AN EVALUATION OF THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AT THE KHOMAS REGIONAL COUNCIL A RESEARCH PROPOSAL SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

OF

THE UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA

BY

AUNE DHIGININA AMUTHENU

APRIL 2012

Main Supervisor: Co-supervisor (s)

1.2 Statement of the problem The study is aimed at evaluating the impact of comprehensive planning and control on financial performance: a case study Khomas Regional Council.

1.3 Research questions

1. Is there a relationship between formal planning control and subsequent financial performance? 2. What are the benefits of budgeting for the Regional Council? 3. How can the Khomas Regional Council improve on budgeting and control to ensure efficient and affective financial performance? 4.???? Are all relevant stakeholders involved in the budgeting preparation, budget authorization, budget execution and accountability?

1.4 Significance of the study The aim of this research is to assess and provide a means of improving the budgeting process, control and to determine the impact on financial performance of the Khomas Regional Council.

The aim of the research is to provide a means of improving government financial accountability by strengthening accounting records systems. Project outputs include: a reference model to integrate records management into accounting system reform projects and case studies from Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe on the relationship between accounting records and financial accountability. The reference model will establish good practice for managing financial records and provide tools to assess the effectiveness of record keeping systems and the capacity for records management programmes to carry out their mandate. The model does not aim to provide a one-size-fits-all notion of good practice, but to develop and apply analytical tools to emphasise good fit based on a thorough understanding of what exists on the ground and the needs of system users.

1. METHODOLOGY 3.1 Research Design Both qualitative and quantitative approaches will be used in the research. Data will be collected through studying the available financial information for the Regional office and structured questionnaires, interviews and meetings. Qualitative approach was used to analyse the following data: -

3.2 Population For the purpose of this study the researcher will select randomly key personnel at the Regional Council and some personnel from the Constituencies to be given, answer questionnaires, to be interviewed

3.3 Sample The sampling technique that will be used is non-probability sampling under the purposive sampling from the aforementioned groups. Face to face interviews will be held with some of the employees while others will be given questionnaires to complete. The researcher will also use self-designed questionnaire which is structured into open-ended questions.

3.4 Research Instruments The primary data will be collected by means of interviews and questionnaires with the selected employees of the Regional Council and some from selected Constituencies. The secondary source of data collection will be collected through the reviewing and scrutinizing of financial statements and related documents for the Regional Council , policies, journal, articles, books and the internet that are relevant to the topic.