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Specialized knowledge and its communication in auditing

Author

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  • PAUL DANOS
  • JOHN W. EICHENSEHER
  • DORIS L. HOLT

Abstract

. The purpose of this paper is to describe certain aspects of specialized knowledge communication in auditing. The paper discusses the possible organizational responses an audit firm could make when competitive markets require efficient knowledge sharing among auditors and when economies of scale opportunities through division of responsibilities exist. Experienced auditors were surveyed about their consultation with others in their firms for specific types of clients and for different phases of audit engagements. In general, the results suggest limits to expertise†related economies of scale in the audit setting studied. The required specialized knowledge seems to be close at hand and accessible in most engagements with little need to consult with nonlocal specialists. When consulted, however, the nonlocal specialists are believed to convey important information. Résumé. Les auteurs ont pour but de décrire certains aspects de la communication de connaissances spécialisées en vérification. Ils traitent des différentes réponses organisation†nelles que peut donner un cabinet de vérification aux exigences des marchés concurrentiels relatives au partage efficient des connaissances chez les vérificateurs et à la possibilité de réaliser des économies d'échelle grâce au partage des responsabilités. Les auteurs ont interrogé des vérificateurs expérimentés dans le but de déterminer s'ils consultaient d'autres vérificateurs de leur cabinet au sujet de certains types précis de clients et pour différentes phases des missions de vérification. De façon générale, les résultats obtenus donnent à penser que les économies d'échelle reliées à l'expertise dans les contextes de vérification étudiés sont limitées. Dans la plupart des missions, il semble que les connaissances spécialisées requises soient à portée de la main et facilement accessibles, sans qu'il soit nécessaire de consulter des spécialistes de l'extérieur. On croit cependant que les spécialistes de l'extérieur livrent de l'information importante lorsqu'ils sont consultés.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Danos & John W. Eichenseher & Doris L. Holt, 1989. "Specialized knowledge and its communication in auditing," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 6(1), pages 91-109, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:coacre:v:6:y:1989:i:1:p:91-109
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1911-3846.1989.tb00746.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sanders, Christina Butler & Steward, Michelle D. & Bridges, Sheri, 2009. "Facilitating knowledge transfer during SOX-mandated audit partner rotation," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 52(6), pages 573-582, November.
    2. Donald A. Leslie, 1989. "Discussion of “Specialized knowledge and its communication in auditingâ€," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 6(1), pages 110-118, September.
    3. Steven Salterio, 1994. "Researching for Accounting Precedents: Learning, Efficiency, and Effectiveness," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(1), pages 515-542, June.
    4. Salterio, Steven, 1996. "The effects of precedents and client position on auditors' financial accounting policy judgment," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 21(5), pages 467-486, July.
    5. El’fred Boo & Terence Ng & Premila Gowri Shankar, 2021. "Effects of Advice on Auditor Whistleblowing Propensity: Do Advice Source and Advisor Reassurance Matter?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 174(2), pages 387-402, November.
    6. Jian Cao & Feng Chen & Julia L. Higgs, 2016. "Late for a very important date: financial reporting and audit implications of late 10-K filings," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 633-671, June.
    7. Steven Salterio & Ross Denham, 1997. "Accounting Consultation Units: An Organizational Memory Analysis," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(4), pages 669-691, December.
    8. Causholli, Monika & Floyd, Theresa & Jenkins, Nicole Thorne & Soltis, Scott M., 2021. "The ties that bind: Knowledge-seeking networks and auditor job performance," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    9. Perreault, Stephen & Kida, Thomas, 2011. "The relative effectiveness of persuasion tactics in auditor–client negotiations," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 534-547.
    10. Trotman, Ken T. & Bauer, Tim D. & Humphreys, Kerry A., 2015. "Group judgment and decision making in auditing: Past and future research," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 56-72.
    11. Nitai Chandra Debnath & Suman Paul Chowdhury & Safaeduzzaman Khan, 2022. "The impact of audit quality on real earnings management: evidence from Bangladesh," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(2), pages 218-231, June.
    12. Gold-Nöteberg, A.H. & Knechel, W.R. & Wallage, P., 2008. "The Effect of Audit Standards on Fraud Consultation and Auditor Judgment," ERIM Report Series Research in Management 11687, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    13. Matthew Reidenbach & Katrina Wu, 2018. "Audit Firm Industry Sector Leader Geographic Location And Its Association With Audit Fees," The International Journal of Business and Finance Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 12(2), pages 117-130.
    14. Lee, Fiona, 1997. "When the Going Gets Tough, Do the Tough Ask for Help? Help Seeking and Power Motivation in Organizations," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 72(3), pages 336-363, December.
    15. Sourour Ammar, 2006. "La Compétence De L'Auditeur Comptable Vue Par Les Experts Comptables," Post-Print halshs-00548054, HAL.
    16. Salterio, S. & Koonce, L., 1997. "The persuasiveness of audit evidence: The case of accounting policy decisions," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 22(6), pages 573-587, August.
    17. Griffith, Emily E. & Kadous, Kathryn & Proell, Chad A., 2020. "Friends in low places: How peer advice and expected leadership feedback affect staff auditors’ willingness to speak up," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).

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