w4

Some audit firms develop very specific quantitative guidelines, either through quantitative measures or in tables, relating planning materiality to the size of sales or assets for a client.  Other audit firms leave the materiality judgments up to the individual partner or manager in charge of the audit.  What are the major advantages and disadvantages of each approach?  Which approach do you favor?  Explain.

Discussion#2

Define the following terms: (a) simple random sampling, (b) systematic sampling, (c) systematic random sampling, (d) haphazard sampling, and (e) block sampling.  What are specific situations when it would be appropriate to use each and is it ever a good idea to use more than one of these?