Management practices and performance in multi-campus model Universities: A case of Busitema University

Abstract

This study assessed the extent to which management practices influence performance in multi-campus model universities with specific reference to Busitema University. The objectives of the study were; to establish the extent to which planning practices have influenced performance of a multi-campus model university; to establish the extent to which financial management practices have influenced performance of a multi-campus model university; to investigate the effect of human resources practices on performance of a multi campus model university. The researcher used a cross sectional study design. The study population comprised of 95 subjects, from which a sample size of 76 was selected according to Krejcie and Morgan (1970), out of whom 64 fully participated in the study, indicating a response rate of 84%. The study used both qualitative and quantitative techniques to collect and analyse data. The findings revealed that planning practices had a significant influence on performance at 62.4% while financial management practices influenced performance by 57.8% and human resource practices were found to influence performance by 42.0%. The researcher recommends that the University should involve more stakeholders such as the teaching and non-teaching staff in decision making because findings revealed that some stakeholders are not involved in decision making which affects performance of the university. The researcher further recommends that the University should strictly adhere to its human resource policy and promote staff members on merit because findings revealed that some staff members are promoted without basing on the human resource policy. In addition, the University management should involve more stakeholders in the budgeting process since the study revealed that not all key stakeholders are involved in the budgeting process. All University departments should be included in the budgeting process to make sure that all critical items are included in the budget according to respective departments.