Abstract
M.Ed.
RAUTEC is the first school-university based technology centre in South Africa.
Although much research has been done on the financial management of organizations,
few guidelines exist for the financial management of a technology centre of this nature,
extent and special mission. Financial management has a very broad focus and therefore
this study cannot include research in respect of the entire financial management of
RAUTEC. This study focuses on the financial functioning ofRAUTEC, up to making the
annual financial statements available, as well as the control over the fixed and current
assets. The purpose of the case study is to develop guidelines to ensure that the financial
reporting and asset control of the technology centre are being handled correctly.
The qualitative research approach is followed and the researcher focuses on one specific
case, i.e. RAUTEC. For this case study research data is collected from interviews,
document analysis and observation. The internal validity was confirmed through the
triangulation ofthe research results.
The following main categories contain a summary of the research results:
• the financial function;
• exercising control over assets.
Two sub-categories: effectiveness of financial documentation and bookkeeping of
accounting transactions are derived from the first main category. From the second main
category the following sub-categories are derived: exercising control over fixed assets
and exercising control over current assets.
After mentioning the possible limitations in the research, the final results of the study are
set out as guidelines.