy J. Burks, Troy University Ernest W. King, University of Southern Mississippi Carl Smolinski, LSU-Shreveport ABSTRACT The results of an ongoing study of professional accounting firms in the U. S existing research methodology and results included in the 2006 IRMA International Conference reporting the strategic planning by a law firm pertaining to its disaster planning and recovery using information technology. All professional firms have certain legal and ethical obligations to protect their clients’ interests and records (including electronic ones). Based upon the experiences of this CPA firm in planning for disaster recovery and its successes (and failures) in protecting its developing decision support capabilities a post-disaster study was conducted to ascertain the impact on the CPA firm’s continued viability and growth, and on the impact on the firm’s clients. INTRODUCTION One professional firm, identified in this research only as the CPA Firm, [CPAF] has undertaken strategic disaster recovery planning efforts that they believe will allow them to recover quickly from a natural disaster. On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. and the planning for a disaster by the CPAF was put to a test. REVIEW OF LITERATURE A review of the literature related to disaster planning by professional firms in the U. S. resulted in minimal literature that was specific to a professional (legal and CPA) firm. The review was limited to the immediate past three year period to gain insight into current usage of the disaster planning for maintaining existing technology usage in a disaster area. No effort was made to review the literature that would establish a need for the use of technology; rather, the review was directed toward learning how planning in the U. S. for natural disasters has been adopted and if planning efforts were
References: Harris, Blake, “Building Blocks,” Government Technology, Vol. 17, Issue 5, May 2004, 27-28. Lewis, Stan; King, Ernest W.; and Burks, Eddy J.; “Impact of Technology on the Legal System – A Study of a Law Firm’s Disaster Recovery Planning;” 2006 Information Resources Management Association International Conference Proceedings; Washington, D. C., May 19-21, 2006, pages 127-129.