Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Part 2: Practice of Internal Auditing — Question 147

Which of the following statements is true regarding a drawback of using internal control questionnaires (ICQs)?

Answer options

• A. When internal auditors need to cover many control procedures, using ICQs is generally less than conducting observations and inspections.
• B. It is generally difficult for internal auditors to compile appropriate ICQs for business activities that are governed by standardized operating procedures.
• C. ICQs are inadequate to provide effective assurance on how organizational processes are executed in practice.
• D. It is generally difficult for internal auditors to process completed questionnaires, because ICQs frequently elicit detailed comments and long answers from management.

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer, C, is accurate because ICQs may not capture the nuances of how processes are truly implemented, leading to inadequate assurance. Options A and B focus on the challenges of using ICQs, but they do not address the assurance aspect. Option D discusses the processing of questionnaires but does not relate to the effectiveness of assurance provided by ICQs.