Which of the following is the most important benefit of control self-assessment (CSA)? 

Answer options:

A. CSA is a policy/rule driven
B. In CSA approach, risk is identified sooner
C. CSA requires limited employee participations
D. In CSA, resources are being used in an effective manner.

B

Control self-assessment is an assessment of controls made by staff and management within the unit or units involved. It is a management technique that assures stakeholders, customers and other parties that the internal controls of the organization are reliable. The CSA approach requires extensive employee participations and training. This will help to employee understand more about business risks. This will insure the detection of risk in timely manner. For your exam you should know the information below about control self-assessment: Benefits of CSA - Early detection of risk - More efficient and improved internal controls Creation of cohesive teams through employee involvement Developing a sense of ownership of the controls in the employees and process owners, and reducing their resistance to control improvement initiatives Increased employee awareness of organizational objectives, and knowledge of risk and internal controls Highly motivated employees - Improved audit training process - Reduction in control cost - Assurance provided to stakeholders and customers Traditional and CSA attributes - Traditional Historical CSA - Assign duties/supervises staff Empowered/accountable employees Policy/rule driven Continuous improvement/learning curve Limited employee participation Extensive employee participation and training Narrow stakeholders focus Broad stakeholders focus Auditors and other specialist Staff at all level, in all functions, are the primary control analysts The following answers are incorrect: The other options specified are incorrectly describes about CSA. Reference: CISA review manual 2014 page number 61, 62 and 63