INTERNAL CONTROL SYTEMS AND SERVICE DELIVERY IN GULU ARCHDIOCESE, NORTHERN UGANDA
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Date
2016
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Publisher
Gulu University
Abstract
Current trends have made it imperative for all large organizations, even Church-based
Organizations, to maintain internal control systems (ICS). This is because ineffective ICS
promote inadequate provision of Service Delivery (SD) to the population. This study
investigated the relationship between internal control systems and service delivery in Gulu
Archdiocese, Northern Uganda. The systems were examined from the perspective of control
environment, control activities and monitoring whereas service delivery focused on economy,
efficiency, effectiveness and consistency as measures of service delivery. The research adopted a
cross-sectional research design with a quantitative approach. Simple random and purposive
sampling techniques were employed to select 25 parishes out of the population of 26 parishes in
Gulu Archdiocese. From each of the sampled parish, 6 respondents were drawn. This gave a total
of 160 respondents consisting of board of consulters, diocesan curia, different commissions,
parish priests, parish health committees, parish education committees, parish pastoral council and
parish finance committees. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed using
Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS version 19.0). A one-way ANOVA, correlation
and regression analyses were performed to answer various research questions. Results of
ANOVA revealed a statistically insignificant difference in means of functionality of internal
control systems in different deaneries. The difference in the means of the status of service
delivery in different deaneries was also found to be statistically insignificant. Correlation
analysis established positive relationship between internal controls, service delivery, governance
systems, institutional e1_1vironment and resource commitment in Gulu Archdiocese. Regression
analysis results revealed that a combination of internal control systems and resource commitment
significantly predicted up to 74.3% of the variance in service delivery. The researcher
recommends that Gulu Archdiocesan authority should strengthen its ICS in order to enhance
performance in all parishes to ensure economical, efficient, effective and consistent SD. This can
be accomplished through policy formulation, implementation, recruitment of knowledgeable
staff, putting in place systems to monitor/ evaluate performance and providing refresher courses
on leadership and management to all those concerned with delivery of services.
Description
includes illustrations