Journal of Business and Administrative Studies

Engineering the Developmental State Path: The new role of management control systems in a knowledge-intensive public organization

2026-03-15T00:19:27+00:00

This paper examines how a democratic developmental state ideology in a developing country establishes and institutionalizes a neoliberal, corporate-style governance model that produces social control under the guise of enhancing efficiency, accountability, and democracy. We gather data from multiple sources spanning 1991-2018 to trace how the temporal implementation of management control tools at one of Ethiopia’s largest and oldest universities delivered exogenous politico-ideological demands by undermining its collective decision-making organs. Using historical institutionalism, a theory that posits institutions change through
gradual endogenous processes and exogenous punctuations, facilitated by the choices of willful actors at critical junctures, we explain how social control mechanisms influence long-term governance outcomes. We find that a series of New Public Management reforms facilitated institutional (re)production and reactive sequences, creating a ‘locked-in’ trajectory of social control through ‘individualized autocracy’. The subjects of social control were actors deemed threats to the ideology, namely academics within a knowledge-intensive public organization. The social control was exercised through the design and implementation of temporally
interspersed public-sector reforms that employed modern management control systems within New Public Management. We find that public-sector reforms in universities, contrary to their stated goal of enhancing productivity and democratic participation, foster autocracy among politically connected individuals who seek to perpetuate the state’s structural ideological dominance over academia. Our study contributes to KIPO governance by examining changes in management control in developing countries and their role in social control in non-neoliberal contexts. By placing macro-level ideological developments at the center of its analysis, our historical approach complements micro-level approaches to the study of control systems.

MONETARY POLICY AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT: AUTOREGRESSIVE DISTRIBUTED LAG APPROACH: EVIDENCE FROM ETHIOPIA

2026-03-15T00:35:22+00:00

Investment fueled by the private sector is a catalyst for achieving sustainable economic growth. This study examines the effect of monetary policy on private sector investment in Ethiopia. The time series data collected from National Bank of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Investment Commission and the World Bank covering the period of 1992-2022. Auto Regressive Distributed Lag and Error Correction Model employed for the time series analyses. The results revealed that private investment significantly affected by the monetary policy both in short-run and long-run. In the long-run, lending interest rate and broad money supply negatively and significantly affects the private investment whereas deposit interest rate, domestic credit to private sector, government domestic debt and trade openness positively and significantly influences private investment. In short-run, lending interest rate, broad money supply and trade openness positively and significantly affect private investment in Ethiopia. On the other hand, government domestic debt
and inflation negatively and significantly influences private investment in short-run dimension. The results show important policy implications for both regulatory authorities and the government. National Bank of Ethiopia suggested to formulate policy reform that can encourage private sector investment. It is essential for the government to create stable political and economic environment as well as favorable investment climate and hence, the private sector investment will boost and contributes more to supply side and high employment opportunities for this large portion of young generation in the country.

The Effect of Technology and Product Innovation on SMEs Performance through Balanced Scorecard: Government Programs as Intervening in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2026-03-15T00:48:03+00:00

This study examines the Effect of Technology and Product Innovation on SMEs' Performance through the Balanced Scorecard Government Programs as an intervention in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 431 SME owners and managers in Addis Ababa took part in a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design that collected primary data using multi-stage sampling, systematic random sampling, and standardized, closed-ended questions. SPSS Version 26 was used to analyze the data for descriptive and inferential statistics. The hypothesized relationships were investigated using AMOS software Version 26, which enables structural equation modeling
(SEM). The findings show that both technological and product improvements considerably boost corporate performance (β = 0.395, p < 0.001 and β = 0.428, p < 0.001, respectively), with government support acting as a stimulant that largely mediates these interactions. This study offers a comprehensive understanding of performance and innovation in a developing economy
by combining perspectives from the Resource-Based View, Innovation Diffusion Theory, Stakeholder Theory, and the Balanced Scorecard. Future studies should concentrate on qualitative insights, industry-specific subtleties, and long-term consequences in order to gain a deeper understanding of the contextual elements impacting innovation. This will give policymakers and SME management practical advice on how to organize focused support systems to encourage sustainable growth.

Export and Import Knowledge as Drivers of Technological Innovation and Firm Performance: Evidence from Ethiopian SMEs

2026-03-15T00:58:34+00:00

The main focus of this research is to analyze the influence of two major constructs of export and import knowledge on technological innovation and firm performance of among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Ethiopia. In this study two theoretical views KBV and RBV has been considered. The research fully utilized the quantitative approach and the data was collected through structural questionnaire to 331 SMEs located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings of the study indicates that both export and import knowledge significantly influence technological innovation and firm performance. The result shows that the most significant predictor of performance was technological innovation so it confirming in translating international knowledge into competitive advantage. According to the mediation analysis technological innovation is partially mediates the relationships between export and import knowledge and firm performance which indicating that knowledge acquired from international operation leads to superior results primarily through innovation activities. With R² = 0.421 for performance and 0.178 for innovation, the structural model shows substantial explanatory power and with Q² = 0.288 for performance and 0.114 for innovation, the model also shows considerable predictive relevance. However, the study used cross sectional design, depend on self-reported data, and utilized data from one city limit the ability to draw causal inferences and
to generalize the findings. It is recommended that future research uses the longitudinal design and an objective performance measure, and cover a wide range of SMEs sectors and regional areas.

Effect of Brand capital on competitive Advantage with mediating role of marketing analytics in Ethiopian Manufacturing Firms: Extending Customer-Based Brand Equity Model and Transaction cost Economics Theory

2026-03-15T01:04:58+00:00

This research examines the relationship between brand capital, marketing analytics, and competitive advantage in large manufacturing firms, Sidama regional state, Ethiopia. Both Primary and secondary data were used in this study. The researchers used quantitative approach in the investigation. To collect data from respondents, structured questionnaire was employed. By
using stratified sampling with the help of Yamane 1967 formula, the researchers selected 394 participants from 29200 employees working in large manufacturing firms. Structural equation modeling was used along with exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to analyze data. The finding of the study indicated that brand capital has significant direct influence
on competitive advantage. In addition to this brand capital can promote marketing analytics which impacts competitive advantage in turn. In this investigation, marketing analytics was found to be partial mediator in the relationship. The finding of this study indicated the importance of marketing analytics to enhance competitive advantage of large manufacturing firms, and they
imply that large manufacturing firms should prioritize brand capital to be competitive in this dynamic business environment. The report emphasizes how marketing analytics and competitive advantage are interrelated in large manufacturing firms in Ethiopia and it revealed the significance of brand capital in this relationship. Ethiopian large manufacturing firms may better focus on brand capital and respond to enhance competitive advantage. The study's findings contribute to a better theoretical understanding of strategic and brand management and give important guidance to manufacturing firms aiming to strengthen their competitive advantage in this fast changing business landscape.