An Exploration of Technological Innovations in the Audit Industry: Disruption Theory Applied to a Regulated Industry*

Abstract

Technological innovation is increasing throughout the audit industry. Although prior research has explored how specific technological innovations have influenced the audit product and the profitability of the audit, the strategic implications of technological innovation for the audit industry have yet to be examined. To address this issue, we adopt Christensen's seminal theory of technological innovation (introduced in his 1997 book The Innovator's Dilemma) to gain insight into the results of 27 semistructured interviews with auditors and audit technical specialists. Consistent with Christensen's sustaining and efficiency strategic responses, our findings suggest that, at this time, technology is primarily being used by the audit industry to strengthen the audit industry's ability to serve mainstream clients by providing a “higher-quality” and lower-cost audit to replace menial tasks that historically have been done by junior auditors. We find that industry-disruptive new market entry is currently prevented by regulatory and professional barriers; however, strategic disruption to the audit industry appears inevitable as technology is already being used in audits of nonregulated markets by new entrants. Strategically, the audit industry will survive in its current recognizable form only if self-disruption occurs before the regulatory barriers are dropped, which requires significant upskilling in the industry to ensure that firms have the skills to be first movers whenever technological innovations are introduced.