FIRM GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE: CONCEPTUALIZING THE MODERATING ROLE OF INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTION

Abstract

Most businesses have a conscious interest in growth after start-up to propel high performance. This paper draws strength from the contingency and agency theories to theoretically suggest entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation as the major propellers of firm growth and further argues that, growth that does not recompense performance is fruitless and that growth does not exclusively warrant high performance but contingent on certain variables. As such this paper conceptualise the moderating role of Internal Audit function in propelling high firm performance. The paper concludes that though growth drives performance, it is associated with challenges and risks which if not properly managed would be a disincentive to performance.