Vol 11 No.2 July – Decempber 2017 ISSN 0855-9163
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Articles in this Issue
Transforming Professional Accountants Skills and Capabilities for a Sustainable Future
Omane-Antwi, K.B.
Abstract
Professional accountants (PAs) find themselves working in a trans-disciplinary world, not a monodisciplinary one: a world of continuous flux, where technical and human factors constantly interact in a complex and unique ways. It is a world where unpredictability and change are always in the air and PAs skills, competencies, and capabilities are most tested when the unexpected happens, and unanticipated opportunity arises; when things suddenly go awry or they are faced with a ‘wicked problem’ or dilemma which turns to question or even rock the talent, skills and capabilities of the professional accountant. This paper, using documentary evidence and interactions with key employers as a methodology, discusses the growing interest in making sure that PAs equip themselves with the capabilities and competencies required not only to be work ready for today, but also ‘work ready plus’ for tomorrow. Keywords: talent, talent hunt, competencies, capability, skills, professional capabilities framework, professional quotients.
Note: The paper was first presented at the ACCA Annual Job Fair and Students’ Summit held in Accra International Conference Centre on July 14, 2017, Accra Ghana.
Motivation Theory and Performance Measurement: Lessons from Classical Schools of Thought
Augustine Antwi-Boasiako | Richard Asante & Kofi Nyarko Gyimah
Abstract
This paper traces the development of motivation theory, particularly as an explanation of human behaviour in the workplace. It provides a new interpretation of recent developments in theory management. It also examines the uneasy relationship between performance measurement appropriate for the purpose of establishing motivational rewards, and performance measurement as an integral part of the financial control systems. The paper is also written in response to a student’s question as to whether classical management theories are still relevant. The study of classical management thoughts which involve a set of concepts that started in 1800s, took their roots in the study of organisations. The effects of the sets of theories of organisations have been and are still profound as demonstrated in this paper using Motivation Theory and Performance Management Measurement Concepts.
Harnessing ICTs for Development in Ghana: A Research Agenda
Kwame Boafo, S.T.
Abstract
The revolutionary transformations, dispersion, and convergence of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the past few decades, especially since the 1990s, have generated radical changes in the methods of communication within countries and across international borders, in social interactions, and in doing business. The phenomenon has also had major impacts on the transmission and reception of news and information of diverse nature as well as on development processes, social, economic, political, and cultural change. Since the early 1990s, a considerable amount of attention has been devoted to the role and functions of ICTs in international, regional, and national discourses and conferences. The increasing prominence of ICTs in discourses on communication, socio-economic change, and development is also reflected in the increased number of research and publications on that topic in recent decades, particularly since the beginning of the 21st Century. It is in this context that the present paper examines the implications and applications of ICTs in socio-economic development process in Ghana. It briefly looks at the broad landscape of ICTs in Africa with a focus on Ghana. It highlights some initiatives in the ICT sector, including selected studies carried out on ICTs and their applications. The paper makes a case for more research to examine the contributions of ICT to Ghana’s socio-economic development, with a focus on ICT availability, accessibility and, utilization as a crucial and necessary enabler for development.
Community-Based Identification in Rural Banking
Ephrem Kwaku Kwaa-Aidoo
Abstract
Identity deals with answering the question of “who am I?†or who are you?â€. It answers the question of who or what a person or thing is and deals with the characteristics determining this. In commercial transactions, identity is very important and various mechanisms have been devised to deal with this question. The question that needs answering is whether these conventional mechanisms can work in all situations. Most businesses in the developing countries lag behind their counterparts in the developed countries in terms of technology. To catch up they often adopt information technologies and business practices that are already in use. Adoption of these technologies is however affected by the culture of the relevant communities (Liljander, Gillberg, Gummerus, & van Riel, 2006) and the structures to support implementation of the technologies. This paper looks at the protection of the digital identity and propose identity management techniques more suitable to rural Ghana. It proposes an alternative identity verification mechanism which focuses on identity as a social construct.
Towards an Information Technology Based Supply Chain Management System For Ghanaian Oil Marketing Companies
Paul Danquah
Abstract
This study set out to propose an optimal supply chain management system for Ghanaian Oil Marketing companies. The research approach combined an inductive and deductive approach as a basis for designing the proposed system. This was based on data collected from the Oil Marketing Companies, review of literature, documents and the mode of companies› operation An optimal information technology based solution is then proposed to automate their processes for how people, activities, information, and resources are involved in moving oil products and services from supplier to consumer. A number of modular systems have been proposed, these include a Purchase Order System, GPS Fleet Tracking System, Credit Reference System and Fore Court Operations management system. It is expected that a comprehensive integration of these modules would significantly make the operations of Ghanaian oil marketing companies systems more efficient and effective.