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Big Data and Audit Evidence

Authors:

Abstract

This editorial aims to create a dialogue regarding research to advance audit thinking in light of the new evolving data environment. A “Special Topic” issue is being planned for JETA in 2017.
Big data and audit evidence1 2





 !"
#$%&

' ('
)'( ((
('*)**+,)-./
-) ''('0+%0120 *&3
)*'2*4)5+
#("'**
-
Big data and audit evidence
 !"
Introduction
The traditional view of evidence
Audit evidence is all the information, whether obtained from audit procedures or other sources that is
used by the auditor in arriving at the conclusions on which the auditor's opinion is based. Audit
evidence consists of both information that supports and corroborates management's assertions
regarding the financial statements or internal control over financial reporting and information that
contradicts such assertions. (PCAOB, AS 15)”
 " (  (" 6  ('  7
*)(("6***'
7(*("0('0*
*'0 (  ( '"    8   
*   '  '   '*  ' ( 
(' "('(
9**("*%4!"0#):0-.;50
''45''45(
" ((*
  )  '   ("   (' 
*
)"         0    '*<
*('(="*
("   *"'*( ""4&))"
(0-.;5''0('*(*""
 *   "   )      
('  *  '  00   *
(
) "><'?
9'(''('@
(*@
**"@
The emerging data environment
      < %  "    (' 1
7      6  49'0 -.AB 90 -.C0 % D E0 -.;5
' ( )"* ' > ** 
A
* :  FG64'0 "57H 
  <  % (' )  *"     (  
=5*-560A5<%H
Automatic data collection
)****((**'"'
    ' * %   *   '" ** 
* ** *0  '* %  (0*
'*0"0'79(0
*'"'''(*
   *  A     
>' *  1 09  4 '0
30 5*( "('0
(('0'"*
430 *0=50     (' I "*  "
> **("'('('
''
1? !
A '*****
C
)<(0<0&)4&)54#*70-.B9'0
-.CBE0JK00-..5$'*-LMH
&"-.-. **  N ''-...(0=
'*1&%*4*0-..;50'
'("''9'"**
*)(MOH='0**
'*''(('
' )1&%*((*'
M H  O  ' ( (" ' ' 
*
P7("'*("=<0' 
>*''*"0('('0'00
('*'0"'()''(*
 * '"'  '"*(" " ) &)
"<* (''
)&)<0'0
079*'*""
*70"0'(0
(('"'(
Intermediary (boundary) data
&'0 <('0"'
Q<7'"'0*
'*)'"<"*'
  O" *  * " 1 <'*0 ( '   ' '" 
749'0-..;54+D0-..R5
Q("(*'
) ' ('  ' 0  ('0  *   "
  *  P7 ** '
 <'0 =0 () '   '
4("50("4>
''" "   ("5  >"   0 =0 
****('
> 'P('0 ** ' '">' >1
<'*0   ''  ("  8  " (=0 "
'' ' (  ("  "'  (" 0    '*"
'('0('*'("''(
&'"*'71<'*040
'0 '*"  0 ' '50   3   (  *("
'*"P<'"'"("
;
Big and intermediate data evidence sources
,<<*')
''* 0 ( < '  * '   4
 5*"*"''()'
  ' C ? *' 4"  *'50*("
4*(  *50( 4= 50"4 *50" 4<
50'4*'50
P(0  ' (' (   '* 8"0
'*0"(9('"(
;0("*"<'<(''*
''" '
'''')
  ' 0  ' 0  *( ' <'*  '
('*S'
) (*'  **  ' '* * *   
4<5%40"S-.-5 *''0''0 
*,<(<'*0'** 4"50
"4<5045*
('''*"')'*"
M"H'****''
