scholarly journals Financial sustainability of Malaysian public universities: officers’ perceptions

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nik Nazli Nik Ahmad ◽  
Suhaiza Ismail ◽  
Siti Alawiah Siraj
Keyword(s):  
Financial Management ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Financial Sustainability ◽  
Administrative Staff ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Senior Officers ◽  
Sustainability Challenges ◽  
Revenue Enhancement ◽  
Future Work

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to elicit perceptions of senior officers on the overall financial sustainability of their institutions; and, second, to examine senior officers’ perceptions on important revenue diversification and cost management practices. Design/methodology/approach The study employed a questionnaire survey with senior academic and administrative staff of the 20 public universities in Malaysia. In total, 275 questionnaires were distributed and 69 were returned, yielding a response rate of 25.09 per cent. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the general perceptions of the survey respondents on public university financial sustainability issues. Findings The study suggests that respondents are receptive of the financial sustainability challenges faced by their institutions. Respondents agree that increasing tuition fees may not be a feasible revenue enhancement strategy for public universities. Instead, all respondents agree that full utilisation of resources will be a key strategy that the universities can apply. Originality/value This study contributes to the limited research on the financial sustainability of public universities in developing countries. Findings of the study have implications for the financial management and governance of public universities in Malaysia and other countries facing similar fiscal challenges. The findings of the study also provide important empirical evidence for future work in the area.

Management towards financial sustainability for private health companies

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Manoel Marques Clemente ◽  
Alexandre Pereira Salgado Junior ◽  
Eduardo Falsarella Júnior ◽  
Marco Antonio Alves de Souza Junior ◽  
Juliana Chiaretti Novi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Long Term Results ◽  
Financial Sustainability ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Level

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify a set of management practices towards financial sustainability for Brazilian private health insurance and plans companies. Design/methodology/approach The present paper uses a bimodal two-step approach. The first step was quantitative, with the data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique in 521 Brazilian private health companies (PHCs). At this stage, the objective was to obtain scores to rank the PHCs regarding their financial performance and services in 2013. From the quantitative analysis, two PHCs displaying contrasting performances were selected and interviewed to identify differentiating management practices. Findings The Group Medicine PHCs displayed a higher performance in the financial approach. Following the qualitative comparative analysis, the financially sustainable PHC presented the following differentials: a high level of financial management professionalization, a deliberate policy for the control and prevention of claims and a larger share of revenues from health plans over service revenues. Research limitations/implications However, a limitation of the study lies in the fact that by not using any cash flow or financial result variables, the financial efficiency model used in the study does not evaluate the generation capacity of long-term results. It is noteworthy that, because it is a multiple case study, the results found cannot be generalized and should be understood only as characteristics of the studied PHCs in here. Practical implications The present paper can contribute to managers of Brazilian PCHs towards the implementation of management tools aimed at the sustainability of those organizations. Originality/value Despite the importance of the Supplemental Health Insurance System for public health in Brazil, PHCs have received a high volume of complaints and struggled with constant financial problems.

