The identification, measurement and competitive positioning of a higher education institution brand in Zambia : the case of Zambia Centre for Accountancy Studies (ZCAS)

The aim of this research project was to identify and measure the ZCAS brand in the higher education (HE) sector in Zambia and, through the study, identify areas for strengthening the brand‟s competitive position. ZCAS is earmarked for conversion into a university following the completion of a major infrastructure expansion project that has doubled its service delivery capacity. This transition requires rebranding and repositioning the institution as a university; and this research could play a significant role in this undertaking by providing insights into brand building in the Zambian HE sector. The research was carried out in two phases. The first research phase was a qualitative multiple case study designed to identify the principal branding elements in the Zambian HE market. Data were collected through three focus group discussions with first year students at ZCAS and twenty semi-structured interviews with marketing executives at ZCAS and twelve universities. Thematic and content analysis of the discussions and interviews revealed that the top five most considered HE branding factors in Zambia are teaching quality, fees, course availability, facilities and employability; while course availability, teaching quality and facilities emerged as the top three sources of competitive advantage. The study also revealed that the most consulted information sources about universities are print media, friends, education expos and electronic media, while the most prolific influencers of student choice are friends, parents and self. In the second research phase a conjoint questionnaire was administered to 390 first year students in eight HE institutions to establish ZCAS‟ competitive brand position in Zambia. Five principal branding attributes (i.e. teaching quality, fees, course availability, learning environment and employability) identified in the first research phase were employed in the conjoint analysis. The study revealed that ZCAS has a strong brand position because the most important elements in its brand model, i.e. course availability, teaching quality and facilities, are also the premier brand dimensions in the market. This study therefore adds to the increasing body of knowledge on HE branding, particularly in developing countries, by developing and then testing a brand orientation model for the Zambian HE market

Working Capital Management and Profitability of Banks in Zambia

The objective of this research was to assess how the management practices related to working capital impact the profitability of banks in Zambia. The primary research question guiding this study was: To what degree do the policies and practices regarding working capital management influence the profitability of banks in Zambia? In order to address this question, the study calculated the Return on Average Assets as a metric to measure bank profitability, which served as the dependent variable. Receivables collection period, payables payment period, and cash conversion cycle were adopted as predictor variables, while leverage, bank size, growth and credit risk were the control variables. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and fixed effects regression modelling using dummy variables were then used to analyse panel data for 14 commercial banks in the country for the period 2010 to 2021.Based on the findings, the study concluded that overall, effective management of working capital had a statistically significant positive impact on the profitability of banks in Zambia. With respect to individual working capital elements, it was observed that the period for collecting receivables and the duration of the cash conversion cycle had a negative and significant influence on bank profitability. Conversely, the period for making payments on payables had the opposite effect, positively impacting bank profitability.Additionally, the study discovered that when the receivables collection period and payables payment period were utilized instead of the cash conversion cycle in the regression analysis with return on average assets, there was a greater increase in R-square change and squared multiple partial R. This indicates that managing receivables and payables as distinct components of working capital is more advantageous for the banking sector in Zambia compared to employing the cash conversion cycle. Keywords: Bank, Profitability, Return on average assets, Working capital management, Zambia DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/14-16-06 Publication date:August 31st 202

