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Internal Audits as a Source of Ethical Behavior, Efficiency, and Effectiveness in Work Units

Author

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  • Yahel Ma’ayan

    (Bar-Ilan University)

  • Abraham Carmeli

    (Tel Aviv University)

Abstract

This study of internal auditors and auditees, who engage in both financial and operational internal audits in Israel, extends theory and research on internal audits in organizational units. It develops and tests a model that examines the role of top management and internal auditors in facilitating learning from internal audits and driving perceived performance improvement. We argue that support from the top management for the internal audit as well as the auditor’s capacity (skills, resources, and behaviors) facilitate learning from audits and help audited units to improve ethicality, efficiency, and effectiveness in organizations. The results of time-lagged survey data provide general support for the hypothesized indirect relationships between auditor capacity, auditor–auditee relational exchanges, learning from audits, and three different perceived performance measures: ethical behavior, efficiency, and effectiveness. We discuss the implications for research on internal audits, proactive learning, ethics, and performance improvement of organizational units in the public sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Yahel Ma’ayan & Abraham Carmeli, 2016. "Internal Audits as a Source of Ethical Behavior, Efficiency, and Effectiveness in Work Units," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 137(2), pages 347-363, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:137:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-015-2561-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-015-2561-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mohannad Obeid Al Shbail, 2018. "The Effect of Role Ambiguity and Role Conflict on Dysfunctional Audit Behaviour: Evidence from Jordan," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 8(3), pages 17-25, July.
    2. Pizzi, Simone & Venturelli, Andrea & Variale, Michele & Macario, Giuseppe Pio, 2021. "Assessing the impacts of digital transformation on internal auditing: A bibliometric analysis," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    3. Steinbart, Paul John & Raschke, Robyn L. & Gal, Graham & Dilla, William N., 2018. "The influence of a good relationship between the internal audit and information security functions on information security outcomes," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 15-29.
    4. Charles Guandaru Kamau & Samuel Nduati Kariuki & David Nandasaba Musuya, 2017. "Exploring the Motivation behind Leakage of Internal Audit Reports (Whistle Blowing) in the Public Sector in Kenya," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 7(3), pages 48-57, July.
    5. Mélanie Roussy & Alexandre Perron, 2018. "New Perspectives in Internal Audit Research: A Structured Literature Review," Accounting Perspectives, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(3), pages 345-385, September.

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