Procedural Instrumentality and Audit Group Judgment: An Exploration of the Impact of Cognitive Fallibility and Ability Differences
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2009
Journal / Book Title
Group Decision and Negotiation
Abstract
The issue of auditor judgment prowess and resultant decision-making success has been an important topic in the behavioral auditing area for many years and has generated a voluminous research literature. However, relatively little literature exists on how differences in individual group member cognitive heuristics (fallibility) and ability impact the group process, and are impacted upon by the group process. This issue is important since so much of audit firm decision-making has its origins in audit group deliberations (Hunton 2001). Accordingly, understanding circumstances that give rise to either more flawed ('process losses'), or better ('process gains'), group decision-making outcomes are important even though the literature generally recognizes the superiority of group over individual decision-making (e.g., Rich et al. 1997). The model developed here is intended to develop a better understanding of cognitive factors that impact positively or negatively on audit group process. We then develop a four stage model of group decision-making, during which the differing assets and liabilities (cognitive, ability, expertise) of audit group members are combined. The four stages are diversity, controvery, insight and resolution. These are then described at length.
DOI
10.1007/s10726-008-9116-z
MSU Digital Commons Citation
Kleinman, Gary and Palmon, Dan, "Procedural Instrumentality and Audit Group Judgment: An Exploration of the Impact of Cognitive Fallibility and Ability Differences" (2009). Department of Accounting and Finance Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 93.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/acctg-finance-facpubs/93
Published Citation
Kleinman, G., Palmon, D. Procedural Instrumentality and Audit Group Judgment: An Exploration of the Impact of Cognitive Fallibility and Ability Differences. Group Decis Negot 18, 147–168 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10726-008-9116-z
