An applying colored petri net for computerized accounting system and ledger accounts instruction

Abstract

Many learners who are not familiar with the accounting terms find blended learning very complex to understand with respect to the computerized accounting system, the journal entries process, and tracing the accounting transaction flows of accounting system. A simulation-based model is a viable option to help instructors and learners make understanding the accounting system components and monitoring the accounting transactions easier. This paper proposes a colored Petri net (CPN)-based model for the instruction of an accounting system focused on the journal entries processes, accounting modules, and accounting transaction flows. The CPN-based language and the model checking tool named CPN are used to represent the accounting system components: a chart of accounts, an account mapping profile, the journal and ledgers system, and the financial report creations. We evaluated the designed CPN models by creating the simulation cases from ground truth data of the retail department store system and the mortgage loan system, using the decision-table-based testing technique. The results show that the designed CPN model and provided simulation cases help the learners to animate, verify, trace back accounting transactions and data flows, and increase the learner’s understanding.