Question

Which of the following procedures is the least effective in gathering information about the nature of the processing and potential problems?

1) Interview supervisors in the claims department to find out more about the procedures used, and the rationale for the procedures, and obtain their observations about the nature and efficiency of processing.
2) Send an email message to all clerical personnel detailing the alleged problems and request them to respond.
3) Interview selected clerical employees in the claims department to find out more about the procedures used, and the rationale for the procedures, and obtain their observations about the nature and efficiency of processing.
4) Distribute a questionnaire to gain a greater understanding of the responsibilities for claims processing and the control procedures utilized.

Answer 1

The least effective procedure is option 2) Send an email message to all clerical personnel.

Step-by-step explanation:

The least effective procedure in gathering information about the nature of the processing and potential problems would be option 2) Send an email message to all clerical personnel detailing the alleged problems and request them to respond.

Unlike the other options, sending an email message does not allow for direct interaction or in-depth understanding of the procedures used or potential problems. It may also lead to incomplete or unreliable responses as there is no opportunity for follow-up questions or clarification.

To gather more accurate and comprehensive information, options 1), 3), and 4) would be more effective as they involve direct interviews with supervisors and selected clerical employees, and the distribution of a questionnaire.