Accountability in the financial management practices of school principals

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agrippa Madoda Dwangu ◽  
Vimbi Petrus Mahlangu
Keyword(s):  
Financial Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
School Principals ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Department Of Education ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to investigate the effectiveness of accountability mechanisms employed in financial management practices of school principals in the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education. The strengths and weaknesses of the systems and mechanisms of the processes to hold school principals accountable are explored in detail in this study. The argument that this article seeks to advance is that accountability of the school principal to the school governing body (SGB) does not yield the best results in terms of efficiency. It creates a loose arrangement in terms of which the school principal takes part in financial mismanagement in schools.Design/methodology/approachData collection was made through semi-structured interviews whose purpose was to draw experiences from SGBs, particularly the finance committees who are in fact the sub-committees of the SGBs; as well as literature review. The finance committee is made up of the chairperson of the SGB, the secretary of the SGB, the treasurer of the SGB, and the financial officer who is a clerk responsible for the keeping and the management of financial records of the school. The process started with semi-structured interviews, then transcribing, coding, developing themes, making meaning of the themes and subsequently developing a principle.FindingsMechanisms employed by schools and the Department of Education to hold principals accountable for their financial management practices fail to make them fully accountable and effectively face the consequences of acts on their part that are illegal and unlawful. The mechanisms need a great deal of overhauling. The argument that this article seeks to advance is that this account of the school principal to the SGB does not yield the best results in terms of efficiency. It creates a loose arrangement in terms of which the school principal easily gets away with a crime when financial mismanagement occurs in the school.Research limitations/implicationsParticipants could possibly not be comfortable and willing, to tell the truth as it is. Participants might have the fear that telling the truth could land them in trouble with the law. Whilst participants were assured by the researchers of their anonymity and the confidentiality of the information given by them, there was no guarantee that the fear of being exposed would subdue completely. There was also a possibility that some participants would not be willing to say the truth as it is for fear of being victimised by other participants for exposing the status quo in their schools.Practical implicationsThe findings and recommendations from this study may be used by the Department of Basic Education as a source of information for policymakers and stakeholders to understand the effectiveness of their mechanisms to ensure the accountability of school principals on issues of financial management. On the basis of this study, policymakers will then be able to revisit their policies for the purpose of strengthening them. The principal is therefore responsible for the day-to-day administration and management of school funds because of this mandatory delegation. However, when things go wrong, it is the SGB that is held liable.Social implicationsSchool principals hold dual accountability in terms of which they are accountable to the employer only in so far as their professional responsibilities are concerned on financial management in the first instance. They are by no means accounting officers in schools. In the second instance, they are fully accountable to the SGB for issues relating to financial management. Section 16A of SASA lists the functions and responsibilities for which the principal as an employee of the Department of Basic Education, and in his official capacity as contemplated in Sections 23(1) and 24(1) (j) of the same Act, is accountable to the head of department (HOD).Originality/valueThe study provides a theoretical and empirical contribution to the existing literature on the effectiveness of the mechanisms employed to ensure the accountability of school principals in their financial management practices in schools. It offers practical recommendations putting in place mechanisms that effectively hold school principals wholly accountable for their financial management practices in schools. Most of the time, it is easy for the principal to get away with a crime even in instances where he or she is called upon to account for alleged financial mismanagement.

Effects of financial management practices on technical performance of building contractors in northeast Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-223
Author(s):  
Abdulmalik Sa'eed ◽  
Nuru Gambo ◽  
Ibrahim Ibrahim Inuwa ◽  
Innocent Musonda
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technical Performance ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Northeast Nigeria

Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of financial management practices of small-scale building contractors on the technical performance of the contractors in the northern part of Nigeria with international best practices. Previous studies argued that the technical performance of small-scale building contractors in developing countries is poor because of insufficient cash to acquire strategic resources at the outset of a project. This continues to pose a challenge to the sustainable development of the construction industry, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. There is, therefore, a need to identify, assess and compare the effects of financial practices of the contractors with technical performance best practices. Design/methodology/approach The technical performance of each contractor was evaluated using a five-point Likert scale. This is used to obtain the mean technical performance levels of the contractors. A questionnaire survey was administered to the professionals in the industry who were selected by using a proportionate stratified random sampling technique. The contractors’ performance was compared using ANOVA with post hoc, and the effects of contractors’ financial management practices were determined using multiple regression analysis. Findings The results of this study indicated that the contractors in Nigeria were average technical performers and there were large effects of financial management practices on the technical performance of contractors in building projects. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to small-scale building contractors in northeast Nigeria. One of the implications of this study is that it provides the criteria for an evaluation of small-scale building contractors’ technical performance in Nigeria and other developing countries that faced similar problems. Practical implications The practical implications of this study are that it establishes the current level of contractors' technical performance and serves as an awareness of contractors' current financial practices. Social implications This study created bases for self-evaluation of contractors’ technical performance and competition among small-scale contractors in Nigeria for the enhancement of productivity particularly in rural areas for national development. Originality/value This study emanated from the government reports and past studies in the area of performance management based on the persistence of poor technical performance of small-scale contractors in the construction industry.

