Management(PhD)

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Analysis of International Procurement Practices and Challenges: The Case of Addis Ababa University
(Addis Ababa University, 2017-05) Tsegaye, Asfaw; Bogale, Mengistu (PhD)
In light of the principles of procurement, the objective of this research is to investigate the performance of international procurement practice in the case of Addis Ababa University. Procurement Directorate, its Users, suppliers and supporting stakeholders are evaluated based on their performance in accordance to related practices in international procurement. To gather information open and close ended questionnaires were prepared and distributed to purposefully selected respondents from procurement and related offices staff of the AAU including judgmentally selected requesting Unit managers. Further, semi- structured interview was conducted with each selected staff and top level and experienced Procurement managers. In addition secondary sources also have helped the data collection. Methodologically, this study was designed to be descriptive. The major findings of the study indicates that the international procurement practice is not well performed by End users, Procurement staffs, suppliers and stakeholders of AAU Procurement who are participating directly or indirectly in the international procurement of the University. The researcher recommended to the Management of AAU and specially the procurement directorate to create opportunities for appropriate training, establish organized marketing research department, introduce E-procurement and automated data base systems, to create long term strategic supplier relationship for strategic items through establishing a suppliers list registration system , create win-win and smooth relationship with suppliers, to create good relationship and awareness among AAU Procurement, End Users, suppliers and the stakeholders using awareness creation events, and to develop conducive organizational structure in the End Users departments Key Word; International Procurement
Assessment of Health Commodities Inventory Management Practices and Challenges: The Case of Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2017-06) Semahegn, Azeb; Jebena, Tariku (phD)
Background: Health commodities inventory management practices provide current information on quantities of health commodities consumed as well as enables to accurately estimate requirements for future use. A poorly functioning health commodities inventory management can lead to frequent stock outs leading to services interruptions or overstock. The objective of the study was to assess the health commodities inventory management practice of the Zewditu Memorial Hospital using primary data that was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire, observation check list & interview. Out of the 91 questionnaires that were distributed to the purposively elected employees of the hospital, 77 (84.6%) of them were collected back and used for the analysis .Besides 4 hospital stores were visited & all the required information were included in this study .Data was analyzed using descriptive statics . The study found that ZMH health commodities to be long-term agreements between the hospital and its suppliers, maintain proper store management the majority of the store managers had adequate knowledge how to store and practiced health commodities and they had also a positive attitude towards the importance of appropriate storage of commodities, obsolete, expired, or damaged inventories properly identified and segregated, inventory records reconciled to advantage reports on a regular basis and management have review the reconciliation of physical inventory counts to the inventory records applied at ZMH but ,uses automatic stock tracking and adequate detailed written inventory instructions and procedures exist, uses Enterprise Resource Planning system, maintains a data base for all suppliers, uses Just In Time stock control system and an integrated information sharing system were not applicable at ZMH. Finally from the study it can be concluded that the main challenges of the hospital in managing inventory are: lack of modern technologies, insufficient funding, lack of inventory management training, the length of bureaucratic processes in the procurement system and stock out of health commodities. In general the consequences of the above were occurred high level of stock out which might have leaded to services interruptions at ZMH health commodities. Based on these findings, the study recommends that government allocates more funds to public hospitals to be invested in modern information technologies because this will lead to increased information sharing, reduction of costs and improved quality of health services. In addition, inventory management training should be given to improve the availability and the quality of services in ZMH. Key words: Health commodities inventory management, stores, medicines, medical supplies medical equipments, laboratory commodities
Assessment of Logistics Performance in Flower Industry: the Case of Floriculture Company in Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2016-06) Nigatu, Addishiwot; Ensermu, Matiwos (PhD)
