ABC Auditing Principles & Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In an employee communication audit, low scores on 'manager communication effectiveness' most likely indicate a need for:
- Redesigning the company intranet
- Manager training on communication skills and cascading information (Correct answer)
- Increasing the frequency of all-hands meetings
- Reducing the volume of internal emails
Correct answer: Manager training on communication skills and cascading information
Low manager communication scores point to a skills and process gap at the supervisory level, which training and clear cascading protocols can address.
Question 2: A benchmarking component of a communication audit compares an organization's practices against:
- Its own historical data only
- Industry peers, best practices, or established standards (Correct answer)
- The preferences of its most vocal stakeholders
- Regulatory minimums set by government agencies
Correct answer: Industry peers, best practices, or established standards
Benchmarking establishes context by comparing performance against external reference points such as industry peers or recognized best practices.
Question 3: When auditing the effectiveness of a public awareness campaign, which data source provides the STRONGEST evidence of behavioral impact?
- Advertising impressions and reach statistics
- Pre- and post-campaign surveys measuring behavior change (Correct answer)
- Earned media volume during the campaign period
- Number of campaign-related social shares
Correct answer: Pre- and post-campaign surveys measuring behavior change
Pre- and post-campaign surveys that measure actual behavior change provide direct evidence of whether a campaign achieved its intended impact beyond exposure.
Question 4: An audit recommendation is considered 'actionable' when it:
- Identifies every flaw found during the audit
- Specifies what should change, who is responsible, and by when (Correct answer)
- Is approved by senior leadership before the report is issued
- Uses precise statistical language to describe findings
Correct answer: Specifies what should change, who is responsible, and by when
Actionable recommendations include clear direction (what), accountability (who), and a timeline (when) so implementation can begin immediately.
Question 5: Which ethical obligation must a communication auditor fulfill when discovering confidential information unrelated to the audit scope?
- Report it immediately to the board of directors
- Include it in the audit report as a supplemental finding
- Maintain confidentiality and limit use to only what is relevant to the audit (Correct answer)
- Share it with department heads for transparency
Correct answer: Maintain confidentiality and limit use to only what is relevant to the audit
Auditors must handle all information with confidentiality, using only what is within scope; sharing unrelated confidential data would breach professional ethics.
Question 6: A SWOT analysis incorporated into a communication audit serves to:
- Quantify the return on investment of communication programs
- Identify internal strengths and weaknesses alongside external opportunities and threats (Correct answer)
- Establish the legal compliance status of all communications
- Measure audience sentiment across all channels
Correct answer: Identify internal strengths and weaknesses alongside external opportunities and threats
SWOT analysis in a communication audit provides a strategic frame by mapping internal capabilities against the external environment to guide recommendations.
Question 7: Which scenario BEST represents a 'readability audit' finding that requires corrective action?
- Employee newsletter articles average 300 words
- Patient health brochures are written at a 14th-grade reading level for a general adult audience (Correct answer)
- Annual reports use technical financial terminology for investor audiences
- Press releases include one direct quote per story
Correct answer: Patient health brochures are written at a 14th-grade reading level for a general adult audience
Health brochures for a general audience should be written at an 8th-grade level or below; a 14th-grade level creates a significant comprehension barrier for the intended readers.
ABC Auditing Principles & Procedures 3
In an employee communication audit, low scores on 'manager communication effectiveness' most likely indicate a need for: