Methodology for Audit Result Calculation with Section Weights

This article explains how the AuditBLOOM system calculates audit results when section weights are applied. This approach is crucial for audits where different sections have varying levels of importance and need to be accounted for in the overall result.

General Calculation Principles

When section weights are used, the audit result is calculated in two stages:

1. Calculate the completion percentage for each section: Determine the percentage of the maximum possible points scored for each section.
2. Calculate the overall audit result with section weights: The overall result is computed as a weighted sum of the section completion percentages, factoring in their respective weights.

Formula for Section Completion Percentage

For each section:

$$\text{Section Result (\%)} = \left( \frac{\text{Points Scored in Section}}{\text{Maximum Points in Section}} \right) \times 100\%$$

• Points Scored in Section — the sum of points obtained for all answered and evaluated questions in the section.
• Maximum Points in Section — the sum of the maximum points for all questions that should have been displayed in the audit, considering the template logic.

Formula for Overall Audit Result

$$\text{Audit Result (\%)} = \sum_{i=1}^{n} \left( \text{Section Result}_i \times \frac{\text{Section Weight}_i}{\text{Total Weight of All Sections}} \right)$$

• ( n ) — the number of sections in the audit.
• Section Result — the completion percentage of a section.
• Section Weight — the weight assigned to the section in the template settings.
• Total Weight of All Sections — the sum of all section weights, which is always equal to 100.

Impact of Template Logic on Calculation

As in the basic methodology (without section weights), only questions that should have been displayed during the audit, according to the template logic, are included in the calculation of the section's maximum points.

Calculation Example

Example Conditions

• The audit template contains 3 sections:

  • Section 1: Weight — 50
  • Section 2: Weight — 30
  • Section 3: Weight — 20

• Each section contains 5 questions.

• Maximum points per question: 10 points.

• Logic usage:

  • In Section 2, Questions 3-5 are displayed only if Question 2 is answered "Yes".
  • In the audit, Question 2 was answered "No", so Questions 3-5 were not displayed.

Calculation

1. Calculate the Completion Percentage for Each Section

Section 1:

• Points Scored: 40 points (8 points per question for all 5 questions).
• Maximum Points: 50 points (5 questions × 10 points).
• Section Result: $$\text{Section Result 1} = \left( \frac{40}{50} \right) \times 100\% = 80\%$$

Section 2:

• Displayed Questions: Questions 1-2.
• Points Scored: 16 points (8 points each for Questions 1 and 2).
• Maximum Points: 20 points (2 questions × 10 points).
• Section Result: $$\text{Section Result 2} = \left( \frac{16}{20} \right) \times 100\% = 80\%$$

Section 3:

• Points Scored: 35 points (7 points per question for all 5 questions).
• Maximum Points: 50 points (5 questions × 10 points).
• Section Result: $$\text{Section Result 3} = \left( \frac{35}{50} \right) \times 100\% = 70\%$$

2. Calculate the Overall Audit Result with Section Weights

• Total Weight of All Sections:

  $$\text{Total Weight} = 50 + 30 + 20 = 100$$

• Audit Result:

  $$\begin{align*} \text{Audit Result} &= \left( 80\% \times \frac{50}{100} \right) + \left( 80\% \times \frac{30}{100} \right) + \left( 70\% \times \frac{20}{100} \right) \\ &= (80\% \times 0.5) + (80\% \times 0.3) + (70\% \times 0.2) \\ &= 40\% + 24\% + 14\% \\ &= 78\% \end{align*}$$

Thus, the overall audit result is 78%.

Key Considerations

• Section Weights: These are set in the audit template settings. The total weight must always equal 100.
• Impact of Weights: Sections with higher weights have a greater influence on the overall audit result.
• Logic Blocks: As in the basic methodology, questions that should not have been displayed according to the logic are excluded from the calculation of the section's maximum points.
• Missing Answers: If an auditor skips a question that should have been displayed, its contribution to points scored is zero, but its maximum points are included in the maximum points for the section.

Advantages of Using Section Weights

• Emphasis on Important Sections: Highlights the importance of specific sections in the overall audit result.
• Flexible Configuration: Allows adapting section weights to the organization's needs or specific audit objectives.

Conclusion

Using section weights in audit result calculation provides a more accurate reflection of priorities and the relative importance of different audit aspects. The methodology described in this article ensures a fair and transparent result calculation, accounting for both individual section results and their weights.

Additional Resources

• Setting Section Weights: Guide to Configuring Section Weights in Audit Templates
• Basic Audit Result Calculation Methodology (without section weights): Audit Result Calculation Without Section Weights