'*0,0)'('"Q
"'*"0 > '0   '* 
  =0 '**"'0   "**0 0 
** * <  %  7'
"'    )    '*   *  
'((':***
Evidence Considerations in an evolving data environment
An audit ecosystem to administer a progressively automated audit
%4-.C5**%4T0-.-5**
41-5) '*U'
'*   0''"'  **0 
"7" 0 *Q  <  * 
**0Q '(4*70
-..5N
C&'"49(0RCR5''"4 0R/NB'0-.-5
*7*'('
;P(='74 
='5'"<*(
N)'""*Q**0*450
("4' 050
"'(**4*0*00
"5
N
#$%&'('(!)!
What forms of evidence are emerging from the Big Data environment?
)<'0'(0'"(1&%*
$ 70  ''* (*
7
Audit evidence then and now
  " *(      '   ( V0
("'*"<'W4I;0EP-.;B--0&E-.-0
& ;..0 & -..R5  (      (' V0 '
':0*0'0"W4--0&E-.-B.R0 &E
-..N5(08"(':
"' '*< ( ('  >
    (   80 '*    **  
*B=80'*('"
>)''7:>(
''*<%('
Evidence Characteriscs Consideraons in Big Data Environment
8"B <%
"B ***'(=
'*B <*"="
(**(B <
B ''(***
/
" <%
*$'*"
0   '*  ("7   :
='((*?
5 8"4>"5'"*'""
<'..X**0Q' "'""
(F(""7*
''6("
-5 ***4>"5(" "
**('"**"(' "'"
S'"(0S'S("'7
'"'7'**"<)"*"0
'<7"'''(
"'*
A5 )"*(0('"'*'*
(':"*
Incorporating modern technology to obtain enhanced audit evidence
&*("*">
 '*   *   4  ** ' '"  <5
''0'**
"   * '" "  *("*
'>4+0!"0-.C5(
*'* **"'"1<'*0
(*('*BF**((
'4P%5 B **
 B
>**"@
* ("=*0"
 " > S(
 *     )     ( "  "
'*  0 <  '   * *' 1 <'*0 ' 
S('7*''*(****
 '    '*' '  *  '   * 
*''"
1"0 * 
80'*  ( %  9  (M
%H0 '**"'(''*< 
%'"P **'"
 ' 7 )0      ((  " 
L
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 S' >"'  (  ")
'*"'0'Y0
'** "S(*1<'*0"
'7   *  * ** *   *'
'0 ('    ''"4 S'"5(
'3(<*(S''"(
' ** *     < "'  "' (
''("'*'('
Nature of the new type of evidence
' ">'<*(
''1'0"4'5'0
((
The essentiality of automation
)* (' (' ' 0("("0
'"7&'('**0'  
&0 0 '"* ) '** *0' 
'0<*"*(0*('
('''0>"** *
**'"''*(''"%4-.C5#7 
!"4-.C5((*('7
*
Capturing evidence every nanosecond
)>"*>"4!"
*0RRBE 0-.C5'('
0'*''<''M*H
"'(   '*" (" >** 
' '" **/ (0 '    
'70'  **  '' >"0
'"((
The discrepancy with the traditional view of evidence
 0 6  (  (() (     *
*&(**
 *      '"0 *0  '  S' )
( '"  '"    ' *'"   *  
' 3  (  *     '    
  1'0 >' '  '7 
((*("
/)"0)'()" *,)E0
-.;
R
Predictive evidence
E   4E0 0 !"0 -.C5   '  ' 
*   '0  '*   '   4'5 
*'*('45(
<P'''M"
<*H
'*('*''
'*4#  0-.AB#0-.C51'"0*
>(""4'5**=*
''   P<"*('''  
*
Stochastic evidence
(('<'*
 * &    <*  '   (    
*0'(
How can these types of evidence be integrated into the traditional
audit process?
1AO "*4!"D$0-..AB'0-.-5
)*"<'"((
"''*
4D!"0-..N50,?N -E-
' *"0,>*'4D,5*E>>*'
(((")
Q'' 45("*(
4'*5("D,%: 
<*''('"
'(
.
#+$,,,'"-""
'*0<'*?
"(* '* ("

