EXAMINING HOW TOP MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT AFFECTS IMPLEMENTATION OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: A CASE OF MASINDE MULIRO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

Developing countries (DCs) have been encouraged to reform their public expenditure management systems and have increasingly embarked on major projects to computerize their government operations. Universities are under pressure to deliver ever-higher quality services in their financial management for accountability purposes. They are implementing Financial Management Systems (FMS). The purpose of this study was to examine how top management commitment and support affects implementation of Financial Management Systems in MMUST. The objective was to find out how top management commitment and participation affected the implementation of FMS. The research design used was descriptive survey. The target population was 115 staff drawn from five functional areas. The study sample consisted of 60 members. Each stratum had 12 members selected randomly. Research instruments were questionnaires and interview schedules. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analysed using correlation and descriptive statistics. The study revealed that top management’s effective communication, commitment and participatory decision making account for 95%. Male participated in systems implementation more than female