ABSTRACT
Although a single definition is possible and identification of key elements can be presented to describe internal controls, it is nonetheless more accurate to say that internal controls are not one concept or even one process—they are the application of multiple concepts and processes that seek to enhance an organization's efficiency and effectiveness. In many respects, internal controls represent the best of what a management command and control structure has to offer, but at the same time, internal controls embrace empowerment of all organizational actors as responsible for efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability. Hence, internal controls represent a powerful, underutilized, and little understood tool in the repertoire of managers across all sectors and types of organizations.