)*0'0(00*"
'
,<'(' )!='"*)
 (Z(8"*'"
' 
$  S((* *)**
(0*(08 01&%' 
'
'"'*'>"'
0*0** E"''
''*
,('&)4&)5""0('('
0'"='"*('
)' *0(06
'='"*((

')<*(("0>(0
''*0
)'(60'"*>'
=<<((*'***(
'**)'=(
(" "
)?&'*<0*'%
(*0'0
0 0'*'*'0
'"'"'"0
How should the assurance process conceptually change?
)<''(0'0 
6('
Incorporating Automatic Sensing
)$(4#*"0-..;571&%*=
*  *  '   * '' )"0 ("
(=  *'      * " *" ("  & 1&% * 
'("'0'''4,?
)'*'''70(">
''('0>"8'*
07&)6'*
Linking to other corporate measurement processes
)* "*((("
= '<'*  '  '*<
**U',)*7*
*"*""' "Q)
"*")% ' "
'"*(
Linking with inventory arrivals
 (" ("' '"  0 ' (" (
'"('("*-*41C5&*<$
 * **  ("***(  ) <  
( *   *  *" * 'S    
* !"4-..A5**0*'"(*'0
*'4='"<5**("'*(='
*4%0)0O0-..N5
-
#)$./01#0
Linking inventory departures with the sales process
 ("("''"**"0'("
'(' '"(   0(*0 ***0
) '" ( ' (" * - * 41C,? 
  5 ,<  (=   0 <  0  (
*(    "      * & * 
' "  Q '       ' ' 
*   " '   ' '*   ' '
*(**"'40-.;5
)  ("''    0 0
*'   0Q  < 4 1 C5%* " 
'*     "     *    ' '*< *
''00"'(S"',("'
 ''    *    <* <' 
**''"
23"""3"3

&'(*'7(O*
  **  M*" H4!"0-.;5   
45'*
A
' ='  "  <'*   *(   ("
6
,"   - ""  "  & 3   "3
""4 0     *   3" "555 "
"55"&"4
) 'Z *'  *("   MH  ' 40
[0T0-.;5"'=''*
"   "'    "    *  ' 
'('(":O<
The multi-party problem
 *  > *' **0'0( *(0
(' 0   Y * ' ='    ('
*41C5**='"*'=*(
 '*( * ,  *   ' 4  5  '
*'*6*'S6''"*
<*0*0""**='
**0(*)'
("'"(''**
*   ='"'' "   
*0*'(0&\(<*
='
]  (*  *    '* ' 4<5  ''
"*""4]5("*
('*"*']F*"*
**'*)='"O6"*

&*(='"(*'*0
 7     * * **  '' 
'*0'"'O
Connecting to the external environment (closed and open loops)
1C (''***'0'
'***71<'*0
E E'*" * *   4 **0  '5 ) 
'*='*='==0
'*"='<*
'*000'&
*(='("((
 ''  ' * '  '*(
**""S**''
C
)"*< "***'
("'("*'7(0"
*(Z7F'
&*07'""(
  * * )"*"0'' ' '
(" '"'"** %''
 ( 6  =  (= * '"    <  
*  '" ' ) "   " &)    
 '**(" **

'""*'*('
O ) (   0  ' 
*'0**0'
 ('  * >      >
   "*  '0 0    *      
(')>**'('"*
7"'*
1C%?'0'0"(
'"  '   "' )    
<%("3'''(
' *(0 * "**0 '*( *("   (
  '* * ' '* *( 
'''7")*"(4 '5'*(
 *   *( : *  & ''    &'*
001<'*M:H4,D0-.A5
*
Is it really evidence?
(*((&)('*'"(
**)>()
'"6'(
I'<''
)* " (*
P*'RLXRCX(
"'(-;X'
)F*('AX''F'
P94990-.;5"'R/X "
(='"
  ' ' ( *  
' 0' 0("**'
'0="0'*00'
('
;
*>'      0  0
'""'0 *  '9   ( @9
'*(@9(*@
Conclusions
)*('%0
(0**"1&%0$0&))>
(*((*''0''0'0
''*7"'
 "'*"'"("'"'
*)**"'*<=*=
''*<*)**""'
('*(':''*'
,(<*"<*('0"(''7<*
'"("<0""
'"00"76(
Limitations
)*(0'<*'('
*&'="*"
)'**:>'(
' ()''*
"** '*
Some research issues
,(6= ''*
'0  00  '  
**?
(
'''
**00'*S('
"*   '00 *  
('
"*7"'*
(
''7((*
"*
<((%'@
*('@
*(('*(*@
N
References
&E0E"0'*0-.;
'&E=4&E5-..N'I
.R03AC?3,",(' 
'I[ 
'&E=4&E5-.-'I
--03E;..?,(I[ 
0$0#00!"0-..-1"'
'3$'67"3"0450-;AL
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ -..AM <   )"  
E"'H03(86?A/AR
0$0$"0$-.-(' '<]
=603(09450.A-N
^^^^^^^^^0  $ 0  #0   !" -..NE   
 E?  &'*'  E  "' 
'036'""303(/4-5?A/N
E0!020!"-.C)%(*'&E
6'""3.AA4-5?A/;/
E00JK00)&)0#"0-..
%0 +'' ' **  0% *0
0-.C
,0 E0  0 E -.A    : ' :3 ' (
6304N5
0 0 # [0   T -.; & 6 '     (?
' '(0'""3;<0-R4-5?CACAL
&4&5-..R&
I;..?,(I[ 
+0 0  0   -..R ("    > 6  03
7"(0 4-50CNL
+0+000!"0-..'(?P**
'*((1=)>>?+?
/
#*0,0D"0E4,5-..;:@7($""3
#00$00!"0+9-.C%(
("''3$'67"3"0++4C50---C;
#*70-.&&15(*03?A./A-A
#7( 0    !" -.C  ,"'?    %=0
:0 **0E00I 0I+
#  0  -.A (  "? ((    % %0 
0I 0I+
8:0#E!"-.A&%603(0-/4-5?
R
00,"S-.-%?''(;1&0
P-.-0N._NN
 0 ) + R/N ,  ""3 3 " 4I A5 ' 

