scholarly journals Using management control to understand public sector corporate governance changes

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 548-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Ferry ◽  
Thomas Ahrens
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Local Authority ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Management Control System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Governance Practices ◽  
And Performance

Purpose Within the context of recent post-localism developments in the English local government, this paper aims to show, first, how management controls have become more enabling in response to changes in rules of public sector corporate governance and, secondly, how changes in management control systems gave rise to new corporate governance practices. Design/methodology/approach Theoretically, the paper mobilises the concept of enabling control to reflect on contemporary changes in public sector corporate governance. It draws on the International Federation of Accountants’ (IFAC) and Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) new public sector governance and management control system model and data gathered from a longitudinal qualitative field study of a local authority in North East England. The field study used interviews, observation and documentation review. Findings This paper suggests specific ways in which the decentralisation of policymaking and performance measurement in a local authority (present case) gave rise to enabling corporate governance and how corporate governance and management control practices went some way to aid in the pursuit of the public interest. In particular, it shows that the management control system can be designed at the operational level to be enabling. The significance of global transparency for supporting corporate governance practices around public interest is observed. This paper reaffirms that accountability is but one element of public sector corporate governance. Rather, public sector corporate governance also pursues integrity, openness, defining outcomes, determining interventions, leadership and capacity and risk and performance management. Practical implications Insights into uses of such enabling practices in public sector corporate governance are relevant for many countries in which public sector funding has been cut, especially since the 2007/2008 global financial crisis. Originality/value This paper introduces the concept of enabling control into the public sector corporate governance and control debate by fleshing out the categories of public sector corporate governance and management control suggested recently by IFAC and CIPFA drawing on observed practices of a local government entity.

The impact of management control systems on organisational change and performance in the public sector

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-495
Author(s):  
Nuraddeen Abubakar Nuhu ◽  
Kevin Baird ◽  
Ranjith Appuhami
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Organisational Change ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Employee Empowerment ◽  
Strategic Flexibility ◽  
Interactive Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
And Performance

Purpose This study aims to examine the role of organisational dynamic capabilities (strategic flexibility and employee empowerment) in mediating the relationship between management control systems (MCSs), in particular the interactive and diagnostic approaches to using controls, with organisational change and performance. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected based on a mail survey of public sector organisations in Australia and analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings The findings indicate that strategic flexibility and employee empowerment mediate the association between the interactive approach to MCSs with organisational performance, and strategic flexibility mediates the relationship between the interactive approach to MCSs with organisational change. Practical implications The study’s findings inform public sector practitioners as to how to enact change within and enhance the performance of public sector organisations. Specifically, managers are advised to focus on the use of interactive controls and the development of two dynamic organisational capabilities, strategic flexibility and employee empowerment. Originality/value The study provides an initial empirical insight into the relation between controls and dynamic capabilities and their role in enacting change and performance within the public sector. The findings suggest that the achievement of new public management ideals is reliant upon the organisational environment, with change and performance facilitated by the interactive use of controls and strategic flexibility and employee empowerment.

Boards and governance of state-owned enterprises

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Nana Yaw Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Executive Directors ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Legal Frameworks ◽  
State Enterprises

Purpose – This study aims to examine the structure, attributes, and performance of boards of directors of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) within the broader context of public sector governance. This is informed by the less attention given to the concept among public sector organizations despite efforts to make state enterprises more effective and efficient, especially in developing and middle income countries. Design/methodology/approach – Data was collected through questionnaires self-administered in 2010 to all 25 SOEs in Accra, Ghana, out of the 29 nationwide. Some key officials were interviewed and documentary evidence analyzed to achieve triangulation of data and results. Findings – Results show that state-owned enterprises have boards and comply with the minimal governance issues outlined the legal frameworks establishing them. However, they exhibit significant weaknesses in the areas of board performance evaluation, criteria for board appointment, the balance of executive directors and non-executive directors, and other board characteristics, indicating a departure from general practices. Practical implications – Findings suggest the need for a tailored corporate governance framework or code for state-owned enterprises in developing countries. Originality/value – Compared to the literature, this study provides insight on boards from the perspective of state enterprises in ensuring good corporate governance, particularly in the context of a middle income country (Ghana).

scholarly journals Corporate Governance and Performance of Audit Committee and Internal Audit Functions in an Emerging Economy’s Public Sector

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-98
Author(s):  
Shewangu Dzomira
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
The Public ◽  
Effective Performance ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Management Audit

