The internal auditor and the critical thinking process

Abstract

Defines critical thinking as the art of examining an issue from numerous perspectives, questioning the validity of both the premisses and the conclusions. Critical thinking skills are essential to the internal auditor’s function. A recent update of the common body of knowledge (CBOK) reflects this expectation by the internal auditing profession. Respondents ranked reasoning skills, which essentially are critical thinking skills, as the most important subject area. Discusses several definitions and frameworks of critical thinking, including a critical thinking framework that is both comprehensive and useful in describing what the internal auditor does. This framework includes affective, cognitive, and behavioural components which basically describe the attitudes, thought processes and actions that are essential to the critical thinker and to the internal auditor. The internal auditing classroom is an appropriate setting for the internal auditor to begin honing the critical thinking skills demanded by the profession. Arguments are presented for the importance of teaching in a way that encourages critical thinking in the classroom, with the goal being transferability to the workplace. Describes two assignments that have proved useful in developing critical thinking skills.