This exploratory study sheds light

This exploratory study sheds light on the impact of ICT usage on internal
control’s effectiveness and on internal auditors’ independence. The study
contributes to the debate on the significance of ICT adoption in accounting
disciplines by identifying perceived benefits, organisational readiness, trust and
external pressure as variables that could affect Internal Auditors’ use of ICT.
Above all, this research was able to produce a new model: the Technology
Effectiveness Planning and Evaluation Model (TEPEM), for the study of ICT
adoption in internal control effectiveness for prevention and detection of fraud.
As a result of its planning capability for external contingencies, the model is
useful for the explanation of studies involving ICT in a unique macro
environment of developing economies such as Nigeria, where electricity
generation is in short supply and regulatory activities unpredictable. The model
proposes that technology effectiveness (in the prevention and the detection of
fraud) is a function of TAM variables (such as perceived benefits,
organisational readiness, trust, external pressures), contingent factors (size of
organisation, set-up and maintenance cost, staff training and infrastructural
readiness), and an optimal mix of human and technological capabilities.