Challenges impacting performance management implementation in public universities: A case of Uganda

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges impacting performance management implementation (PMI) in public universities in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

The philosophy underpinning this study was the pragmatic world view. A mixed methods approach was adopted. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were used. The phenomenology strategy through interviews conducted with purposively selected top administrators of a selected public university; and a cross‐sectional survey strategy administered to academic staff in four public universities, using a disproportionate stratified random sampling technique, were applied.

Findings

The findings reveal that the major challenges impacting PMI in universities in Uganda could be categorised as: lack of a formal performance management environment; limited employee engagement/communication problems; institutional systems and structural constraints; and institutional governance challenges. Among the enlisted challenges the specific items on which respondents had the highest level of agreement are: limited motivation and staff morale; limited and uneven cash flows; and poor physical infrastructure.

Practical implications

Knowledge of the challenges impacting public universities allows managers to pay close attention to the critical challenges, thereby taking precautionary measures on how to minimize and overcome them.

Originality/value

This study is an empirical contribution to the literature on institutional performance management, specifically with regard to challenges of PMI in public universities in Uganda.

Citation

Nambi Karuhanga, B. and Werner, A. (2013), "Challenges impacting performance management implementation in public universities: A case of Uganda", African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, Vol. 4 No. 2, pp. 223-243. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJEMS-Nov-2011-0103