Abstract fo Chevron's Western BusinessUnit
Summary pg. 2
The article points out that by the year 2000, 50% of all American businesses will
employ the self managed team concept. I have two questions:
1. Is the team concept better employed in a manufacturing capacity where
production teams have always thrived? Or does it suit all businesses including
governments and service industries?
2. How will teams be of benefit to your organization?
The team concept for the audit profession has been in vogue in some form or fashion for
many years. I can’t say that it is a team by the definition that the article uses, but I can
say that team work is very necessary during an audit. Each team member has his or her
assignment, that if not carried out properly, can and often does lead to erroneous
conclusions. In my time at the Illinois Department of Insurance, I was alerted by another
audit team member of the fact that the CPA’s had qualified the company’s PSDA
( Policyholders Security Deposit Account) report. This was very unusual. If a
qualification was to be issued, it should have occurred within the report that was issued
to both the company and to the Department. This put us on alert that there was a problem.
We later learned that the company’s loss reserves were deficient and that the company
was insolvent. I credit that team member for his being aware that the qualification
indicated a problem that was later determined by other members of the audit team.
The need for team work is important, but how important for all American businesses is
it?
Summary pg. 3
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