This research was conduct on the assessment of Logistics Performance in Flower Industry: The Case of Floriculture Company in Ethiopia and concerned on the logistics performance. The main objective of the research is to assessing of Logistics Performance in Flower Industry: The Case of Floriculture Company in Ethiopia. The main research question was what level of achievement of logistics performance dimension (efficiency, effectiveness and differentiation is. The study used explanatory research designs. The researcher used cluster random sampling and purposive sampling technique. Primary data gathering from 12 flower farms have been employed to assess their logistics performance and gathering secondary data from written document. The data entry and analysis was conducted by using SPSS version 16. Data analysis was done by using frequency and descriptive statistics, summarize, conclude and recommend the kindling based on the point of the questioner answer of the respondent. It helps to conclude the level of performing their logistics performance. The finding of the study revealed that each dimensions of logistics performance (efficiency, effectiveness, and differentiation) are not necessarily trade- offs, but rather are complementary. The study recommended for all flower industry continuously improves their logistics performance. Furthermore, the outcome of this study expected to remind top-level manager and concerned employees to assess and try to change the logistics activity practices
Assessment of Logistics Service Outsourcing of the Organization:The Case of Libya Oil Ethiopia Limited
(Addis Ababa University, 2016-05) Ayele, Atsede; Ensermu, Matiwos (PhD)
In the operation of the company, the development of logistics takes the largest part on its day-to- day operation in fuel retail business in Ethiopian oil retail industry. Third party logistics companies play a vital role to the operation and distribution of fuel in the country and contributes to the economic growth of the country; we can say logistics is on its infant stage in Ethiopia. Likewise, in LOEL, logistics in fuel retail business is the largest operation of the organization’s overall performance and in Ethiopia as well; it constitutes more than 50% of the total operation since the company operates mainly on distribution of oil and fuel business, which is the time and place value of logistics. Recently the performance of outsourcing logistics business in Ethiopia has increasing. Almost all oil companies use outsourced logistics service in their operation. However, the challenges of its collaboration, safety and business awareness is mentioned on many instances with the transporter and company management, monthly joint meetings and joint consultations. This research is attempted to describethe outsourced logistics performance of the company in the case of Libya Oil Ethiopia Limited. The scope of the study is assessment on the performance of logistics of Libya Oil Ethiopia Limited in relation to third party logistics service providers. The unit of analysis is assessment of logistics in the case of Libya Oil Ethiopia Limited in relation to its outsourced logistics performance. Semi-structured interview was undertaken to obtain primary data and archival data and some printed and non printed data are used as secondary data. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Therefore, it has a great significance to look in to the performance of and its outsources logistics providers to gain a competitive advantage over the competitors. The study also delimits its scope to the performance of aviation fuel, which has the highest rate applied to its margin by the Government of Ethiopia, and the volume is higher compared to the other bulk products. Moreover, any gain or loss on stock is directly accounted to the company’s account. From the secondary data it is observed that the logistics performance has contributed a lot to the loss of about 30 million on the past 5 years in association with price change/decrease declared by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation last update on letter dated Miazia 28, 2008 E.C with Ref. No. 011.22.9/1. The result of the assessment also shows that outsourced logistics performance has contributed to the logistics performance of the company. However, the safety issue, the driver’s behavior in association with adulteration, responsiveness, lack of professionalism and lack of management efficiency in the side of the providers affect the company’s logistics performance negatively. The study recommended that the company should exert more effort to diversify their portfolio mix by having some backup trucks from within, in case of crises, and by trying to convince the government office at least any loss should not account to the company on the agreed 500mc safety stock
An Assessment on Determinants of Dry Port Performance: The Case of Modjo Dry Port
(Addis Ababa University, 2016-09) Mussema, Abdurezak; Jebena, Tariku (phD)
Since the independency of Eritrea in 1991, Ethiopia became landlocked. As a result, the country has been compelled to use neighbor countries for its imports and exports. In order to ease some of the problems in the transit countries, Ethiopia has started constructing dry ports in its hinterland along the transit corridors. Among the planned dry ports, Modjo and Semera dry ports have become operational. To reap the maximum benefit from those dry ports, the efficient and effective performance of the dry ports is very crucial and to do that it is important to identify factors which influence the performance of dry ports. Therefore, this study tried to examine factors that influence the performance of dry ports from port users perceptions. This paper assess on determinants of dry port performance. Primary data was collected from 63 sample customers of the port which are selected based on convenience sampling technique. The data was collected using questionnaire and the data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result of the analysis indicated that, cargo handling equipment, customs operations, port infrastructure, size of dry port, port staff, reliability of port operations and quality of logistics service are found to be important factors in determining the performance of Modjo dry port. Based on the findings of the study it were recommended that investment in container handling equipment and other port infrastructure, improvement in efficiency of customs operations, expansion of port area, employing adequate skilled port staff and improving the reliability and quality of logistics service of the ports are important. Key words: dry port, performance, determinants, customers
