The IIA Research Foundation - Academic Research
The IIA Research Foundation also provides sponsorship to academic scholars conducting research in internal auditing.

The following studies have been completed:

Control Practices in Collaborative Inter-Organizational Settings
Shannon W. Anderson, Ph.D., Rice University
Karen L. Sedatole, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Margaret H. Christ, CIA, CPIM, University of Texas at Austin

Firms are increasingly using collaborative arrangements (e.g., joint ventures, strategic alliances, etc.) to complete transactions requiring inter-organizational involvement & coordination. This research seeks to identify, categorize, and quantify common and systematic risks associated with the formation and performance management of innovative inter-organizational forms; control practices currently being implemented; and effectiveness of chosen control practices.

Published:
Guilt by Association, Corporate Secretary, August 2006
Managing Strategic Alliance Risk: Survey Evidence of Control Practices in Collaborative Inter-organizational Settings, The IIA Reseach Foundation, April 2006.

Presented:
The IIA Risk and Control Conference, Control Practices in Collaborative Inter-organizational Settings, August 2006

The Role of the Internal Audit Function in Enterprise-wide Risk Management (ERM)
Audrey A. Gramling, Ph.D., CIA, CPA, Kennesaw State University
Patricia M. Myers, Ph.D., Brock University

The purpose of the study is to obtain survey data describing the roles that internal auditing is currently playing in the ERM process and the ERM roles that internal auditors believe are appropriate within their organizations, irrespective of whether they are currently playing those roles.

Published:
Internal Auditing's Role in ERM, Internal Auditor, April 2006

Survey and Analysis of Communication Systems Required by the SOX Act of 2002
Steven E. Kaplan, Ph.D., CPA, Arizona State University
Joseph J. Schultz, Jr., Ph.D., CPA, Arizona State University

This research examines communication channels for reporting sensitive matters (whistleblowing) required by the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the role internal audit plays in testing the effectiveness of such channels.

Published:
Journal of Business Ethics (forthcoming)
The Role of Internal Audit in Sensitive Communications, The IIA Research Foundation, March 2006

Presented:
American Accounting Association Auditing Section, January 2006

Enterprise Risk Management and the Internal Audit Function
Mark S. Beasley, North Carolina State University
Richard Clune, Kennesaw State University
Dana R. Hermanson, Kennesaw State University

The purpose of this research is to examine variations in the involvement of internal audit in enterprise risk management. It will assess the role of internal auditing in organizations' ERM processes, gather information on the organizations' stage of ERM development (including risk areas addressed), and analyze factors associated with variations in internal auditing's involvement to better understand the profile of an internal audit function that can add value significant to ERM.

Published:
ERM: A Status Report, Internal Auditor, February 2005

Enterprise Risk Management: An Empirical Analysis of Factors Associated with the Extent of Implementation.
Journal of Accounting and Public Policy (Accounting Letters, Forthcoming).

Internal Auditors' Assessment and Communication of Risk
Tina D. Carpenter, University of Georgia
Jane L. Reimers, Crummer Graduate School of Business, Rollins College

The purpose of this research is to compare and evaluate several methods of identifying areas of significant risk and ways of communicating risk assessments and evaluate the use of groups in the discussion of/brainstorming about risk assessments. The report will focus on the underlying information processing theory related to risk assessments and how it applies to the areas of risk assessment and group risk assessments by internal auditors, and will provide useful information to practitioner audiences, with practical guidance regarding methods of identifying significant areas of risk and possible methods of effectively communicating those risks to management and, potentially, to the audit committee of the board of directors.

Characteristics of the Internal Audit Function and Earnings Management
Douglas F. Prawitt, Brigham Young University
Jason L. Smith, University of Arizona
David A. Wood, Indiana University

This research examines how key characteristics of an entity's internal audit function (IAF), one of the key components of effective corporate governance, affect earnings management and the quality of earnings. Using an abnormal accruals model from previous research, it tests to see what characteristics of the IAF are associated with decreased earnings management and hence increased quality of earnings reported externally.

Differences in the Use of Internal Auditing
Joseph V. Carcello, University of Tennessee
Dana R. Hermanson, Kennesaw State University
Kannan Raghunandan, Florida International University

Published:
Changes in Internal Auditing During the Time of the Major US Accounting Scandals. International Journal of Auditing (July 2005): 117-127
Factors Associated with U.S. Public Companies' Investment in Internal Auditing. Accounting Horizons (June 2005): 69-84