Information Systems Utilisation by External Auditors in Tanzania

Asha Balache Katamba*, Angelina Seow Voon Yee, Shi-min How, Hsin Voon Seow

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

As businesses continue to process and store their information electronically and thus financial
auditors are also expected to use technology when auditing their computerised clients.
However, the pace of technology diffusion amongst external auditors in developing countries
is still vague irrespective of their clients having adopted various e-business models into their
processes. Hence, this study explores: (1) the level of IS utilisation by external auditors in
Tanzania, and (2) factors which motivated external auditors to use IS. A total of 13 external
auditors from 12 audit firms that are permitted to audit banks and financial institutions were
interviewed. The findings revealed that audit firms had installed office automation
technologies (OAT) and audit automaton technologies (AAT), with global firms having
installed networking and data transfer technologies (NADTT) and Ecommerce technologies.
It was further revealed that external factors had the strongest influence on adoption decision
and usage of IS, particularly the nature of clients’ complexity, and the audit oversight bodies.
These findings can serve as a basis to inform the audit authorities and shareholders on the
level of technology adoption by external auditors which will increase the degree of assurance
in external audit services.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)377-388
JournalReview of Integrative Business and Economics Research
Volume6
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 2017

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