Assessment on the Determining Factors of Letters of Credit Effectiveness: Perception Survey on Trade Services and International Banking Staffs of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE)
(Addis Ababa University, 2017-05) Girma, Banchalem; Bogale, Mengistu (PhD)
Letter of credit has become widely used in international trade as the payment instrument. Letter of credit is the life-blood of international commerce. This study aimed to assess the determining factors of letters of credit effectiveness in the process of import and export practices of CBE. Employing content analysis, this study found that 35% of trade documents contained discrepancies and did not comply with terms and conditions of letter of credit, 53% of documents contained discrepancies and did not comply with the ambiguity of context of the Uniform Customs and Practice 600 and only 12 % of discrepancy of trade finance documents originated from clerical errors. The correlation relation test showed that f ormation place r (90) =.680, p<.01, place of payment r (90) =.667, p<.01, language and currency r (90) =.728 p<.01and documentary condition r (90) =.684, p<.01 had statistically significant relationship with LC effectiveness. To this end, with the support of multivariate analysis, result showed that formation place (0.00010), place of payment (0.00005), language and currency (0.00002), and documentary condition (0.00003) statistically affects LC effectiveness. Banks that facilitate international trade as a major financial institution in goods and service including payment processing for merchandise shipped and services rendered, layouts funds for buyer and seller, and give professional advices to traders specially accurately rendering foreign banking services to facilitate the country's international trade Key Words: Commercial Bank, International Trade, Letter of Credit
Challenges in Developing New Small Businesses: Evidence from Ethiopia
(A.A.U, 2020-06) Demeke, Chimdessa; Professor Lucia, Naldi
This dissertation discusses the challenges that effect the development of new businesses in a developing economy. The study focuses on challenges related to the different phases in a new business’ development in a developing economy including product development, resourcing a new business, and market development. Through case studies of seven new businesses, I make sense of the process of developing a new business in Ethiopia. My findings stress that a new small business uses government support provided by the SMEs Development Agency to overcome the challenges. This support effects the process of developing a new business in different ways. It helps a new business overcome its lack of resources in its start-up phase. Most new businesses start operations with no or limited resources. They also face challenges in connecting with customers and other relevant stakeholders. The government’s support helps the new businesses to overcome challenges related to the “liabilities of newness and smallness”. A new business with low or no resources, aligns its choice of product ideas with the government’s priorities. The founders search for a product from among the government’s priority areas that matches their experience. The process of developing a product in a new business with government support starts with the founder (s)’ limited initial knowledge. The government’s support enhances this search by encouraging the founders of new businesses to take risks and try their products with customers. Additional knowledge is acquired through interactions with stakeholders as the new business’ development unfolds. In addition, the government provides the business with training on how to develop its product. Suppliers and customers contribute to the founders’ knowledge. As a new business aligns more with government policies, it gets more resources, earns more legitimacy, and establishes market connections faster. A new business formed under the SMEs development policy’s directives has the possibility of achieving early market connections. The government facilitates connections between a new business and its potential customers. However, a reliance on government support has negative effects as well. When the support stops, the new business has to deal with the challenges of finding new customers. As a result, a new business faces major problems in generating enough revenue to cover its costs, facing the liability of early market scaffolding. The findings of my dissertation have implications for both the founder(s) of new businesses and the SMEs development policy. This dissertation contributes to broadening the understanding of the founders of new businesses when they take decisions and undertake activities as the new business’ development process unfolds. The findings of this dissertation will also help policymakers to take informed decisions on the contents of the SMEs support package.