This article seeks to examine corporate governance and the performance of audit committee and internal audit functions in an emerging economy’s public sector. These two functions form a part of imperative corporate governance aspects, and their effective performance ensures better service delivery by public sector agencies. The study is premised on stakeholder theory, which has turned out to be the central point of public sector discourses. The study is based on qualitative content analysis, which aspires to present information about corporate governance and effectiveness of audit committees and internal audit units in South Africa’s public sector. The findings suggest that there is good corporate governance in terms of the existence of audit committees and internal audit functions in the public sector. However, the results suggest that the audit committees and internal audit units in South Africa’s public sector are not effective. Absence of advice, implementation of recommendations and inadequacy of resources have undermined the performance of audit committees and internal audit units in South Africa’s public sector. The leadership and other assurance bringers ought to consider the findings elevated by the audit committees and internal audit and execute their commendation. Their findings should be urbanised into action plans that are implemented by management. Audit committees must improve their oversight on internal audit functions so that both units would effectively perform. The subsistence of successful audit committee and internal audit components in the public sector certifies proficient and effectual exploitation of resources for the gain of all stakeholders.

Corporate board for innovative managerial control: implications of corporate governance deviance perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irfan Saleem ◽  
Mujtaba Nasir Ali Khan ◽  
Rashedul Hasan ◽  
Muhammad Ashfaq
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Corporate Board ◽  
Managerial Control ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Governance Practices ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Drawing from the firm’s entrepreneurial identity and ecology perspectives, this study aims to explain why the firms deviate from standard corporate governance practices and apply innovative management control. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a panel of 2,538 public companies listed with the New York Stock Exchange to explain the impact of corporate governance deviance on firm’s performance. The authors relied on unique governance variables extracted from the Bloomberg database to develop the governance deviance index. Findings Study unveils that deviance from governance practices influences firm’s performance. Consequently, it can be said that the firms which use innovative governance mechanisms, usually stay ahead of the market by leading the governance trends. The findings also generalise the firm’s entrepreneurial identity and organisational ecology perspectives. Research limitations/implications Research implies that the firm’s entrepreneurial identity demands innovative managerial control. This study is focused on the US financial market, but in future, researchers could revalidate the deviance index. Scholars can also use mixed methods to test the need for innovative governance mechanisms in emerging markets. Practical implications The firms should focus on innovative governance practices not only to safeguard the firm’s entrepreneurial identity but also to pursue the growth objectives. Such innovative mechanisms and managerial controls are helpful to deal with industrial transformations to satisfy key stakeholders. Originality/value The study contributed to governance and management control research by sharing insights and catering the potential endogeneity problem faced to measure corporate governance measures. The study also proposes an alternative testing tool to measure governance deviance to add methodological uniqueness and reduce knowledge gap.

IC and public sector: a structured literature review

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Dumay ◽  
James Guthrie ◽  
Pina Puntillo
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Third Stage ◽  
Structured Literature Review

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a structured literature review of the public sector intellectual capital (IC) literature. It is, in part, motivated by a recent review of the IC literature by Guthrie et al. (2012, p. 74), who found that the public sector is one of the least addressed areas of IC research. Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents a structured literature review of public sector IC articles that is as up to date as possible. The authors use and update the dataset from Guthrie et al. (2012) to include another five plus years of data, including seven articles appearing in this special issue. Findings – The public sector IC has a primary research focus on central government and central government agencies, education (especially universities), Europe (especially Italy and Spain) and empirical research using case studies mainly investigating management control and strategy. It appears public sector IC researchers are firmly entrenched in performative third-stage research, investigating “how” IC works in organisations rather than offering normative solutions. Research limitations/implications – Three areas offered as a way of forwarding public sector IC research. First, there is a need to expand public sector IC research from beyond the confines of education (university) research. There is also an opportunity for a study to synthesise the findings. Second, there is also a need for more longitudinal research in public sector IC because IC is not an event, but a journey. Third, there is an opportunity for researchers to undertake empirical research with organisations to develop and test IC frameworks and models in specific public sector contexts. Practical implications – The authors call for researchers to consider helping public sector practitioners implement IC frameworks and models through interventionist research. In keeping with the performative third-stage IC research agenda, interventionist research makes it possible for academic researchers to act as a catalyst for implementing IC frameworks and models in practice. Originality/value – This paper is a must read for IC researchers wanting to embark on public sector research. The paper outlines how public sector IC research has developed, offers critique and outlines future opportunities for research that has potential impact, rather than concentrating on already well-researched contexts.

scholarly journals Human resource management and performance at the Indian Railways

