Best Course of Action for Unqualified Audit Components

A.

The correct answer is A. Notify audit management for a decision on how to proceed.

Explanation:

When an IS auditor begins an assignment and identifies audit components for which they are not qualified to assess, the best course of action is to notify audit management. This is because the audit management is responsible for the overall audit process, and they are in the best position to determine how to proceed.

Option B, which suggests completing the audit and giving full disclosure in the final audit report, is not the best course of action. This is because the auditor may not be able to provide a comprehensive and accurate assessment of the components they are not qualified to assess. Therefore, it is important to address this issue before proceeding with the audit.

Option C, which suggests completing the work assignment to the best of the auditor's ability, is also not the best course of action. This is because the auditor may not have the necessary expertise to assess the components properly, and this could result in inaccurate or incomplete audit findings.

Option D, which suggests excluding the related tests from the audit plan and continuing the assignment, is also not the best course of action. This is because the auditor may miss critical issues that could impact the overall audit results.

Therefore, the best course of action is to notify audit management and seek guidance on how to proceed. This could involve bringing in additional expertise or re-scoping the audit to focus on areas where the auditor is qualified to assess. By taking this approach, the audit can be conducted more effectively, and the results will be more reliable and accurate.