The Effect of Demographic, Personal and Environmental Factor on Entrepreneurial Intention: The Case Study on Addis Ababa University Business Students: The Moderating Role of Family Background
(A.A.U, 2020-06) Tinsae, Demissae; Dr. Ethiopia, Legesse
The purpose of this study is to investigate The Effect of Demographic Factor, Personal Factor and Environmental Factor on Entrepreneurial Intention: The case study on Addis Ababa University Business Students. It was conducted to determine what factors affect the entrepreneurial intention of the students. Some studies have been done in this area but only a few were conducted in Ethiopia. This research aims to address the gap that exists due to the weakness of previous studies to verify the factors that affect entrepreneurial intention and provide more clarification on the topic, by taking 202 samples from Addis Ababa university faculty of business and economics business students and Addis Ababa University School of Commerce business students, To identify whether a demographic, personal and environmental factors affect the entrepreneurial intention of Addis Ababa University business students and as a moderator family background was added to identify whether having an entrepreneurial family background in moderating the relationship between environmental factors & entrepreneurial intention has a positive impact. Moderated hierarchical regression has been applied to see how independent variables and moderator variable influence entrepreneurial intention. From the analyses it is confirmed that demographic factors have statistically insignificant effect on entrepreneurial intention, while personal factors and environmental factors have a statistically significant effect on entrepreneurial intention and having an entrepreneurial family background moderates the relationship between environmental factors and entrepreneurial intention. Based on the findings it is concluded that demographic factor does not affect entrepreneurial intention while personal factors and environmental factors affect entrepreneurial intention and also having an entrepreneurial family background moderates the relationship between environmental factors and entrepreneurial intention.
The Effect of Logistic Management Practice on the Performance of Food Manufacturing Industry: The Case of Fafa Food Share Company
(Addis Ababa University, 2016-06) Tsemrie, Afomeya; Aseffa, Teklegorgis (Assistance Professor)
In this paper, the effect of logistic management practice on performance of fafa foods Share Company is investigated. Logistic management practice is one of the functions accomplished in the company among the other practice. The specific objective of this research is to investigate individual logistics practices such as product quality, logistic responsiveness, product variety, delivery time and logistic cost on performance. To check whether these variable practices affect or not, 241 samples were selected from kolfe keraniyo and Gulele sub cities from the existing 610 registered lists. To determine the sample size, total distribution route are listed in the table and the sample size is computed proportionally from each rout using systematic sampling. Only quantitative data was used in this research. Data analysis was performed with the use of stepwise regression analysis using SPSS 20 statistical software. To check the internal consistency of the data cronbach alpha test was conducted. Finding showed that Product quality has statistically significant effect on performance from the point of view of customer satisfaction followed by product variety, delivery time and responsiveness. The study recommends that there should be dedication and apparent motivation on the parts the company and of all agents who distribute the company’s products with respect to the product quality and responsiveness of the logistic function for the better performance of the company and better profit. The company as much as possible should work for further enhancement of the management of the logistic function
Factors Affecting Public Procurement Performance in Ethiopia: The Case of Public Procurement and Property Disposal Services.
