Browsing by Author "Isabel Nankunda Mutima"

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    Impact of Internal Controls on the Sustainability of SMEs: A Case Study of Jesa Farm Dairy Limited
    (Uganda Christian University, 2024-08-23) Isabel Nankunda Mutima
    The study highlights the significance of SMEs, their contributions to economic growth, and the challenges they face in adopting sustainable practices due to limited resources, poor financial management, and lack of compliance. The study aims to explore the relationship between internal controls and sustainability in SMEs and identify the challenges that affect this relationship. The research questions, scope of the study, significance, and conceptual framework are also presented. The conceptual framework identifies internal control activities, control environment, monitoring activities, and risk analysis as independent variables impacting accountability, financial transparency, and financial reporting, which are dependent. Employee motivation, management commitment, and regulatory compliance are considered intervening variables that may impact the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. This study employed a descriptive cross sectional design to investigate the relationship between internal controls and operational efficiency within Jesa Farm Dairy Limited. A quantitative approach was adopted to measure and analyze variables, while qualitative methods were used to explore the underlying context. Data was collected from a sample of 45 employees using questionnaires, with simple random sampling employed to ensure representativeness. The study population comprised employees from various departments within Jesa Farm Dairy Limited. The demographic analysis of respondents revealed a relatively balanced representation across gender, age, education, and experience levels. This diversity provided a comprehensive perspective on internal controls within SMEs. The study found that internal controls play a crucial role in enhancing sustainability by promoting accountability, efficiency, and risk mitigation. Jesa Farm Dairy Limited demonstrated a strong commitment to internal controls through well defined procedures, resource allocation, and regular reviews. However, the study also identified areas for improvement, such as increased resource allocation, continuous training, and the integration of technology into control systems. The findings highlight the positive impact of internal controls on the sustainability of SMEs.