My group has started our audit!!

Practical exercises really help to teach us if not reenforce us! We have learnt about communication audits, I have read about it. But I still did not quite understand it. My group JSS Audit Consultancy Ltd, comprising of Shakira, Judi and me, started our audit on Wednesday Feb 29. We visited our company to be audited, Ammar's, Sovereign. We came with our questionnaires and papers but even then we were only adequately prepared, not as good as we expected because welll... we didn't know what to expect!

But it was such a success. Usually when people hear about auditors they get scared and the whole place is tense! But I don't know what was it about us but they were eager to share and they were not afraid to discuss the problems that arose (which were very few). The staff members were very inviting and enthusiastic about the audit, and the branch manager was really a blessing. She walked around and encouraged us with smiles and engaging conversations about our studies and our plans for the future. 

I learnt a lot about the concept of auditing through the information I received. We were not exactly sure what to look for in their internal communication. We just knew that Ammar's was not doing any intense marketing, especially to the youth, and we wondered why and how were they surviving. Upon asking these questions, we stumbled on a discovery! A discovery soooo big that this audit is going to help them soooo much and may just put Ammar's on the map!! 

There is indeed a problem with their internal communication! We discovered that there was a lack of reciprocity in communication between the branch level (Staff and branch manager) and the senior management level (CEO). Yes, through our interviews, we learnt that there was no mutual action, influence, giving and taking, correspondence, etc., between the two parties. This tiny issue has major consequences for the company and could be hindering great success and may even negatively affect the staff members whose voice remain ignored. 

Apart from identifying problems, through our sudden close relationships with the staff, we are motivated to make sure it is addressed, especially as we have the capacity to do so. Knowing that we could be able to not only form a bridge between the workers but in so doing, improve a business drastically, was absolutely satisfying! I have heard audits bring quite a high income, but that was not even in my mind! The feeling that I felt, being able to help these persons to have a better quality of life through a more successful business, warmed my heart. This is something I think I would love to wake up and do, something I would love even if my clients could not afford all I had to offer. I had no idea I was so people- oriented! Here is another gift I have started to unearth. I plan to give my all into this audit and learn all I can. I just may make it a career path. 

Looking forward to working with the team again next week.

--Shauna-K--