(Addis Ababa University, 2015-06) Aberu, Abebe; Ensermu, Mathewos (PhD)
This research aims to examine factors affecting public procurement performance in Ethiopia: the case of Public Procurement and Property Disposal Services. Based on literature reviews, the researcher identified four factors that affect the procurement performance. These includes: procurement planning, unethical practices, competency of staff, procurement procedure and Information Communication Technology on procurement. The hypothesis of the study was the procurement factors (independent variables) affect the procurement performance (dependent variable) of PPPDS. The research design is made based on descriptive and explanatory research approaches. The researcher distributed 116 questionnaires and 97 were filled and returned. Both primary and secondary data were used throughout this research. For primary data, both structured and semi structured type questionnaires were prepared. The results of this study indicate that the independent variables (Procurement Planning, Competency of Staff, Procurement Procedure and Information Communication Technology) positively affect the dependent variable (procurement performance) to a significant extent. These factors explain 85.9% of procurement performance, while the rest 14.1% is explained by other factors which are not subject of this study. Key words: Procurement Planning, Competency of Staff, Procurement Procedures, Utilization of Information Communication Technology
Green Procurement: the Practice & Challenges in three Selected UN Agencies in Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2016-06) Begashaw, Achamyeleh; Denu, Berhanu (PhD)
The main objective of this research is to assess the practice and challenges of Green Procurement in three selected UN agencies in Ethiopia namely UNECA, UNDP & UNOPS. The gap identified in this research is the implementation problem of green procurement in the procurement activities at sourcing, bid evaluation and technical evaluation stages. According to the preliminary interview conducted at the beginning of the research stage the main reasons for the gap was lack of management support and the awareness level of procurement practitioners and employees. The researcher employed mixed research design method to assess the practice by raising four basic questions that revolve around awareness, management support and challenges of green procurement. The researcher developed his tools based on the four basic questions and the required information was retrieved from the respondents. The respondents were the procurement practitioners, requistioners, technical evaluation committee, procurement cases reviewing committees and employees who works in the area of climate change. The data collected through structured questionnaire analyzed using descriptive statistical technique which includes frequencies & mean using and tables along with the interview. From this particular research in adequate management support and lack of awareness is found to be one of the reasons for the implementation problem. In addition to this additional reasons are identified. These are the usage of whole life cycle approach is complex particularly for the environmental attributes of the product and the member states are not in agreement to fully implement the green procurement concept since it discriminates vendors from the developing nations. The researcher also comes up with some possible suggestions & recommendations so as to tackle the problems. These are, arrange capacity development and awareness creation programme for both the procurement practitioners and vendors and integrating sustainable procurement rules with main procurement rules. Key Words: Green Procurement, Sustainable Procurement
Human Capital as a Process: Learnings from an Rmerging Economy
(Addis Ababa University, 2019-01) Yikaalo, Welu; Ethel, Brundin (Prof)
The purpose of the dissertation is to explore how human capital develops in an organization as a process with a specific focus on its sub-processes and contexts. This thesis defines human capital as a process where employees’ knowledge, skills, and abilities are developed through events, mechanisms, relationships, and patterns that emerge during the process of interactions and interdependencies among employees and between employees and the organization. Studying the process of human capital and how it develops will help in integrating the ‘aggregation’ concept of strategy with the ‘black box’ concept of strategic human resource management. In addition, this thesis will help in studying the processual nature of human capital, and how inner and outer contextual factors affect human capital development. This dissertation sees the process of human capital development through the lens of the social exchange theory. To achieve the above stated purpose, the dissertation followed two organizations: Ethiopian Airlines and Bishoftu Automotive Industry. Primary data was collected through interviews, observations, participating in official meetings, and listening to previous interviews given by members of the organizations to different media including radio and television programs. It also uses secondary data like document analyses, magazines, reports, and documents from the websites. It follows an interpretative approach in analyzing the data. The findings of the dissertation show that the process of human capital development proceeds through three sub-processes. First, identifying potential human capital which is determined by ‘who joined’ and ‘how they joined’ the organization. People are joined an organization with their individual human capital like educational level, experience, attitude, behavior, and information processing and professional skills. These all determined as the origins of human capital. The relationships that employees have through their families, ethnic background, and social networks are considered factors for selecting potential human capital. Second, interactions and interdependencies characterized by socioemotional factors (trust, loyalty, fears, stress, tensions, frustrations, and delusive behavior); homosociality (relationship, group gains, and status consistency); and percieved organizational support (recurrent/refresher training, career development training, induction and socialization, access to resources, and benefit packages). Finally, unit or industry specific human capital is developed because of the interactions and interdependencies among employees and between employees and the organization. In addition, the process of human capital development is positively or negatively determined by inner and outer contextual factors of the organization. Inner contextual factors include employee mobility, strategic human resource management practices, organizational culture, organizational change, structure and infrastructure, and growth of the industry. Outer contextual factors include political, economic, sociocultural, competition, regulatory bodies, and customers. The findings of the dissertation also show the impact that outer contextual factors have on inner contexts and their implications for the process of human capital development.
