Abstract:
Risk management is a critical component for institutions of higher learning since all
educational activities bear a certain level of risk. However, many organizations in
Kenya including Moi University are yet to formally integrate risk management
programmes into their business operations. The aim of this study was to investigate
the extent to which risk management and records management are aligned with
business processes in Moi University with a view to proposing a strategy to enhance
business processes in line with global best practice. The specific objectives of the
study were to: undertake a business process analysis of Moi University and identify
the resultant records generated by these processes; assess the current state of records
management and risk management at Moi University; identify the problems faced by
the institution in view of the current state of records management; identify the risks
facing Moi University in relation to its core mandate; establish the role of records
management in the mitigation of risks faced by the institution; give recommendations
and propose an appropriate records management-cum-risk management strategy to
enhance business processes at Moi University. The study was based upon the records
continuum model put forth by Frank Upward and the Government of Canada
Integrated Risk Management model. The study was qualitative in nature and data was
collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The population sample size
constituted 50 respondents drawn from the four campuses of Moi University in
Eldoret. Key findings of the study were that: the core business operations of Moi
University generated a lot of records, both manual and electronic; the state of records
management at the institution was poor while risk management practices were non-
existent; key risks facing Moi University are strategic, operational, financial,
commercial, compliance, technical and systems-related; records management is a risk
management function and is an effective tool in risk mitigation. The study concluded
that the poor state of records management at Moi University has contributed to
inefficiencies in business processes, exposing the institution to various risks.
Recommendations proposed were that: Moi University should adopt comprehensive
records management and risk management programmes; and that the records-cum-
risk management model proposed by the study should be adopted to aid in the
implementation of these programmes.
