More than 17 years ago, The IIA’s magazine published an article of mine, The new age of internal auditing.
I made some provocative comments, including (with highlights today):
Members of the profession have a unique opportunity to become major contributors to their organizations and embark on radical change.
Technology has accelerated the rate of change dramatically, and many organizations are struggling to keep up. As Steve Case, chairman of AOL Time Warner, recently stated, “There is probably going to be more confusion in the business world in the next decade than there has been in any decade in history.”
Internal auditors can thrive in the midst of this confusion and, in fact, are needed more than ever before. As our organizations sail to the new world of e-business, auditors can be at their side. We can provide necessary advice and counsel as our clients embark on new explorations.
To meet the needs of our clients in today’s business environment, however, internal auditors must be able to keep up with change and adapt to the increasing speed of business. In the words of management guru Tom Peters, “We are in the most profound revolution in over 500 years, and this revolution places over 90 percent of the white-collar worker jobs in jeopardy over the next decade. … The IO percent who survive…
