A shift in focus from growing revenues towards managing working capital could be observed in many companies in the recession that followed the financial crisis of 2008. This thesis therefore investigates the relation between working capital management (WCM) and revenue growth by examining 36 Swedish companies within the IT & Telecom, Wholesale, and Manufacturing industries. The results show that there currently is a general gap between the perceived and actual performance regarding WCM and the effects on revenue growth. The studied companies report a belief that no trade-off between WCM and revenue growth exists. However, the actual performance in the studied industries indicates that increases in revenues often are not justifiable in proportion to the increases in net working capital (NWC). The study also shows that responsibility for WCM and implementation of WCM decisions are to a high extent assigned to a centralized organizational level. Recommendations derived from this study are that while companies need a centralized responsibility for WCM decisions, the responsibility also needs to be decentralized for successful implementation. Furthermore, the NWC development in relation to revenue growth needs to be continually monitored.

ABSTRACT Title: Working Capital Management in Telecommunication sector: A case study of VGC telecoms Author: Gbenga Segun Akinwande Supervisor: Anders Hederstierna Department: School of Management, Blekinge Institute of Technology Course: Master’s thesis in business administration, 15 credits (ECTS). Background and Problem Discussion: The efficient management of working capital is very vital for a business survival. This is premised on the fact having too much working capital signifies inefficiency, whereas too little cash at hand signifies that the survival of business is shaky. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to study the working capital management in the small and medium scale businesses, using VGC Telecoms Company as a case study, so as to establish factors influencing working capital performance; examine how cash management, inventory management and trade credit management affects working capital management; company effectiveness in converting working capital to ready money; how working capital management impacts on the problem of slow development and to offer recommendations on possible ways of improving working capital management Method: Literatures bordering on different areas of working capital management were reviewed. Thus, this research employed qualitative and quantitative analysis; and semi- structured questions were drafted based on the issues raised from the review of various literatures. In addition, materials from journal articles, textbooks, working papers and industry practitioners are put into consideration. The use of internet and e-mails to send out questions were explored where appropriate. Analysis on the company’s financial statement was carried out in order to verify my findings. