Browsing by Author "Zerihun Abera"

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    The Impact Of Materials Management On Organizational Performance: A Case Of Walia Steel Industry Plc
    (A.A.U, 2021-09) Zerihun Abera; Workaferahu Yohannes
    Recently, in the dramatically growing digital world, the management of materials plays a critical role on the performance of manufacturing companies. This study focuses on the impact of materials management on organizational performance of Walia Steel Industry PLC. Relevant data was gathered through structured questionnaire via five point Likert scale and analysis was made using SPSS version 23, so that a cross-sectional data type was used in the study. A total of 171 populations were used through census survey. The study adopted both explanatory and descriptive research designs in integration with a commonly used quantitative and qualitative research methods. The findings revealed that there was positive and significant association between effective materials management functions and organizational performance which was supported by interdepartmental collaboration among materials related departments such as inventory, procurement and storage managements. The main problems faced in materials management of the selected steel industry were weak materials management practices due to weak interdepartmental coordination of the firm. This study revealed that, in order to achieve significant cost saving, improved performance and production quality, firm competitiveness and increased profitability, priority should be given to the management of materials in Walia Steel Industry PLC. Recommendations were made for the focal firm to make the materials management system to be effective and efficient for the attainment of organizational performance through improved procurement, inventory and storage management system with better and strong collaboration. The results implied that there is a need of be aware of the functions of materials management so that the role and benefits of materials management practices should be examined and outlined for further investigation.
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    Strategy-Making in African Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities, Discursive Practices, and Faculty Engagement in Ethiopian Universities
    (A.A.U, 2025-09-16) Zerihun Abera; Daniel Pittino
    Strategy-making perspective is a vital management tool for interpreting external and internal environments and aligning organizational activities with long-term goals. The main objective of this dissertation is to examine strategy-making in higher education institutions (HEIs) by raising an important question: what are the external and internal factors that influence the strategy-making process in higher education institutions? Based on the African context, it intends to provide empirical evidence on both external and internal factors that influence participation in strategy-making and its effectiveness. The dissertation employed a mixed-methods approach: a systematic literature review to synthesize existing literature on African higher education, and both qualitative and quantitative methods for the empirical investigation in the Ethiopian higher education context. Across African higher education, strategy-making is shaped by socio-cultural and political factors, while economic, technological, legal, and environmental dimensions remain underexplored, highlighting the need to strengthen governance, diversify revenue, enhance university–industry partnerships, manage talent, and decolonize curricula. In the Ethiopian context, strategy participation is influenced by discursive practices, where top management mystifies strategic concepts, middle management bureaucratizes them, and academic and administrative staff challenge these through their professional and organizational identities. Moreover, faculty engagement with industry positively affects their participation in strategy-making by providing practical knowledge, skills, and insights that align individual contributions with institutional goals. This dissertation advances our understanding of strategy-making in non-business and non-Western contexts by broadening the concept of strategic subjectivity to include lower management and employees, highlighting the role of communicative and participatory practices. It also provides Africa- and Ethiopia-specific insights into higher education strategy, showing how academic engagement with industry and the interplay of policy, industry demands, and academic values shape strategy-making. Practically, it offers guidance for higher education managers and policymakers by emphasizing participation, understanding power dynamics, and leveraging faculty–industry engagement to produce actionable strategic decisions. Keywords: Higher education institutions, Strategy-making, Participation, Strategy discourses, Academic engagement
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    Strategy-Making in African Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities, Discursive Practices, and Faculty Engagement in Ethiopian Universities
    (AAU, 2025-09-02) Zerihun Abera; Daniel Pittino
    Strategy-making perspective is a vital management tool for interpreting external and internal environments and aligning organizational activities with long-term goals. The main objective of this dissertation is to examine strategy-making in higher education institutions (HEIs) by raising an important question: what are the external and internal factors that influence the strategy-making process in higher education institutions? Based on the African context, it intends to provide empirical evidence on both external and internal factors that influence participation in strategy-making and its effectiveness. The dissertation employed a mixed-methods approach: a systematic literature review to synthesize existing literature on African higher education, and both qualitative and quantitative methods for the empirical investigation in the Ethiopian higher education context. Across African higher education, strategy-making is shaped by socio-cultural and political factors, while economic, technological, legal, and environmental dimensions remain underexplored, highlighting the need to strengthen governance, diversify revenue, enhance university–industry partnerships, manage talent, and decolonize curricula. In the Ethiopian context, strategy participation is influenced by discursive practices, where top management mystifies strategic concepts, middle management bureaucratizes them, and academic and administrative staff challenge these through their professional and organizational identities. Moreover, faculty engagement with industry positively affects their participation in strategy-making by providing practical knowledge, skills, and insights that align individual contributions with institutional goals. This dissertation advances our understanding of strategy-making in non-business and non-Western contexts by broadening the concept of strategic subjectivity to include lower management and employees, highlighting the role of communicative and participatory practices. It also provides Africa- and Ethiopia-specific insights into higher education strategy, showing how academic engagement with industry and the interplay of policy, industry demands, and academic values shape strategy-making. Practically, it offers guidance for higher education managers and policymakers by emphasizing participation, understanding power dynamics, and leveraging faculty–industry engagement to produce actionable strategic decisions. Keywords: Higher education institutions, Strategy-making, Participation, Strategy discourses, Academic engagement