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The role of business intelligence in sustainability reporting for South African higher education institutions

Andre Calitz (Department of Computing Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa)
Samual Bosire (Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa)
Margaret Cullen (NMU Business School, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa)

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

ISSN: 1467-6370

Article publication date: 14 December 2017

Issue publication date: 7 December 2018

1321

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to show that business intelligence (BI) is a key component of a sustainability-reporting framework for higher education institutions (HEIs).

Design/methodology/approach

Four questionnaires were administered to Registrars and managers at 21 South African HEIs and at selected international HEIs. The data analysis entailed both descriptive and inferential statistics.

Findings

The study confirmed that factors such as management buy-in, the availability of BI reports and the provision of reporting guidelines were positively related to effective strategic planning. The study shows that the use of BI by South African HEIs is still at a low maturity level.

Research limitations/implications

The case study used is the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The implications are relevant for all 26 HEIs in South Africa.

Practical implications

HEIs must invest in technological tools, including BI to provide information in understandable and usable formats for management and other relevant stakeholders.

Social implications

BI reporting can assist all stakeholders to obtain the relevant and required information relating to HEI operations and strategic management initiatives and activities.

Originality/value

The study concludes that HEIs ought to invest in BI technologies that can assist the sustainability reporting process to ensure stakeholder satisfaction and regulatory compliance.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Erratum: It has come to the attention of the Publisher that the article by Andre Calitz, Samuel Bosire and Margaret Cullen, “The role of business intelligence in sustainability reporting for South African higher education institutions,” published in the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 19 No. 7, was not included in Vol. 19 No. 2, 2018, which was guest edited by Professor Ralf Isenmann, Professor Remmer Sassen and Professor Walter Leal-Filho. This occurred because of an error in the production process. The Publishers of the journal sincerely apologize to the authors and readers for this error.

This article forms part of the special section “Sustainability reporting in higher education institutions”.

Citation

Calitz, A., Bosire, S. and Cullen, M. (2018), "The role of business intelligence in sustainability reporting for South African higher education institutions", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 19 No. 7, pp. 1185-1203. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-10-2016-0186

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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