Before the purchasing department of the Scott Company accepts a requisition, they require a series of signatures. Normally, the requisition moves through intracompany mail to each person whose signature is required, and then to the purchasing department, where purchasing employees place a written order with an outside vendor.

When supervisors need an item in a hurry, they expedite the procedure by carrying the requisition to each person whose signature is required. If they cannot reach a person whose authorizing approval is required, they obtain alternative signatures. In some cases, secretaries provide the signature, either using a signature stamp or signing a superior’s name to the requisition.
After accumulating all the necessary authorizations, supervisors may personally take their requisitions to the purchasing department and plead for rapid handling of the orders. If they are successful in convincing the purchasing agent of the urgency of the order, the purchasing agent places a verbal purchase order with the vendor, saving additional time.
The policy manual states that all requisitions must have supporting documents. If it is convenient for supervisors to attach these data, they do so. Otherwise, they either attach no supporting documents or some miscellaneous documents which contain little useful information.
Employees readily agree that often the authorized signer may approve the requisition after only superficial examination of the supporting documents.
Required:

a. Do the documents resulting from the short-cut procedure provide adequate evidence of compliance with the procedure manual? What changes would you make to handle rush orders?

b. Assume you are the accounts payable clerk at the Scott Company and have received a copy of the policy manual which states that purchase requisitions in good form must support all purchase invoices. What would you do if you continually receive purchase requisitions that do not have supporting documents or have supervisors’ names signed by their secretaries?