Group discussion on commercial and industrial applications of computers

Abstract

The discussion at this session, attended by about 100 people, related almost entirely to the application of electronic techniques to government and commercial accounting systems. The chairman first summarized the implications of the government's joint accounting improvement program. In the past five years, the emphasis has shifted from uniformity of practice in the various agencies to greater decentralization, with details handled and responsibility located at or near the point of origin of information. The amount and type of mechanization has been put up to individual agencies; central authorities co-operate with all agencies, and are constantly looking for methods that reduce duplication of effort. The concept of what accounting should accomplish has broadened, and there is now less interest in historical record-keeping, and much more on provision and integration of the phases required (financial, cost, inventory, etc.) to provide information needed for current action of management.