5 research outputs found

    Factors Influencing Adherence to Ethical Values: A Case Study of Accountants in the Zambian Public Sector

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    Financial scandals continue to negatively impact businesses all over the globe with Zambia not being an exception. The financial accounts of businesses are handled by accountants who are members of professional bodies and are governed by a code of ethics put in place to regulate professional conduct. This study aimed to establish the relationship between factors influencing ethical values and the accountants’ adherence to the code of ethics. The study employed a quantitative approach with the use of structured questionnaires on a population sample comprising of finance and accounting staff from the Zambian public sector. To determine the respondents, simple random sampling was used to identify the population of interest. The outcome from the study showed remuneration of accountants, internal controls within organisations and independence of accountants to be among the factors that influence adherence to ethical values. It was found that there is a positive relationship between remuneration of accountants, internal controls, independence of accountants and the accountants’ adherence to ethical values. It is therefore expected that the higher the remuneration of the accountant, the stronger the internal controls, the higher the independence of the accountant, the easier it is for the accountant to adhere to ethical values. This study contributes towards enhancing measures put in place to address the shortcomings attributed to compliance with the code of ethics for public sector accountants. It will also be beneficial to accountants as it will echo the need for accountants to uphold ethical values.

    Analysis of Challenges of the Medical Supply Chain – A Case of Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency

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    Medical supply chains play a vital role in delivering essential health commodities and ensuring the availability of medicines and medical supplies, especially in developing countries. Recent technological, organizational, and economic advancements in healthcare systems have provided increased access to treatment for patients. Therefore, the availability of the right medicine with the right composition for the right patient in the right quantity at the right time is essential for the patient’s safety and recovery. This paper aims to analyse the supply chain operations of the Zambia Medical Stores (ZAMMSA). The study adopted a descriptive study design and employed a mixed research approach. The population comprised of Third-Party Logistics providers, ZAMMSA facilities supported by Third-Party Logistics partners and the health facilities. The study used simple random sampling technique and data was collected with the help of structured questionnaires. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis while qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that, there are persistent operational challenges like procurement delays, incomplete tracking visibility, and inadequate storage capacities. The study also revealed that, strengthened communication channels, collaborative regulatory compliance efforts, contingency planning for disruptions, feedback mechanisms on product issues, transportation route optimization and provider training were the main strategies needed for improving challenges at each supply chain stage

    Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Operations of Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Hospitality Industry in Lusaka Zambia

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    During the global COVID-19 pandemic, the hospitality sector faced substantial disruptions, prompting a quantitative exploration of its effects on Lusaka's SMEs in this study. Analyzing data from 379 SMEs with STATA version 14 revealed significant consequences, including reduced demand, revenue loss, and challenges in adapting to safety protocols. The study highlighted a considerable threat to SME viability, leading to considerations of downsizing. Coping strategies, such as seeking government support and fostering collaborative relationships, were crucial in addressing financial, marketing, organizational, and employee-centric challenges. Aligning with global trends, tailored coping strategies proved vital. Recommendations include flexible business models, digital adoption, and prioritizing employee well-being for recovery and long-term sustainability. Future research should encompass a longitudinal study assessing sustained effects, recovery strategy evaluations, post-pandemic consumer behaviour exploration, and cross-regional comparisons for comprehensive insights

    An Assessment of the Effect of Management Accounting Practices on the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Lusaka, Zambia

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    The study aimed to assess how Management Accounting Practices (MAPs) impact the performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Lusaka, Zambia, focusing on those in the Mtendere Township market. Research objectives included understanding existing practices, analysing their usage in measuring financial performance, and describing implementation limitations. A cross-sectional approach was employed, utilising a self-administered questionnaire. Out of 132 respondents, 85 returned complete questionnaires for analysis. Microsoft Excel and SPSS 26.0 was used for data analysis, focusing on descriptive statistics and means. Findings revealed SMEs in Mtendere Township employ various Management Accounting Practices, with Flexible Budgeting being most prevalent, followed by strategic approaches like Competitor Monitoring and Decision Support Tools such as Break-even Analysis. Activity-Based Costing was notably less utilised, while Standard Costing and the Balanced Scorecard saw lesser implementation. Management Finance and Target Costing were the least utilised methods. Challenges to implementing Management Accounting Practices included limited involvement from accounting personnel and CEOs' insufficient comprehension of such practices, production scale, organisational changes, and corporate strategy. Competitive pressure from other businesses was deemed the least significant barrier. These findings emphasise the diverse application of management accounting practices among SMEs in Mtendere Township and highlight areas for improvement in implementing these practices effectively

    Investigation of Machinability Characteristics of EDMed Inconel 825 Alloy under Multidimensional Parametric Modeling by Using Holistic Grey-PCA Statistical Models

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    The current social and industrial communities exceedingly demanded the materials that dealt with rich mechanical properties, i.e., the rich strength, hardness, reliability, high resistance against corrosion and oxidation, and high toughness and refractoriness. Recently, the researchers ascertained the comprehensive applications of these difficult to machine materials in the domain of automotive, aeronautical, nuclear industries etc. It is claimed that it is quite hard and expensive for machining these superadvanced materials by traditional machining operations. In the present study, worldwide promising nickel-based superalloy Inconel 825 material is used due to its outstanding mechanical and thermal properties at eminent temperatures and also having broad application in imperative engineering fields. The authors probed that machining cost and smart machinability index have become the gigantic concern in EDM operation; however, these can be minimized by adapting a conduit of evaluation of the optimum setting among multiple input parameters. It was a challenging task, which is respected by authors as the research gaps to be sorted out. To fulfill research gaps, the authors encountered imperative significant EDM input parameters, i.e., spark gap (Sg), gap voltage (Vg), pulse on time (Ton), pulse off time (Toff), Peak Current (Ip), Servo feed (Sf), Depth of Cut (Dc) and difficulty index (Di) corresponding to output responses, i.e., power consumption (Pc), machining time (Mt), and material removal rate (MRR) for framing the machinability index/model for conducting experiments and collecting objectives/responses/outputs. Next, the authors conducted experiments using the Taguchi L27 orthogonal array model in the nonvibratory domain for recording output responses. Later, to potentially access the results, the authors integrated the computational Taguchi methodology with dual models which is called as Taguchi-grey relational analysis (T-GRA) and Taguchi-principal component analysis (T-PCA). The optimum setting condition among considered inputs is discussed in the conclusion section. Later, confirmatory test gratified the evaluated optimum settings which is yielding an improvement of 0.16262 and 0.34398 score in executing T-GRA and T-PCA, respectively. In continuation, the current research evidenced that pulse off time is the chief significant process parameter having p values 0.005 and 0.001 for T-GRA and T-PCA, respectively. It is also seen that the depth of cut is also another important significant process parameter having p values 0.061 and 0.073 for T-GRA and T-PCA, respectively. Moreover, the current research work also investigated the effect of variation of momentous input process parameters over the surface topography and their utility in improving surface integrity and eliminating the micropores and cracks
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