Online: Critical thinking

IIA Sweden introduces this new half-day course with Sara I. James. 

Kursinnehåll

The course helps participants appreciate the role of critical thinking in internal audit and other assurance areas. Critical thinking helps internal auditors assess evidence, question assumptions, and test theories, producing more solid, useful information as a result. This course, which is highly interactive, uses case studies and practical exercises to boost participants’ knowledge and confidence in using these skills in all their work.

After attending this course, participants will be able to provide better risk-based audit assurance and consulting services through:

• being able to identify, gather and assess sufficient, reliable information;
• articulating the evidence and reasoning leading to audit conclusions; and
• helping the organisation improve controls based on these conclusions.

1. Critical thinking: what is it?

• Definitions
• Traditions
• Types of reasoning
• Barriers to reasoning

2. How can we apply critical thinking at all stages of an engagement?

• Planning and scoping
• Testing, including assessing quantifiable and non-quantifiable evidence
• Gauging and communicating materiality

3. Critical thinking and corporate culture

• Corporate and other cultural influences on types of reasoning
• Identifying and overcoming culture-specific barriers

4. Articulating results of critical thinking

• Understanding others’ assumptions and approaches

5. Communicating rigorous analysis with empathy

Course leader Sara I. James

With over 30 years’ teaching, writing, publishing and corporate experience in the US and Europe, Sara provides report-writing training worldwide through her business, Getting Words to WorkTM. She has written numerous articles on language and reporting, and spoken at national and international conferences.

• Online, via Zoom.
• The meeting link will be provided a few days before the course. 

CPE points

• 4