Zwelihle Wiseman Nzuza

The aim of the study is to demonstrate how best a municipal stock control can be applied in conformity with strategic requirements of the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting (CIMA). A quantitative research method was applied. The questionnaire was formulated based on information obtained from the literature, and was distributed to only one KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) local government department. The sample consisted of 82 respondents, selected using a census sampling method. The results indicate that the stores department lack CIMA stock control strategies, leading to poor stock control policy formulation and application. Staff experience and the effect of municipal stock control policy have shown a positive and significant relationship at .000* level. Proper documentation of strategic stock control and staff experience has also shown a positive significant relationship at .004* level. Moreover, the municipal strategic stock control framework has been proposed at the end of this paper and is subject to further experiments by the scholars.

Keywords: stock control, stock control policy, stock control strategies.
JEL Classification: H54, M40

Strategic management accounting (SMA) is essential for small enterprises to enhance business decision-making and optimize resource allocation, thereby fostering competitiveness and long-term sustainability in dynamic markets. The study aims to investigate the factors influencing the adoption of SMA by small enterprises in South Africa, using KwaZulu-Natal as a case study. To achieve this objective, a quantitative and cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing a questionnaire and covering 191 SEs owners. The research framework is based on contingency theory, and data analysis was performed using Stata. The vector autoregression analysis indicates that the adoption of SMA is driven by its perceived ability to address financial aspects such as cash management, decision-making regarding return on investment, and financial variance analysis. Furthermore, SMA adoption is influenced by its effectiveness in addressing non-financial factors, such as customer service. The observed relationships between SMA adoption and both financial and non-financial factors are all statistically significant at the 0.000 level. These findings underscore the critical role of SMA for small enterprises in South Africa, emphasizing its significance in their success and long-term sustainability.

This study aims to examine the internal determinants of financial performance of food supermarkets listed on the South African stock exchange. Food supermarkets play an integral role in socio-economic development of the country. The study employed an econometric approach utilizing fixed effect panel data. Drawing information from audited financial statements, data were gathered from four major listed food supermarkets in South Africa covering the period from 1994 to 2022, resulting in a total of 116 observations over 29 years. The robust longitudinal statistics obtained from balanced data revealed a significant positive correlation between equity financing, size of corporate governance, and current debt with financial performance, as measured by sales revenue at 0.0000, 0.054, and 0.000 significance levels, respectively. The findings indicate that as these variables increase, the financial performance of the studied food supermarkets (Shoprite, Woolworths, Spar, and Pick n Pay) also increases. Conversely, a negative and significant relationship is noted between company age, current assets, and financial performance at significance levels of 0.007 and 0.002, respectively. This suggests that as these variables increase, financial performance will decrease. As per the research findings, it is imperative for supermarkets to uphold a well-rounded blend of equity and debt and adopt inventive business approaches as they mature to improve financial outcomes. Therefore, the study proposes a framework focusing on internal factors that impact the financial performance of listed food supermarkets in South Africa.