Determinants of Profitability of Commercial Banks in Zambia

The aim of this study was to determine the main determinants of profitability of commercial banks in Zambia.  The study is important because it establishes, based on empirical evidence, the extent to which the generally identified factors of profitability in banks impact bank profitability in Zambia.This study is the first documented scientific effort to determine the key determinants of profitability of commercial banks in the country.Using panel data compiled by the banking regulator in Zambia for 15 commercial banks, we computed the return on average assets (ROAA) as a measure of bank profitability, the dependent variable. Measures for independent variables namely asset size, loan loss provisioning, cost to income ratio, liquidity, non-interest income and foreign exchange income ratio were also computed.We also analysed the impact of macroeconomic variables namely GDP growth, inflation and interest rates, on bank profitability.Fixed effects modeling with dummy variables was then used to analyse the panel data for 12 years from 2010 to 2021 for 15 of the 18 commercial banks operating in Zambia.Based on the results of the study, we conclude that asset size, loan loss provisioning, cost efficiency, liquidity, non-interest income and foreign exchange income impacted bank profitability.  We do not find adequate evidence to support the notion that macroeconomic variables are key determinants of bank profitability in Zambia.  We conclude from the study that for banks to improve their profitability, management should focus on ensuring cost efficiency and high quality of the loan book.  The regulatory authority also must check and ensure that commercial banks have adequate and satisfactory systems to ensure cost efficiency and loan book quality for sustained profitability and contribute to enhanced financial system stability. Keywords: Bank size, commercial bank, cost efficiency, loan loss provisioning, profitability, Zambia DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/14-12-02 Publication date:June 30th 202

Credit Management and Profitability of Banks in Zambia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of credit management on profitability of banks in Zambia. Accordingly, the research question designed to guide the study was: To what extend do bank credit management policies and practices affect the profitability of banks in Zambia?To answer the research question above, the Return on Average Assets (ROAA) was computed as a measure of bank profitability, the dependent variable. Measures for independent variables such as leverage (the ratio of total debt to total net assets), asset quality (non-performing loan ratio) and credit risk (gross loans and advances to total assets, and loan loss provision ratio), which reflect bank credit management policies and practices were also computed. Bank size and percentage growth in annual income were included as control variables in the model. To analyze the data, a fixed effects regression model with dummy variables was employed, using panel data spanning 12 years from 2010 to 2021. The data encompassed 15 out of the 18 commercial banks operating in the country.The study found that the regression model accounted for 60% of the variation in bank profitability, of which 35% was attributable to the in-between subject variation and 25% to the independent variables. With respect to the effect of individual predictor variables on bank profit, the study found a statistically significant positive relationship with bank size, while the loan loss provision had a statistically significant negative correlation. Illustratively, a one unit increase in bank size enhanced bank profit by 0.019 units, ceteris paribus, while a one unit increase in loan loss provision decreased bank profit by 0.278 units, ceteris paribus. Furthermore, the study revealed that an increase in leverage and credit risk had negative but statistically insignificant effect on profit respectively, while growth and asset quality had the opposite but also statistically insignificant effect. Overall, the study concluded that credit management policies and practices, as measured by the independent variables, significantly affected bank profit performance in the country. Keywords: asset quality, credit management, credit risk, leverage, profitability, return on average assets, Zambia DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/14-10-05 Publication date:May 31st 202

Financial Resources as a Critical Success Factors for Business Process Re-engineering to Achieve Academic Performance. A Case of Higher Education Institutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The paper reviewed financial resources which is a critical factor and component of Business Process Re-engineering in achieving academic performance of higher education institutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The objective of the study is to examine whether financial resources can contribute to improving and achieving academic performance of higher education institutions in general and students in particular. The study used a systematic literature review and content analysis was to establish the relationship between financial resources and academic performance. The key findings are grouped in three dimensions: 1) financial resources; 2) budget and funding/financial model; 3) tuitions fees, scholarship and loans provision. The study found consistent evidence to show that there is a significant and positive relationship between financial resources and performance of higher education institutions. The study concluded that higher education sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo needs a radical change and fundamental rethinking in improving educational budget processes to meet the needs of the institutions, provision of scholarship and loans processes to students mainly those from poor background and designing innovative financial/funding model to sustain educational institutions. The study is based on academic capitalism theory. The recommendations were made based on the findings of the study

Consensus on context-specific strategies for reducing the stigma of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Zambe´ zia Province, Mozambique

