Which of the following activities is a critical component of the closing meeting of an...

During the closing meeting of an external audit, a critical component is providing an explanation of the findings to ensure that all parties understand the audit results. This step is essential for clarity and sets the stage for discussing potential corrective actions and follow-up activities. Reference: "The ISO 19011:2018 Guidelines for Auditing Management Systems," which outlines the key components of audit closing meetings.