Resistance to change in the financial management of small family-owned firms: a grounded theory of family firms in Laos

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanvedes Daovisan ◽  
Thanapauge Chamaratana
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Processes ◽  
Open Coding ◽  
Axial Coding

Purpose The purpose of this study is to apply a grounded theory (GT) approach to develop a theory of resistance to change in the financial management of Laotian family firms. Design/methodology/approach The research adopts a GT approach, using a theoretical sampling procedure. Interviews were conducted with 36 Laotian family firms between April 2017 and May 2019. The in-depth interview transcriptions were analyed using open coding, axial coding and selective coding. Findings The interviewees identified that strategic planning, budgeting and management processes are factors influencing resistance to change. Research results show that accounting portfolios, investment decisions and return on assets are aspects of financial management that are particularly prone to change. The authors, therefore, suggest that Laotian family firms’ reduction in confidence and loss aversion may activate resistance to the adoption of more efficient financial management practices. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research to attempt to use grounded data to emerge a theory of resistance to change in financial management in Laos.

Financial Management Practices and Sustainability of Non Governmental Organisations Projects in Juba, South Sudan

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Tom Victor Wandera ◽  
Dr. Paul Sang
Keyword(s):  
Financial Management ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
South Sudan ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Multiple Regression Equation ◽  
Financial Sustainability ◽  
Inferential Statistics ◽  
Income Source ◽  
Budget Control

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of financial management challenges on financial sustainability of Non-Governmental Organizations in south Sudan.Methodology: The study used descriptive research design. The target population of the study was all the 112 NGO in South Sudan at July 31st 2015. A census of all the 112 key financial manager personnel was taken since the population is small. Primary data was collected through the administration of the questionnaires. This study generated both qualitative and quantitative data. Data was analyzed mainly by use of descriptive and inferential statistics that is, graphical and numerical methods, measures of central tendencies as well as measures of variability. The particular inferential statistics were regression and correlation analysis. Multiple regression equation was used to determine the strength and directions of the association between the variables with the results.Results: The study findings indicated that there is a significant and positive relationship between budget control and the financial sustainability of NGOs in South Sudan. The results also indicated that there is a significant and positive relationship between financial reporting and the financial sustainability of NGOs in South Sudan. Also, results found out that there is a significant and positive relationship between income source diversification and the financial sustainability of NGOs in South Sudan. Further, the results indicated that there is a significant and positive relationship between donor relationship management and the financial sustainability of NGOs in South Sudan.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommended that budget control activities such as financial resources, competent human resource, and participation of both staff and other stakeholders in the budgeting process, proper planning, evaluation, monitoring and control of the budget process and staff motivation should be fully adopted by NGOs in order to sustain their financials. The study also recommended that income source diversification activities such as charitable donations from individuals and corporations, grants, fees, commission, contracts for service, and sales of goods and should be adopted in order to  enhance the financial sustainability of NGOs.

Evaluating implementation of strategic performance management practices in universities in Uganda

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernadette Nambi Karuhanga
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Performance ◽  
Mission Strategy ◽  
Private And Public

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.

Performance management practices, employee attitudes and managed performance

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 507-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Kagaari ◽  
John C. Munene ◽  
Joseph Mpeera Ntayi
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Employee Attitudes ◽  
University Education ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach

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.

scholarly journals Water Sector Reforms, Commercialization and Financial Sustainability of Public Water Utilities in Kenya: The Case of Homa Bay Water and Sewerage Company Limited

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Agwa Maryline Akinyi ◽  
Paul A. Odundo
Keyword(s):  
Financial Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Relative Weight ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
P Value ◽  
Financial Sustainability ◽  
Water Sector ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Company Limited

