Informal accounting information systems: Some tentative findings

Abstract This article reports research results regarding (1) the existence of informal information and (2) the relationships between formal and informal accounting information systems. The existence of informal accounting information systems was found to be widespread. The case for informal accounting information systems as a useful and necessary adjunct to formal systems is presented. Further, a factor analysis confirmed the belief that respondents viewed the formal and informal accounting information systems to be conceptually different. Contrary to our a priori beliefs the existence of these informal systems was not importantly correlated with formal accounting information system inadequacies.