The supreme audit institutions readiness to uncertainty

The inefficient fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and earlier insufficient readiness to counteract terrorist attacks raise the question about the role of the supreme audit institutions (SAIs) in the situation, in which decision-makers take decisions in uncertainty conditions. The states did not prove themselves in conditions of uncertainty. In all countries, the situation is the same, too late decisions regarding anti-epidemic quarantine, lack of necessary measures to protect doctors and patients, too few respirators. Based on the analysis of several randomly selected SAIs from different parts of the Globe, this study found that the audit methodology tailored to a predictable environment became inappropriate in uncertainty conditions. Most of analysed SAIs did not find weak signals and wild cards related to pandemic. Those who found such signals did not use them in foresight, which results that parliaments, governments and the public are not ready for global threats. It creates risks for entrepreneurs.