Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Impact of Continuous Auditing and Centralising the Purchasing Functions for Higher Internal Audit Effectiveness: A Study of Saudi Arabia Companies(Victoria University, 2024-08) Altowaijri, Hamad; Everett, Sophia; DeSilva, ChitraAbstract This research examines internal audit effectiveness and the factors influencing internal auditors’ intentions to use continuous auditing in non-financial companies in Saudi Arabia. Specifically, employing the resource-based theory, this study explores the effects of continuous auditing and the centralisation of purchasing functions on the effectiveness of internal audit. Additionally, utilising the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, this research investigates how performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, effort expectancy and social influence affect internal auditors’ intentions to adopt continuous auditing. The data for this research were gathered utilising a questionnaire method. Questionnaires were distributed to internal auditors in non-financial companies in Saudi Arabia, resulting in 152 completed and useable questionnaires. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. This study employed two multiple regression analyses, estimated using ordinary least squares methods. The findings from the first multiple regression model indicated that both continuous auditing and the centralisation of purchasing functions were significant factors influencing internal audit effectiveness in non-financial companies in Saudi Arabia. Specifically, in the first regression model, continuous auditing and the centralisation of purchasing functions accounted for 20.2% of the variance in internal audit effectiveness. Moreover, continuous auditing was the most important factor affecting the effectiveness of internal audit. The findings from the second multiple regression model revealed that performance expectancy was the sole significant factor influencing internal auditors’ intentions to use continuous auditing. In the second regression model, performance expectancy accounted for 33% of the variance in the internal auditors’ intentions to use continuous auditing. According to the resource-based theory, non-financial companies in Saudi Arabia enhance their internal audit effectiveness and gain a competitive advantage by implementing continuous auditing and centralising purchasing functions. These functions are important for ensuring more efficient and effective audit processes, which can lead to better decision-making and overall organisational performance. Moreover, with respect to the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, there is a need for non-financial companies in Saudi Arabia to develop training programs to enhance their internal auditors’ understanding of the benefits of continuous auditing and its potential for improving internal auditors’ performance. These training courses should focus on demonstrating to internal auditors how implementing continuous auditing can increase their performance efficiency and effectiveness.19 0Item Restricted Determinants of Artificial Intelligence Adoption in the Audit Profession in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-09-21) Alaskar, Mohammad; Kim, Ja; Nguyen, Tam; Rafique, MuhammadArtificial intelligence is considered as the fourth industrial revolution and is having a profound impact on our lives. Amid the recent rapid development of artificial intelligence, the framework of determinants of the use of artificial intelligence in the business environment such as the audit profession is still far from the rapid development of artificial intelligence. This thesis provides a framework for the determinants that influence the decision of using artificial intelligence. It expands and modifies the Unified Theory of Technology Acceptance and Use to cover important aspects that auditors should consider when using artificial intelligence. The new framework of artificial intelligence acceptance was empirically tested via a questionnaire sent to 403 auditors working in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, to verify and obtain a profound understanding of the result of the questionnaire, it was followed by an interview with 26 external auditors. Based on the questionnaire and interview, this thesis finds that ethical factor is considered by external auditors as one of the most important determinants of artificial intelligence technology adoption. The findings also indicate that auditors consider both facilitating conditions, performance expectancy, and effort expectancy when intending to implement artificial intelligence in audit engagements. Indeed, auditors consider facilitating conditions as the most influential factor when adopting artificial intelligence technology. This thesis contributes in framing the determinants of artificial intelligence acceptance and empirically tested these determinants. Also, it contributes to the existing literature by exploring the determinants influencing the acceptance of advanced technology within the audit profession in Middle East countries. Moreover, the thesis contributes to the societal debate on artificial intelligence and ethics by providing empirical evidence of ethical concerns by the potential users of artificial intelligence technology. The thesis contributes to identifying six dimensions of ethical concerns regarding the acceptance of artificial intelligence in the audit profession. These dimensions are as follows: substitution of human labour, confidentiality and data protection, independence, auditability of audit processes, repurposing client data, and professional scepticism and judgment.81 0