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijay Edward Pereira ◽  
Rita Fontinha ◽  
Pawan Budhwar ◽  
Bimal Arora
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Financial Indicators ◽  
Developed Country ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
High Performance Work Practices ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Social Importance

Purpose High-performance work practices (HPWPs) have been well documented within private organisations in developed country economies. Such practices, however, remain under-investigated in the public sector and in emerging economies. The purpose of this paper is to work towards filling this void, by empirically evaluating HPWP within an Indian public sector undertaking (PSU), also the world’s largest commercial public sector employer: the Indian Railways (IR). Design/methodology/approach The authors investigate whether the practices implemented in this organisation are consistent with the idea of HPWPs, and analyse how they are influenced by different stakeholders and ultimately associated with different indicators of organisational performance. The authors focused on six railway zones and interviewed a total of 62 HR practitioners. Findings The results show that most practices implemented are aligned with the idea of HPWPs, despite the existence of context-specific unique practices. Furthermore, the authors identify the influence of multiple stakeholders in decision making concerning different practices. The authors additionally found that the measurement of performance goes beyond financial indicators and several context-specific non-financial indicators are identified and their social importance is reiterated. Originality/value Theoretically, this paper utilises and contributes to the resource-based view of firms by identifying a distinctive bundle of competencies in human resources through HPWS in the IR.

Fuzzy bundling of corporate governance practices and performance of Indian firms

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pankaj Kumar Gupta ◽  
Prabhat Mittal
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Specific Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Governance Practices ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Conventional Regression

Purpose This paper aims to develop a framework that aids in achieving the desired state of financial performance for corporate enterprises based on distinct configurations of corporate governance (CG) practices. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a fuzzy-based system to arrive at a definitive configuration of CG practices that lead to a specific level of firm’s performance. Findings This analysis of the panel data of 92 National Stock Exchange–listed companies conducted for RONW on selected CG variables shows that eight fuzzy configurations lead to a particular state of RONW. The authors compare the results with the conventional regression-based scoring models. Originality/value Corporate enterprises can use the derived bundles of CG practices leading to a specific set of financial performance (RONW) to aid the decision-making process in defining and implementing their governance structures. The regulators can modify or customize the law-mandated CG practices to reduce redundancies and promote the national agenda of economic efficiency.

Construction and the Process of Implementing the Management Control System in a Local Self-Government Unit – a Practical Approach

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-83
Author(s):  
Anna Bartoszewicz
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Practical Approach ◽  
Financial Control ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
Management Control System ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Subject ◽  
And Performance ◽  
District Offices

Since 1 January 2010, management control has been functioning in the units of the public finance sector as it has replaced the previously applied financial control. The assumption of management control was to support the achievement of the objectives and performance of tasks carried out by public entities in Poland and consequently to facilitate the process of managing them. As practice shows, some entities have failed to develop an adequate system of action that would allow making a good use of this tool. Thus, the purpose of this article is to present a practical approach to the deployment and implementation of a management control system in a local government unit and indicate substantive gaps that remain. The article presents an exemplary solution of the deployment and implementation of a management control system operating in one of the district offices in Poland. The article also presents implications resulting from the functioning of this system and gives a critical approach to the subject matter, pointing out shortcomings in the functioning of management control in a public entity.

A new vision for internal audit

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew D. Chambers ◽  
Marjan Odar
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Internal Auditing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Global Financial Crisis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how internal auditing may recover from being one of the corporate governance gatekeepers that failed to prevent the global financial crisis. Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws on the theory of professions and provides a brief analysis of internal auditing history, ending with an appraisal of contemporary status. Findings – Internal auditing has not been “fit for purpose” and can be enhanced. Low expectations of internal audit are currently addressed by enhanced guidelines from a number of parties. Internal audit needs to move firmly into the corporate governance space – to audit corporate governance more effectively and to provide more dependable assurance to boards. Practical implications – The global Institute of Internal Auditors can use recent enhanced internal auditing guidelines as a springboard to regain their lead. Internal audit needs to cut the umbilical cord that ties it to management. The accepted “dual reporting” of internal audit is flawed. Social implications – Society cedes professional status to an occupational group when it is in society’s best interests to do so. An attribute of a profession is its accent on serving the public interest. It is unsatisfactory that, five years after the global financial crisis broke, the international Standards for internal auditing still do not articulate the correct professional conduct on making external disclosures in the public interest when internal auditors are aware of serious wrongdoing not satisfactorily addressed internally. Originality/value – This paper comprises a conceptual analysis to challenge the internal audit profession.

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