The State of Public Health Care Service in Ethiopia :Health Service Quality, Accessiblty and Operational Efficiency in the Case of Addis Addis Public Hospitals
(A.A.U, 2021-12) Musema, Tofik; Hadaro, Filmon (Phd)
The study aimed at analyzing the state of health care service provision in Ethiopia in the case of Addis Ababa‘s Public hospitals. Though empirical evidence on the state of hospitals service provision is important, systematic research results encompassing the core health care service dimensions and views of patients is scant in Ethiopia.The absence of data and research prioritization on hospitals is a self-perpetuating problem and in the absence of substantive data or pressure from external donors, policymakers face few incentives to improve hospital services. Health care reform has frequently been more an act of faith than on the basis of evidence-based policy making; therefore this study provides evidence on the actual health care service provision state of public hospitals in Addis Ababa city. To this end the study considered three specific objectives i.e. Assessing the public hospitals health care service: (1) quality (2) accessibility and (3) operational efficiency. The study has defined these three categories of health care service dimensions and adopted OECD‘s (2006) analytical framework. To achieve the objectives the study has employed a pragmatic research paradigm with mixed methods research design. To answer the research questions of the study data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include health care service users, and health care service providers. Observation was also made to hospital facilities, service provision sessions and the situation of service users and providers. Secondary data was collected from policy documents, hospital reform implementation reports and related published and unpublished sources. The individual level units of the study were hospital health care service providers (staffs and leaders) and also hospital service users (patients and other service seekers). The institutional level of unit of analysis were the public hospitals selected, and health care reform and policy documents. To these end seven hospitals, 376 hospital health service users and 14 hospital health care service professionals, 2 AACHB officials and 2 FMoH officials were selected and interviewed. Qualitative, descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the data analysis. Thematic analysis was used to organize and interpret qualitative data. Cronbach's alpha, descriptive statistics, from Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for descriptive statistical analysis. A principal component and logistic regression analysis were used for inferential statistical analysis. The overall satisfaction of patients with the effectiveness of the hospitals service provision was (71.28%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis predicts that the availability of thorough treatment and examination of patients (p<0.05, exp=3.147, 95% CI) and good explanation regarding medical tests (p<0.05, exp=6.258, 95%CI) enhances patients satisfaction. With respect to safety only 42 %( 158) respondents indicated satisfaction with the facilities safety procedures. The multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that medical staffs capability not to expose patients to unnecessary risk (p<0.05, exp=4.916, 95% CI) and extent of care exercised by medical personnel to patients during treatemnts (p < 0.002, exp=7.282, 95% CI) affects patients satisfaction. Regarding responsiveness of the service only 118(31%) revealed contentment with responsiveness of service provision. The multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that health care professionals courtesy and respect (p < 0.05, exp=2.682, 95% CI), medical personnel‘s symathy for patients‘ problems (p < 0.05, exp=2.521, 95%CI), and medical personnels‘ individual attention to patients (p < 0.05, exp=7.112, 95% CI) increases patient satisfaction. xvi The multivariate logistic regression analysis with the temporal component of accessibility shows that acceptability of waiting time (p<0.05, exp=15.766, 95% CI), and getting medical service on short notice (p<0.05, exp=8.444, 95% CI) positively contributes to patient satisfaction. Similarly with respect to availability sub dimension of access ease of access to medical specialists (p<0.05, exp=8.444, 95% CI) and getting the ordered laboratory tests in the hospitals laboratory (p<0.05, exp=9.06, 95% CI) enhances patient satisfaction.The study also indicated prevalence of catastrophic helath expenditure and 265(70.5%) respondents revealed their worry about having to pay large medical bills. The multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that being never worry about having to pay large medical bills (p < 0.002, exp=5.927, 95% CI) and getting medical care service without financial set back (p<0.05, exp=4.689, 95% CI) enhances patient satisfaction. The findings vividly indicated the existing state of the public hospitals service provision in Addis Ababa City. From the respondents, 55% indicated that they have an overall good experience with the facilities and services while the rest indicated discomfort. The analysis of the available literature and documents also portrays the operational inefficiency of the public hospitals. The study concludes that improvements in quality, accessibility and operational efficiency of health care service provision significantly enhances the satisfaction of service seekers (patient) and service providers (staffs and leaders). Based on the key findings and conclusion, study presents suggestions for FMoH, AACHB and public hospitals administrators, and the federal government on how to address loopholes that hamper positive improvements in health care service provision in public hospitals in Addis Ababa.
