We're Listening President's Letter

In early 2008, more than 50,000 of you were invited to participate in The IIA’s annual Membership Survey. More than 3,000 (or 6 percent) of you responded. Your responses continue to provide us with many insights about your satisfaction with, and the usefulness of, IIA products and services.

You expressed great satisfaction with the job we’re doing in several areas, including:

  • Certifications.
  • Keeping you informed.
  • Access to publications.
  • Guidance and Standards.
  • The Code of Ethics.

You also indicated that satisfaction in these areas is a key factor in your decision to either join The Institute or renew your membership. And so we will continue to focus our efforts in these areas. With our rollout this year of computer-based testing, certifications will be accessible on demand to many more practitioners around the world. Through our continuing efforts to update the International Professional Practices Framework, we’re ensuring that all members of the profession will have relevant guidance on which to base their daily work. And by moving several publications online, more global members now have access to the latest topics and information about internal auditing.

While the survey results indicate The IIA is providing you with the products, services, and information you are seeking, you also told us there is room for improvement in the areas of technology-based learning, chapter support, and training. Key initiatives under The IA’s emerging five-year strategic plan aim at making improvements in those areas. Already, for example, the Bookstore is now a functioning e-commerce store that is more practical and easier to use. We’re also working on updating seminar materials and with the growing number of virtual seminar offerings, location should no longer pose a concern to auditors in need of professional development. Additionally, we’re working on enhancing our advocacy efforts as well as providing chapters with more support and communication.

You stated repeatedly in the survey that The IIA should strive for continuous improvement in our existing products and services.
The combination of finalizing current initiatives, letting our restructured staff mature in their new roles, and allowing time for 2007 initiatives to be fully in place before making further changes will, in my opinion, allow us to reach this goal. We are being cautious about the number, complexity, and duration of new projects, whether volunteer or staff-driven, so as not to undermine already-committed-to directions aimed at resolving some of the concerns raised by our members.

Overall the survey provides us with valuable insight about your ideas and reactions to our initiatives, services, and products. We are grateful for your responses and you can be assured that we take all of your comments into consideration as we plan the future of The IIA. We look forward to gaining your continued input on an ad hoc basis throughout the year and in a formalized manner via next year’s Membership Survey.

Thank you for your participation.