IIA ASD research report - The Institute of Internal Auditors

Χ are there more cost-effective alternatives (such as privatization) to meeting theneeds filled by the SOA?C.PartnershipsThe Partnership option requires the following involvement by the internal auditdepartment:1. Internal Audit should ensure that the following examination is carried out in agreementwith the organizational objective prior to entering into a contract:ΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧEase of access to the serviceUsefulness of the serviceQuality of the advice providedTimeliness / response timeRelevance of serviceCost of serviceAmount of paperwork involvedCourtesy/knowledge/competence of the people providing the service.2.To ensure that the organization is meeting its requirement, Internal Audit should performan evaluation based on :Χ an agreement upon the roles and responsibilities of each partyΧ a clear definition of and agreement upon activities, outputs, target clients, andintended impacts, as well as financingΧ clear, results-based indicators of performanceΧ a means to monitor and report ongoing progress and to evaluate the results of thejoint initiativeΧ clear channels and methods of communication, tied to milestone events or dates asappropriateΧ an appropriate credit for the departmentΧ a formal agreement clearly addressing all the critical points, particularly results tobe achievedΧ recognition that successful third-party program delivery is not free: it requiresdepartmental resourcesΧ recognition that in the end, the department is accountable, and not the third party.Chapter 2 – ASD FrameworksA.Generalæ