Struggle for Meaning in Radical Change: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Middle Managers’ Discourse
(Addis Ababa University, 2019-03) Yared, Asrat; Leona, Achtenhagen (Prof)
Although research on middle management is growing, it is locked into either/or and positive/negative views. For instance, the pessimistic view paints middle managers as foot-draggers, saboteurs, and resistant during radical change and suggests that the top management should watch out for middle managers during any radical change. On the other hand, the optimistic view suggests that middle managers have strategic contributions to make when strategies and changes are implemented. Hence, existing research on the middle management has two limitations: First, the agency of middle managers is denied space or it is presented as a phenomenon that is structurally determined. Second, middle managers are presented as a single, univocal and homogenous entity. This study tries to restore the agency and diversity of middle managers by using the discourse theory as its theoretical lens. Discourse-based studies on organizational change in general, and those on the role of middle managers in radical change in particular, are increasing. However, I argue that these studies do not provide a comprehensive and integrated account of organizational change or the role of middle managers during radical change, thus, leading to their results being incomplete. Stated differently, these studies tend to overlook the ‘plurivocality’ and ‘contextuality’ of change. Therefore, the overall purpose of this thesis is to provide an integrated and comprehensive account of organizational change from the middle management perspective. To achieve this, I conducted an in-depth case study of Dashen Bank which was undertaking organizational restructuring and investigated the role of middle managers during this restructuring process. The data was mainly generated using the interview technique. However, I also used secondary material and analyzed the data using the abductive approach. It was found that although the top management organized the restructuring team and assigned its members, it followed a hands-off approach. Therefore, this study empirically documents the discursive struggles of different groups of middle managers, that is, the protagonists (comprising the restructuring team and others who propagated the official discourse) and antagonists to fix meaning regarding the restructuring and the new structure. Both subject positions mobilized different discursive practices to make their discourse regarding the restructuring dominant and discounting their adversaries’ discourse thereby creating preferable social relations. This study also shows how textual level rhetorical appeals inform and justify the discourse practices of both the antagonists and protagonists of the restructuring and the new structure. It also found that both the antagonists and protagonists drew on different societal and grand discourses as resources in their discursive struggles. Stated differently, external discourses were imported to the organization in a way that supported their discourse and undermined the discursive practices of the other group. In line with the view that discourse constitutes concepts, objects and subject positions, this study documents that different groups of middle managers who occupied different social spaces and thus warranted a voice (subject positions) struggled over questions of ‘what’, ‘how’, ‘when’, and ‘why’ about restructuring (concept) to create preferential social and material relations (objects). Finally, the discursive practices of the antagonists effectively undermined and reversed the discursive practices of the protagonists (the restructuring team and others) as the top management decided in favor of the former. As a result, the bank is currently undergoing a new restructuring, the second restructuring in less than two years. This study contributes to middle management and change management literature. It extends middle management literature by restoring the diversity and agency of middle managers during radical change. Middle managers are not passive victims of organizational restructuring; they can actively shape or influence the restructuring process via their discursive practices. Moreover, this study also shows that middle managers are not alike and do not respond in a similar manner to changes or any other situation, and are instead a heterogeneous group of actors. This study also adds to change management literature by empirically showing that change and discourse are mutually constitutive. This study identified different levels of discourses and shows how they influenced each other. It also shows empirically that no one enjoys sovereign power since there are always multiple and alternative (contradictory) discourses which constitute different subject positions. By assuming one of the subject positions, this study shows how middle managers exercised power and challenged the official discourse.

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