The usefulness of risk surveys for audit and risk practitioners

Earlier this month, I asked you to answer a short set of questions on the value to risk and audit practitioners of these many surveys of “top risks”.

I said:

I see that the IIA has spent some of its (i.e., members’) funds asking internal auditors what they believe are the top risks in their region. Their report is Risk in Focus: Today’s Global Risk Landscape.

It got me wondering whether this was money well spent.

Are risk surveys like this of practical use to risk or audit leaders?

The IIA’s Internal Audit Foundation asks internal auditors for their opinion, while other surveys are of CEOs and/or board members.

I can see how boards and maybe CEOs might find surveys of CEOs of interest, but the IIA’s was of internal auditors.

In fact, are any risk surveys of value?

42 practitioners answered my survey.

That’s not enough to be conclusive, but the results are interesting – and may be of value to the IIA and the others who are spending time and money putting these surveys together.

Here are the results:

Q1: Are surveys that ask CEOs what the top risks are of value to risk officers?

• 18 said they were “High value – they help us identify…