AN OPTIMIZATION APPROACH FOR SCHEDULING INTERNAL AUDITS OF DIVISIONS

In this paper, we develop an optimization model for efficiently scheduling internal audits of multiple units within a business enterprise. The model determines an optimal mix of audit frequencies for the audit units given the risks and costs involved in the audit process. We also show one method for estimating the audit cost and loss functions needed as input to the model and demonstrate how to obtain a solution for the model. To illustrate the model's use, we solve a sample problem with eight audit units and examine the sensitivity of the solution to misestimation of the risk parameters. Our results indicate that the model is readily solvable on a personal computer, useful for choosing an efficient mix of audit frequencies and an overall audit budget, and relatively insensitive to misestimation of the risk parameters. Copyright © 1991, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved