Performance Management and Governance in Public Universities: Challenges and Opportunities

Author(s):  
Carmine Bianchi ◽  
Eugenio Caperchione
Author(s):  
Nunzio Angiola ◽  
Piervito Bianchi ◽  
Letizia Damato

Purpose Considering a micro performance perspective, the purpose of this paper is to analyze whether and to what extent the adoption of better performance management systems could improve the performance levels of a public university. Design/methodology/approach With reference to a period of four years (2011-2014), the quality of performance management systems of 29 Italian universities (response rate: 48 percent) was examined and the possible effects on performance levels of these institutions were analyzed by means of statistical methodologies (multiple regression analysis). Outcome indicators were considered. Findings The findings indicate the need to go further “measurement,” and to take care of performance “management,” especially in complex organizations as universities, where academicians identify themselves more with their professions than with the organization and where technicians and administrative employees might look at the performance-based reform with “bureaucratic eyes.” A fruitful cooperation between the professional soul and the bureaucratic one is paramount. Originality/value Studies which analyze organizational factors that could affect the adoption and implementation of performance management systems are rare, and use in prevalence qualitative methods or refer to machine bureaucracies, not many to professional ones as public universities. Moreover, the performance management literature in a public university context deepens the topic of the selection of KPIs and the focus is mainly on macro performance or on management tools for gathering and analyzing performance measures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T Melia ◽  
Armando Paez ◽  
Gail Reid ◽  
Lisa M Chirch ◽  
Vera P Luther ◽  
...  

Abstract Remediation of struggling learners is a challenge faced by all educators. In recognition of this reality, and in light of contemporary challenges facing infectious diseases (ID) fellowship program directors, the Infectious Diseases Society of America Training Program Directors’ Committee focused the 2018 National Fellowship Program Directors’ Meeting at IDWeek on “Remediation of the Struggling Fellow.” Small group discussions addressed 7 core topics, including feedback and evaluations, performance management and remediation, knowledge deficits, fellow well-being, efficiency and time management, teaching skills, and career development. This manuscript synthesizes those discussions around a competency-based framework to provide program directors and other educators with a roadmap for addressing common contemporary remediation challenges.


2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernadette Nambi Karuhanga

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to propose a tool for evaluating implementation of strategic performance management (PM) by examining the strategic PM practices in public universities in Uganda. Design/methodology/approach – Literature was reviewed and the general features of PM practices were identified. These were captured in a survey instrument which was later administered to staff in selected universities in Uganda to determine the extent of strategic PM implementation. Principal component analysis was conducted to cluster similar variables together with an aim of identifying the focal areas for determining the extent of strategic PM practices implementation in a university. Findings – Strategic PM in public universities in Uganda exists and is aimed at achieving quality. Despite its existence, respondents generally disagreed that: an effective PM system exists in their respective universities, PM training is continuously provided to managers and staff and a formal process exists for units to provide feedback on the attainment of goals. Findings further revealed that implementation of PM practices in universities could be evaluated based on five foci, namely, alignment of organisational vision, mission, strategy and individual performance goals; staff involvement in PM implementation at unit level; existence of an improvement plan; existence of a performance evaluation plan; and staff awareness and understanding of PM. Research limitations/implications – The study focussed on only public universities in Uganda; hence, another study could be conducted considering all universities, both private and public. The list of items from literature may not be exhaustive hence additional PM practices that were not included in this tool should be identified from literature to enrich the evaluation tool. Practical implications – This study allowed the development of an empirical list of PM practices which could be used by universities and policy makers to evaluate implementation of strategic PM. Hence, the five foci could be adopted as an evaluation tool for universities with regard to strategic PM implementation. Using these five foci, university managers can identify the grey areas in their PM systems to which management attention could be focussed for improvement. Originality/value – Despite the increasing desire for effective PM implementation in most organisations the world over, there exists no empirical evidence of institutional PM implementation in public universities in Uganda. Besides, to the best of my knowledge, no study has been previously conducted with the aim of developing a tool for evaluating strategic (PM implementation in universities in Uganda.


