Compatibility principle definition including break down of areas in the definition. Analyzing the definition of key term often provides more insight about concepts. Compatibility principle definition can be defined as: Information system principle that prescribes an accounting system to conform with ta company’s activates, personnel, and structure. Compatibility principle suggests that we design and accounting system that will work with the resources we have. The compatibility principle may seem obvious but is not always because we often look at accounting systems and have ideas of putting in complex accounting system but the compatibility principle reminds us that what work for one company may not work as well for another.