Stigma has been implicated in poor outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) care. Reducing stigma is important for HIV prevention and long-term treatment success. Although stigma reduction interventions are conducted in Mozambique, little is known about the current nature of stigma and the efficacy and effectiveness of stigma reduction initiatives. We describe action research to generate consensus on critical characteristics of HIV stigma and anti-stigma interventions in Zambe´zia Province, Mozambique. Qualitative data gathering methods, including indepth key-informant interviews, community interviews and consensus group sessions, were utilized. Delphi methods and the strategic options development analysis technique were used to synthesize qualitative data. Key findings are that stigma enacted by the general public might be declining in tandem with the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Mozambique, but there is likely excessive residual fear of HIV disease and  community attitudes that sustain high levels of perceived stigma. HIV-positive women accessing maternal and child health services appear to shoulder a disproportionate burden of stigma. Unintentional biases among healthcare providers are currently the critical frontier of stigmatization, but there are few interventions designed to address them. Culturally sensitive psychotherapies are needed to address psychological distress associated with internalized stigma and these interventions should complement current supports for voluntary counseling and testing. While advantageous for defining stakeholder priorities for stigma reduction efforts, confirmatory quantitative studies of these consensus positions are needed before the launch of specific interventions.Keywords: stigma reduction, consensus, HIV/AIDS, Mozambiqu

Understanding Postgraduate Student Preferences for University Choice in Zambia: The Case of ZCAS University

The aim of this study was to ascertain the university brand model that characterizes postgraduate student choice of ZCAS University. The brand model comprises brand attributes that attract postgraduate students to the university, the information sources they consult, who influences their decisions and what makes the university unique. The study was qualitative in design, while sampling of research participants was done purposively. Three focus group discussions involving seventeen first years part time and open distance e-learning postgraduate students, and five semi-structured interviews with marketing and recruitment staff at ZCAS University were used to collect data on the brand model. Thematic analysis and content analysis were then used as the primary data analysis techniques. Results of the study revealed that reputation, teaching quality, student support, fees and facilities were the top five ZCAS University brand traits that underpin postgraduate students’ choice of the university. With respect to competitive advantage, facilities, teaching quality reputation and accreditations are perceived to be the university’s primary unique characteristics. The study further identified friends, self, workmate and family as the greatest influencers of postgraduate student choice of the university; while websites, social media, print media and television are believed to be the most consulted information sources by prospective postgraduate students

HUMAN RESOURCE ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED QUOTED NIGERIAN FOOD AND BEVERAGES FIRMS

The study examined the effect of Human resource accounting (HRA) on the financial performance (return on assets-ROA) of selected quoted Nigerian food and beverages firms. Four of these firms were sampled from 2006-2021. The research analyzed the data generated using the panel regression analysis through the instrumentality of Econometric Views. The study evidenced that, staff trainings and development costs (STC) and welfare costs (EWC) improved firm performance significantly but staff safety cost did not. However, hiring cost has a negative significant effect on ROA of the targeted firms in Nigeria during the study periods. Hence, the paper concluded that human resource accounting is instrumental to higher firm performance. As such, the study recommends that management of selected firms should not see their staff trainings as a one-off thing instead they should conduct both off and on-the-job trainings on a regular basis.  Lastly, management of the targeted firms must ensure that their welfare package include both monetary and non-monetary compensation. Keywords: Human Resource Accounting, Financial Performance, Quoted Nigerian Food and Beverages Firms

What do parents perceive are the barriers and facilitators to accessing psychological treatment for mental health problems in children and adolescents? A systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies

A minority of children and adolescents with mental health problems access treatment. The reasons for poor rates of treatment access are not well understood. As parents are a key gatekeeper to treatment access, it is important to establish parents’ views of barriers/facilitators to accessing treatment. The aims of this study are to synthesise findings from qualitative and quantitative studies that report parents’ perceptions of barriers/facilitators to accessing treatment for mental health problems in children/adolescents. A systematic review and narrative synthesis were conducted. Forty-four studies were included in the review and were assessed in detail. Parental perceived barriers/facilitators relating to (1) systemic/structural issues; (2) views and attitudes towards services and treatment; (3) knowledge and understanding of mental health problems and the help-seeking process; and (4) family circumstances were identified. Findings highlight avenues for improving access to child mental health services, including increased provision that is free to service users and flexible to their needs, with opportunities to develop trusting, supportive relationships with professionals. Furthermore, interventions are required to improve parents’ identification of mental health problems, reduce stigma for parents, and increase awareness of how to access services