Propositions for Zimbabwe businesses in managing costs in the multi-currency era

Zimbabwe has undergone a decade of economic decline during the hyperinflationary period. This was its worst in its history. An attempt to jumpstart the economy saw February 2009 ushering in the multicurrency era. The foreign currency shortage which was prevalent in the hyperinflationary period did n...

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Main Author: Mazhindu, Kenneth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Midlands State University 2015
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Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11408/655
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author Mazhindu, Kenneth
author_facet Mazhindu, Kenneth
author_sort Mazhindu, Kenneth
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description Zimbabwe has undergone a decade of economic decline during the hyperinflationary period. This was its worst in its history. An attempt to jumpstart the economy saw February 2009 ushering in the multicurrency era. The foreign currency shortage which was prevalent in the hyperinflationary period did not ease off. Neither substantial foreign direct investment nor meaningful domestic investment flowed into the economy. A low level of cash resources existed within the economy due to low levels of investment. Business operating costs erode these cash resources. This paper suggests to Zimbabwe businesses possible measures to complement the conventional approaches to managing costs in this multi currency era given the scanty levels of investment injections into the economy. No research has been carried out in Zimbabwe on how operating costs may be contained given the low levels of domestic and foreign direct investment. Given the importance of investment for growth, as the economy slowly experiences growth, it draws on measures which were applied in some developed and emerging economies in the management of costs. The descriptive survey method and desk research were carried out to enable the gathering of data .Questionnaires and an interview guide were used to gather data. A sample of 30 business units was selected in the Gweru.. Major findings were that most entities maintain financial records not for cost control purposes but just to comply with regulations; most business units lack personnel with the cost management skills to practice lean management. The paper recommends cost variance reporting ,lean management practices and a culture of continuous improvement. The paper presents an overview of the economy over the hyperinflationary era up to the multicurrency era, a review of related literature, the methodology applied, measures to contain operational costs in the multi currency era and the conclusion.
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spelling ir-11408-6552022-06-27T13:49:06Z Propositions for Zimbabwe businesses in managing costs in the multi-currency era Mazhindu, Kenneth Lean management, segregation of duties, verification, internal controls, multi­currency Zimbabwe has undergone a decade of economic decline during the hyperinflationary period. This was its worst in its history. An attempt to jumpstart the economy saw February 2009 ushering in the multicurrency era. The foreign currency shortage which was prevalent in the hyperinflationary period did not ease off. Neither substantial foreign direct investment nor meaningful domestic investment flowed into the economy. A low level of cash resources existed within the economy due to low levels of investment. Business operating costs erode these cash resources. This paper suggests to Zimbabwe businesses possible measures to complement the conventional approaches to managing costs in this multi currency era given the scanty levels of investment injections into the economy. No research has been carried out in Zimbabwe on how operating costs may be contained given the low levels of domestic and foreign direct investment. Given the importance of investment for growth, as the economy slowly experiences growth, it draws on measures which were applied in some developed and emerging economies in the management of costs. The descriptive survey method and desk research were carried out to enable the gathering of data .Questionnaires and an interview guide were used to gather data. A sample of 30 business units was selected in the Gweru.. Major findings were that most entities maintain financial records not for cost control purposes but just to comply with regulations; most business units lack personnel with the cost management skills to practice lean management. The paper recommends cost variance reporting ,lean management practices and a culture of continuous improvement. The paper presents an overview of the economy over the hyperinflationary era up to the multicurrency era, a review of related literature, the methodology applied, measures to contain operational costs in the multi currency era and the conclusion. 2015-09-11T14:32:25Z 2015-09-11T14:32:25Z 2014 Article 1815-9036 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/655 en The Dyke;Vol.8, No.1, p. 142-155 open Midlands State University
spellingShingle Lean management, segregation of duties, verification, internal controls, multi­currency
Mazhindu, Kenneth
Propositions for Zimbabwe businesses in managing costs in the multi-currency era
title Propositions for Zimbabwe businesses in managing costs in the multi-currency era
title_full Propositions for Zimbabwe businesses in managing costs in the multi-currency era
title_fullStr Propositions for Zimbabwe businesses in managing costs in the multi-currency era
title_full_unstemmed Propositions for Zimbabwe businesses in managing costs in the multi-currency era
title_short Propositions for Zimbabwe businesses in managing costs in the multi-currency era
title_sort propositions for zimbabwe businesses in managing costs in the multi-currency era
topic Lean management, segregation of duties, verification, internal controls, multi­currency
url http://hdl.handle.net/11408/655
work_keys_str_mv AT mazhindukenneth propositionsforzimbabwebusinessesinmanagingcostsinthemulticurrencyera