University of Twente Student Theses
Determinants for the role of the finance function: An empirical study of organisations in the Netherlands
Meijerink, N. (2016) Determinants for the role of the finance function: An empirical study of organisations in the Netherlands.
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| Abstract: | This study empirically examines to what extent the role of the finance function is influenced by finance activities and organisational factors. Based on a sample of 105 organisations situated in the Netherlands, this explanatory study finds mixed evidence that organisations who are confronted with factors which literature claims to be driving the necessity for finance to change towards a business partner role, have indeed adjusted their emphases on this role. Evidence shows that respondents do not believe that traditional tasks and responsibilities for finance become less important when importance for non-traditional tasks and responsibilities increases. Distinct differences are visible in the statistical significance of determinants for each finance role. While business control, organisational size, globalisation and maturity are influencing finance as business partner, finance as scorekeeper is mostly influenced by the importance placed on the finance specific activities. Furthermore, organisations operating in the financial services and public sector place significant more important towards finance as business partner than organisations operating in the product & services sector. Moreover, this study finds evidence that organisations classified into the growth phase of the organisation life-cycle place significant less importance on finance as a business partner than mature organisations. The evidence obtained by this study provides partial support for the claim in prior literature that certain finance activities and organisational factors evolve finance as business partner. This thesis upholds modern advice stating that finance should support the organisation as business partner, but refines this advice by denoting in which situations this role is more or less desirable. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 85 business administration, organizational science |
| Programme: | Business Administration MSc (60644) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/71602 |
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