The results of this study are important because, while severe cases of low integrity may be weeded out during client acceptance, auditor firms tend to retain clients with a wide spectrum of integrity levels that must be managed throughout the audit process. Thus evidence regarding how the integrity of management influences auditors (1) assessment of risk, (2) planning of audit procedures, and (3) identification of misstatements may be useful for developing training materials or best practices for approaching audits on the lower end of the integrity spectrum.

Kizirian, T.G., B.W. Mayhew, and L.D. Sneathen, Jr. 2005. The impact of management integrity on audit planning and evidence. Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory 24 (2): 49-67.