Qualitative and quantitative management tools used by financial officers in public research universities.

摘要

This dissertation set out to identify effective qualitative and quantitative management tools used by financial officers (CFOs) in carrying out their management functions of planning, decision making, organizing, staffing, communicating, motivating, leading and controlling at a public research university. In addition, impediments to the use of these tools were identified which may assist in breaking down barriers to the implementation of these tools within higher education. The research endeavor also provided additional significance through the CFOs identifying benefits from the use of quantitative and qualitative management tools. Finally, the study undertook the task of identifying quantitative and qualitative management tools that are important to public research university CFOs in carrying out their management functions in the future.;In this study, the Delphi method was used to gain consensus from a panel of fifteen public research university CFOs who were experts on qualitative and quantitative management tools. The experts were self-identified through their response to a questionnaire on their use of the management tools and represented 12 different states. Due to the nature of the research, a computer-based Delphi method was used to facilitate a four round, electronically based Delphi study. The questionnaires were based upon a review of the literature and tested by a pilot group of higher education CFOs.;Through a series of four electronic questionnaires, the Delphi panel identified twenty-three qualitative and quantitative management tools which they believe are moderately effective for use by public research university CFOs in carrying out their functions of planning, decision making, organizing, staffing, communicating, motivating, leading and controlling. Additionally, the panel of experts identified sixteen barriers/impediments to the use of qualitative and quantitative tools in carrying out the above functions. The panel also identified eighteen benefits that the tools provide to public research university CFOs in carrying out their management functions. Finally, the Delphi panel identified three qualitative and quantitative management tools that will be highly important, and twenty qualitative and quantitative management tools that the panel of experts considered to be important, for public research university CFOs in carrying out their management functions in the future.;This dissertation study is significant because the results are expected to provide public research university CFOs qualitative and quantitative management tools that they may use to assist them in carrying out their management functions. The barriers/impediments and benefits noted also provide CFOs with knowledge to assess whether the tools can be used at their institutions, knowing the specific climate and culture which exists. The qualitative and quantitative management tools which were identified as being important in the future can serve as a guide to develop training programs to enhance the knowledge of public research university CFOs.