2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 129-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Hutchison

Purpose – The ongoing integration of health and social care in Scotland presents both challenges and opportunities. The purpose of this paper is to consider emerging enablers and barriers to integration by focusing on the views of senior stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach – This paper presented an opportunity to gain an insight into the integration movement by considering the views of key stakeholders within Scottish Local Authorities, NHS Boards and other relevant stakeholders. These insights, were collected through a combination of interviews and questionnaires. Findings – This paper highlights a number of factors key to the success of the integration agenda. These include: governing terms and conditions of existing staff; engagement of clinical and professional leads; and synthesising joint outcomes in locality planning. Acts of transformational change such as integration place particular demands upon those in leadership positions. This paper identifies key leadership strengths pivotal to driving forward change, such as effective performance management and influencing skills. Originality/value – This is one of a small number of papers addressing the scale and scope of efforts to integrate health and social care within Scotland. Integration between health services and social care continues to be a priority of the Scottish Government.


2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 507-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Kagaari ◽  
John C. Munene ◽  
Joseph Mpeera Ntayi

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish the relationship between performance management practices, employee attitudes and managed performance.Design/methodology/approachUsing a disproportionate stratified purposive approach, a sample of 900 employees was drawn from four public universities in Uganda.FindingsThe paper reveals that performance management practices and employee attitudes are crucial for achievement of managed performance in public universities.Research limitations/implicationsThis was a cross‐sectional study that inherently has common method biases. Such biases could be minimised with replication of the study using a longitudinal study approach that would also unearth all salient issues that could have remained untouched.Practical implicationsThe paper emphasises the need for public universities to institutionalise result‐oriented relationships and adapt in the external hyper changing environment.Originality/valueThe paper calls for a new approach to managing employees in public universities with increasing demand for university education and stakeholder interests in delivery of cost‐effective quality services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 03 (06) ◽  
pp. 281-295
Author(s):  
Moammar Abdelrahman SHABIB‎ ◽  
Amal MASHAL ◽  
Thaer Ali RAJA

The purpose of the study to identify the extent to which the sustainability of sources of financing and to identify the most important challenges facing the financing of the Palestinian public universities as well as to explore potential financing opportunities that can be developed to finance the Palestinian public universities based on the experiences of other universities. The study used the analytical qualitative method, and the study tool is interviews with finance specialists in Palestinian public universities. One of the findings of the study is that students’ tuition fees are the main source of financing for universities, as they constitute approximately 80% of universities’ revenues. The centers and institutes affiliated with the university are considered an important and sustainable source of financing for universities, but they are not used in an optimal way. One of the challenges facing financing is competition between universities instead of integration between them, and from other financing opportunities , are creation of investment units in universities or business development centers in partnership with the private sector .The study recommended the importance of working on finding other sources of financing universities through potential financing opportunities, such as : investment units and business development centers, establishing productive projects in cooperation and partnership with the public and private sectors, restructuring and integrating academic disciplines, and finding new academic disciplines that match with the labor market requirements that attract new students.


2021 ◽  
pp. 289-311
Author(s):  
Sabrina Gigli ◽  
Laura Mariani ◽  
Angelo Paletta

University mission is a complex topic. Mission fulfilment requires the ability to manage different objectives simultaneously. An adequate performance management system can be crucial to support this process. The recent accounting reform of the Italian public universities offers the opportunity to implement such a performance management system. The introduction of the accrual accounting approach for financial reporting - and budgeting - does, in fact, require the collection of a greater amount of data and, notably, a richer amount of information on costs. The collected data and information can then be effectively used to promote accountability and to support decision-making processes from the governance to the operational level. In this context, the question arises: What are the drivers and the barriers that can facilitate the introduction of an effective performance management system in public universities? In order to answer this question, the authors conducted a study on the case of the University of Bologna, at its first implementation of a management accounting system (called COAN project). The aim of the COAN project is to contribute to the understanding of the organizational and procedural conditions that may affect the introduction of accounting innovation in the context of public universities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (Spring) ◽  
pp. 15-26
Author(s):  
Ielyzaveta Shchepetylnykova ◽  
Samantha Alvis

Globalization creates increasing interdependence between countries’ economic, political, and social processes leading to rise of global challenges and opportunities. Developed countries became important players in tackling the world's biggest issues. Governments traditionally turn to higher education institutions for their teaching, discovery, and outreach expertise to address global challanges. U.S. universities engage in a variety of international activities. However, role of international development activities of U.S. colleges and universities in their comprehensive internationalization has been lacking sufficient attention of scholars. This article investigated contribution of international development activities to comprehensive internationalization of U.S. public higher education institutions through analysis of qualitative data. The findings of the study demonstrate the contribution of international development activities to comprehensive internationalization efforts of public universities through advancement of their education, research, and service missions. 


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