Knowing what resources are currently available within your organization\/department will help you when generating and selecting strategic options. However, many resource audits fail to get the information necessary to make the right decisions. <\/p>
In this straightforward exercise you will plan what a resource audit has to achieve and identify what has to be audited.<\/p>
By answering a series of questions, this exercise will help you to successfully prepare to initiate a resource audit. The audit will give you an up-to-date picture of the resources you have available at present. You can use this information to help you when generating strategic options and identifying any resource gaps you may have when a new strategy has been selected. Allow up to 45 minutes to complete.<\/p>
Task<\/strong> <\/p> 3. Once you have identified the next actions, allocate the responsibility for those actions and identify completion dates. <\/p>\n\n Define what you want to do with the results of the audit, i.e. how this will help you with strategic analysis. For example, you may want to focus on what costs can be reduced, what resources are being underutilized or you may want to use the audit results during a strategy workshop with your management team.<\/p>\n\n Describe what information you require from the audit and what format you would like it to appear in. What level of detail do you want? How would you like the results presented. For example, you may want the results of the audit to be summarized for you in a report, or have key conclusions presented and discussed in a meeting.<\/p>\n\n Tangible resources include:<\/p> Intangible resources are more difficult to identify, compared with tangible resources, because they are unseen resources. They include:<\/p> People resources include:<\/p> You may want to consider a professional auditor from outside the organization. Accountancy firms, HR, and management consultancies often carry out this type of work. If your organization has an internal audit function or HR partnering service you may wish to use them (although many internal audit functions specialize in risk management). Alternatively, you may wish to select a person or people from your own area to carry out all or part of the audit.<\/p>\n\n Note when the audit is to be started and set a target date for the delivery of the outputs of the audit.<\/p> <\/p>Guidance for The Audit Requirement Questions <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is the purpose of the audit?<\/h3>\n\n
What outputs do you require from the audit?<\/h3>\n\n
Which tangible resources do you want to audit?<\/h3>\n\n
Which intangible resources do you want to audit?<\/h3>\n\n
Which people resources do you want to audit?<\/h3>\n\n
Who will carry out the audit?<\/h3>\n\n
When will the audit be carried out?<\/h3>\n\n