Suchergebnisse

Recent developments in performance measurement and reporting systems in the UK National Health Service (NHS) have created new challenges in costing health care services. In particular, the introduction of the "National Reference Costing Exercise" (NRCE) has substantively changed the way in which health care cost information is reported and used. While the outputs of the NRCE are intended to support hospital management and control by facilitating cost benchmarking, the usefulness of NRCE data depends on the comparability of cost information across hospitals. This paper draws on questionnaire results to explore the challenges in standardising health care cost information, as perceived by those closest to the costing exercise. The results reveal several problems in costing practice, all of which contribute to high variability in the costs reported by hospitals. Until these problems are recognised and addressed, they present a barrier to the effective use of comparative cost data for the management of English hospitals.

Like a number of other developing countries in recent years, Uganda has adopted a decentralized management structure for its public sector. Along with this restructuring came the devolution of budgetary responsibilities. Presents findings from a study of the impact of decentralization on Ugandan health sector budgeting. A questionnaire was used to seek the expert opinion of key participants in health sector budgeting regarding the affects of decentralization on budgetary participation and the use of budgets for planning and control. The findings suggest that, while decentralization cannot be thought of as a miracle cure for the challenges of public sector budgeting, it has the potential to create a context for improved budgeting practices in developing nations.

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the use of the balanced scorecard (BSC) as a performance management tool in the public sector. Drawing on a New Zealand study of local government organzations (LGOs), it seeks to identify issues and challenges in implementing the BSC in public sector contexts.Design/methodology/approachA postal questionnaire was used to solicit public sector managers' views on the usefulness of the BSC and the factors that support or impede its implementation in practice. Follow‐up interviews with selected respondents allowed for more in‐depth exploration of managers' experiences of BSC use and outcomes.FindingsThe findings reveal low rates of BSC adoption amongst the studied LGOs. Further, perceived BSC utility is dominated by performance measurement and reporting, while the performance management role of the BSC remains relatively under‐exploited. This study identifies users' perceptions of the key challenges impeding BSC implementation in the public sector, and highlights their significance for both practice and theory.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper highlights the need for improved theorisation on several issues that present particular challenges in public sector BSC practice: modifying the BSC dimensions, designing measures that capture important qualitative outcomes, identifying the "customer" and/or achieving a genuine multi‐stakeholder approach, and mapping BSC causality relationships.Practical implicationsImproved awareness of the factors perceived to lead to successful and unsuccessful BSC implementation may enhance the uptake and utility of the BSC for measuring and managing performance in public sector organisations.Originality/valueThis study examines BSC use in local government, where it has been relatively under‐researched. It adds to prior studies by specifically examining the factors that support and impede the effective implementation of the BSC in public sector contexts.

This book provides an introduction to investment appraisal and presents a range of methods and models, some of which are not widely known, or at least not well covered by other textbooks. Each approach is thoroughly described, evaluated and illustrated using examples, with its assumptions and limitations analyzed in terms of their implications for investment decision-making practice. Investment decisions are of vital importance to all companies. Getting these decisions right is crucial but, due to a complex and dynamic business environment, this remains a challenging management task. Effective appraisal methods are valuable tools in supporting investment decision-making. As organisations continue to seek a competitive edge, it is increasingly important that management accountants and strategic decision-makers have a sound knowledge of these tools.