Challenges and Prospects of Balanced Scorecard Implementation (Evidence from Bench-Maji Zone; South-West Ethiopia)

Abstract

This study is concerned with the challenges and prospects in Bench-Maji Zone public sectors. To this end, the study has made an effort to thoroughly look into challenges and prospects that have taken surface in the whole performance management process and system. It has made an effort to identify and investigate challenges and prospects associated to the implementation of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) which is being used by Bench-Maji Zone public sectors.85 employees and heads in the Zone have been taken as study participant and data have been collected using structured self administered questionnaire. 15 (heads of the sector) persons have also been contacted for in-depth interview from different sectors for triangulation purpose.The finding shows that the major challenges that the Zone faces is emanated from lack of commitment of top management officials , lack of understanding of the tool, early cascading and considering the tool more as a tool of measurement rather than a tool for strategic management. However; the tool is also helps the organization by increasing the organization performance, by communicating the organization mission, vision and strategic objective to employees, by creating team spirit and others. So to avoid the challenges it is recommended that the Zone should give training about the tool, the Zone should define the measurements, and after being sure that the metrics measure the activities of the business units and the selected measure is easily quantifiable. Keywords : Balanced scorecard, challenges, prospects & implementation DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-13-01 Publication date: July 31 st 2021