&))" (0 )-.  &' E":  - E"0  -;0-.;0
:*?ZZ"('Z(Z;C./LNZ-.''": 
-"*Z@'^'*`:D'^`:"
D'^''`'D'^`-.;.L-;
0!) *09+0";0-.;
*70   -..  "  **   8"3
'8,0))4C50///
E'*"P(4EP5-..'%"4EP
90%E?EP
'0 0 $ $0 ) +  0   !" -.- '' " **( 
''6%"'""30A450-C
E,99(RCR)')"&'3("&
030&
*04-..;51#0$2"3B"3$
!"0  0  #0 0  ): -.;  %  ?  (( '""3
;<-R4-5?ALARN
!"0)***09 
*0E0-.;
L
!"00$-..A3"**7?
036'""303(0)450-;
!"0 0    -..N ) $ %  4$%5?  
*"'(***("
'*('-":*?ZZZZ$
!"0  -..A E='" ,<? '"  ' ='0 
E
!"0$0#)9'-..EI,'"
)**&E
!"01*RR)"''3$'6
7"3".45?.-;
9'00 10 $ 0100D0  4-..;0 "5& 
Z=('&("4**;R/.5&
"P*
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... Nowadays, the digital domain creates new forms of data such as textual media, emails, videos, records, and other types of unstructured financial data with progressing sensor data (e-tracking) being gathered and captured by measurement and storage devices (Brown-librud &Vasarhely, 2015). In external auditing, BD may be conceptualized as an additional information resource that has a direct effect on increasing the understanding of the environment of the business client. ...
... Additionally, Brown-librud & Vasarhely (2015) shed light on advanced audit thinking because of the new evolving data environment. The study concluded that BD can reinforce and change the nature, usage, and decision process related to AE. ...
... )(Brown-Liburd & Vasarhelyi, 2015), AI(Kokina & Davenport, T. H. , 2017) (Issa, Sun, & Vasarhelyi, 2016), blockchain technology(Rozario & Thomas, 2019) ...
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An appropriate risk management is necessary more than ever to assure the accomplishment of the objectives of any organization. This study proposes a novel risk assessment and prioritization approach based on the use of basic uncertain information (BUI). This approach allows to consider the reliability of the risk assessments provided by an expert or group of experts when comparing a range of identified risks. Furthermore, the use of the uncertain ordered weighted averaging (UOWA) operator is considered. The study ends with an illustrative example. The results show the possibility of use of BUI and the UOWA operator to assess and prioritize risks in a more complete way.
... The trust variable is critical to test whether the auditor can gain confidence in the quality of the information produced by an information system or application. Previous researchers have proposed that big data is complimentary audit evidence that needs additional judgment before it can be used in decision-making Brown-Liburd & Vasarhelyi, 2015;Yoon et al., 2015). Thus, examining trust as an additional construct can support the argument of big data characteristics, as mentioned previously. ...
... The greater value of this huge and rapidly increasing resource lies in the infinite information and knowledge behind the massive amount of data [18]. Now, human society is rapidly entering the era of big data, and data are beginning to permeate and flood the whole world, becoming an important production factor and strategic resource [19][20][21][22][23]. In the development of Internet big data, big data is very important. ...
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... )(Brown-Liburd & Vasarhelyi, 2015), AI(Kokina & Davenport, T. H. , 2017) (Issa, Sun, & Vasarhelyi, 2016), blockchain technology(Rozario & Thomas, 2019) ...
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