African Journal of Library and Information Science

African Journal of Library and Information Science ISSN 5721-610X Vol. 7 (9), pp. 001-009, September, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Perception towards the importance and knowledge of information technology among auditors in Malaysia

Noor Azizi Ismail* and Azlan Zainol Abidin

College of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok 06010 Kedah, Malaysia.

Accepted August 14, 2021

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a study that investigates the level of IT knowledge and also IT importance in the specific context of audit work in Malaysia. Results of this study is based on data collected from 95 audit firms via mailed questionnaires. The results suggested information systems audit in Malaysia is still at the infant stage. IT knowledge level among the auditors is lower than their perception towards the importance of the technologies. Twelve technologies are considered relevant in the context of audit work in Malaysia, while only 5 technologies are considered knowledgeable by the responding auditors. On average, General Office Automation receives the highest mean value for both importance and knowledge, whilst system development and installation receives the lowest mean value. Overall, responding auditors perceived their overall IT knowledge as adequate, while the current practice of information systems audit is less than adequate. Findings from this study are significant to the standards setters regulating the audit profession, academicians designing university courses and audit practitioners evaluating their own IT knowledge. The findings can be used to gauge the relevant IT in the specific context of audit work and also the IT knowledge level of the auditors not just in Malaysia but also other developing countries.

Keywords: Auditors, auditing, external auditing, information systems auditing, developing economies.