Reforms in the Kenyan water sector entrenched the aspect of commercialization, which subjected water services to market forces and necessitated establishment of autonomous public utilities, such as Homa Bay Water and Sewerage Company Limited, to improve cost recovery, efficiency and sustainability. This study focused on how commercialization, as an aspect of the reforms, influenced the utility’s financial sustainability. A cross-sectional design, with mixed methods approach, guided the study. Primary data were sourced in mid 2017, from water officers, water users and water committee members. Quantitative techniques included cross-tabulation with Chi square statistic, Relative Importance Index and Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance. The results show that compliance of procurement activities to relevant legislations was the most important aspect influencing the utility’s financial sustainability (relative weight = 0.838); followed by effectiveness of internal audit in enforcing expenditure policies (relative weight = 0.825); and relevance of activities on which water revenues were spent (relative weight = 0.812). The analysis obtained a strong and significant concordance of respondents’ views regarding relationship between financial management practices and the utility’s financial sustainability (Kendall’s W= 0.862, x2= 64.491, df = 4 & p-value = 0.000). Consequently, ensuring that procurement activities are strictly guided by procurement laws is important for preventing irregularities and minimizing loss of financial resources; while strengthening capacity of the internal audit department and enhancing its independence, are crucial antecedents for the utility’s financial sustainability.

scholarly journals Revenue diversification in public higher learning institutions: an exploratory Malaysian study

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-397
Author(s):  
Nik Nazli Nik Ahmad ◽  
Siti Alawiah Siraj ◽  
Suhaiza Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Higher Learning ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Revenue Diversification ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Senior Officers ◽  
Learning Institutions ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Perception Survey

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent of revenue diversification of selected Malaysian public higher learning institutions (HLIs) and the perceptions of senior officers of Malaysian public HLIs on matters related to revenue diversification. Design/methodology/approach The study analyses data from the HLIs’ financial statements to compute the Hirschman-Herfindahl Index (HHI) for revenue diversification and a perception survey with senior officers of the Malaysian public HLIs. Findings The results suggest that while a majority of the Malaysian public HLIs were still dependent largely on government funding, the more established and larger HLIs had a slightly more diversified revenue structure. The survey suggested that overall the senior officers were receptive to the need for revenue diversification. Research limitations/implications The paper is largely based on a perception survey. Future work should utilise in-depth interviews and/or focus groups and a more in-depth analysis of financial statement data to provide richer data. Practical implications The study’s findings provide useful baseline data upon which further work may be built, particularly in the less explored developing country context. They will also prove useful to the administrators of public HLIs in other parts of the world facing a similar financial austerity situation. Originality/value The present study examines both the extent of revenue diversification of HLIs as well as senior HLI officers’ perceptions on revenue diversification strategies. Most prior studies on revenue diversification have examined non-profit organisations, not HLIs and most were either only perception-based studies or only looked at the extent of revenue diversification using the HHI.

scholarly journals Improving performance in project-based management: synthesizing strategic theories

2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 608-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karessa Cullen ◽  
David W. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Organization Theory ◽  
Resource Dependence ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Resource Dependence Theory ◽  
Theory Of Constraints ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Context ◽  
Strategic Theories ◽  
Future Work

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore benefits and issues of integrating the theory of constraints (TOC), resource-based view (RBV) and resource-dependence theory (RDT) with conventional project-based management frameworks. Design/methodology/approach – Extant literature is used to develop a conceptual framework of an integrated model that will be tested for applied robustness. The model has been applied to published projects to identify its strengths and weaknesses. Findings – The work shows important implications for improved success of projects from the use of TOC, RBV and RDT. Research limitations/implications – While TOC, RBV and RDT are well established in the context of organization theory, there is limited application in project management. Moreover, the model has yet to be applied in the field. The hypotheses identified in this research are currently being tested using empirical investigation. Practical implications – The research falls short in addressing some resources, e.g. innovation, tacit knowledge and decision-making methods in traditional project management context. Therefore, identifying these critical resources in future work and exploiting them as the means of improving project performance would enhance the success of project-based management. Social implications – Project management is an emergent discipline and a project is temporary in nature. Therefore, new ideas and development of theories for project management practices are required. This innovative research, for example, may change the way projects are executed in future. Originality/value – This paper examines the components of a successful project according to the iron triangle, i.e. scope, quality, time and cost. However, through the application of TOC, RBV and RDT into an integrated project-based management framework gives new insights to resources management.

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