Auditing: a slapped wrist or a helping hand?

Abstract

Nortel Fixed Wireless Access identified a need to move from a very functional‐based management system to that of a process‐based system. This need was identified by the audit group and also via feedback from the employees assessed during functional audits. The functional audits up to that point had been perceived as not giving full value to the business. The feedback received highlighted the fact that people performing individual functional tasks knew what was wrong in the process and did not need auditors to tell them this. So it was felt that a completely new process‐based audit was needed. Describes how, as a result, the audit methodology was completely redesigned, with a new focus on process improvement. Outlines some significant improvements in the auditing process which have been achieved using the new audit methodology. Generalizes the experience so as to make it available to similar settings.