Request Properties

Request properties define the attributes and characteristics of each request in your engagement. Understanding and properly configuring these properties is essential for effective request management and workflow optimization.

Core Properties

Basic Information

Title

The request title is the primary identifier displayed throughout the system.

Requirements: Must be unique within the engagement
Best Practices: Use descriptive, actionable titles
Length Limit: Maximum 200 characters
Examples:
- “Review Q3 Cash Reconciliations”
- “Test Revenue Cutoff Procedures - December”
- “Document Accounts Payable Process”

Description

Detailed information about the work to be performed.

Purpose: Provides complete context and instructions
Format: Supports rich text formatting and lists
Best Practices: Include specific procedures, references, and expectations
Character Limit: Up to 10,000 characters

Status Management

Request Status

Tracks the current state of each request through its lifecycle.

Standard Status Values:

Not Started - Request created but work hasn’t begun
In Progress - Work is currently being performed
Under Review - Work completed, awaiting review
Complete - Work finished and approved
On Hold - Work temporarily paused
Cancelled - Request no longer needed

Status Transitions:

Only certain status changes are permitted based on workflow rules
Status history is automatically tracked and auditable
Bulk status updates available for multiple requests

Progress Tracking

Visual indicators show completion percentage and time spent.

Completion Percentage - Manual or automatic calculation based on sub-tasks
Time Tracking - Logged hours and estimated remaining time
Milestone Markers - Key checkpoints within complex requests

Assignment Properties

Assignee

The team member responsible for completing the request.

Single Assignment - One primary assignee per request
Workload Balancing - System tracks capacity and assignments
Reassignment - Can be changed with appropriate permissions
Notification - Assignees automatically notified of new assignments

Reviewer

The person responsible for reviewing completed work.

Review Requirements - Some request types require mandatory review
Reviewer Pools - Can select from designated reviewers
Review Criteria - Configurable review standards and checklists
Sign-off Process - Formal approval workflow for critical items

Scheduling Properties

Due Date

Target completion date for the request.

Format: Date picker with time zone consideration
Dependencies - Can link to other requests or engagement milestones
Alerts - Automated reminders before due dates
Overdue Tracking - Visual indicators and reports for late items

Priority Level

Indicates the relative importance and urgency of the request.

Priority Levels:

Critical - Must be completed immediately, engagement-blocking
High - Important items with tight deadlines
Medium - Standard priority for routine procedures
Low - Nice-to-have items that can wait if needed

Priority Impact:

Affects dashboard sorting and filtering
Influences workload balancing algorithms
Determines escalation rules and notifications

Organization Properties

Custom Properties

Engagement-Specific Fields

Create additional properties tailored to your specific engagement needs:

Custom Field Types

Text Fields - Short or long text input
Number Fields - Numeric values with formatting options
Date Fields - Date pickers with validation
Dropdown Lists - Predefined selection options
Checkboxes - Yes/No or multiple selection options
File Attachments - Document uploads and references

Configuration Options

Required vs Optional - Control which fields must be completed
Validation Rules - Ensure data quality and consistency
Default Values - Pre-populate common field values
Conditional Logic - Show/hide fields based on other selections

Integration Properties

External System References

Link requests to external tools and systems:

Document IDs - References to document management systems
Transaction Numbers - Links to accounting system entries
Work Paper References - Connections to audit software
Client System IDs - Direct links to client data sources

Synchronization Settings

Auto-Update - Keep properties synchronized with external systems
Import Mapping - Define how external data maps to request properties
Export Formats - Configure data export for other tools
API Connections - Enable real-time data exchange

Property Management

Bulk Property Updates

Efficiently update properties across multiple requests:

Mass Edit Functions

Select Multiple Requests - Use filters or checkboxes to select groups
Update Common Properties - Change assignee, due date, priority, etc.
Tag Management - Add or remove tags from multiple requests
Status Changes - Move groups of requests through workflow stages

Template Applications

Apply Property Sets - Use templates to standardize properties
Merge Properties - Combine template settings with existing values
Override Options - Choose which properties to update vs preserve

Property Validation

Data Quality Controls

Required Field Validation - Ensure mandatory fields are completed
Format Validation - Check dates, emails, and other formatted data
Referential Integrity - Verify assignees exist and are active
Business Rule Validation - Enforce engagement-specific rules

Error Handling

Validation Messages - Clear error descriptions and resolution guidance
Batch Validation - Check multiple requests simultaneously
Warning Indicators - Alert for potential issues without blocking
Auto-Correction - Suggest or apply automatic fixes where possible

Reporting and Analytics

Property-Based Reporting

Leverage request properties for comprehensive reporting:

Standard Reports

Status Summary - Breakdown by current status
Assignment Reports - Workload by team member
Priority Analysis - Distribution of priority levels
Tag Reports - Categorization and progress by tags

Custom Reports

Filter Combinations - Create complex filters using multiple properties
Trend Analysis - Track property changes over time
Performance Metrics - Analyze completion rates by property values
Export Options - Generate reports in various formats

Dashboard Integration

Properties drive dashboard displays and visualizations:

Status Boards - Kanban-style views organized by status
Priority Queues - High-priority items prominently displayed
Assignment Views - Personal dashboards filtered by assignee
Progress Tracking - Visual indicators based on completion properties

Best Practices

Property Standardization

Consistent Naming

Use standard terminology across all requests
Establish naming conventions for tags and categories
Document property definitions for team reference
Regular cleanup of unused or duplicate properties

Strategic Organization

Design property schemas before creating requests
Group related properties logically
Balance detail with usability
Consider reporting needs when designing properties

Maintenance and Governance

Regular Review

Audit property usage and effectiveness quarterly
Remove obsolete or unused custom properties
Update validation rules based on experience
Gather feedback from team members on property utility

Access Controls

Limit who can create or modify custom properties
Control bulk update permissions appropriately
Maintain audit trails for property changes
Establish approval processes for schema changes

Proper configuration and management of request properties creates a foundation for efficient audit execution and meaningful progress tracking.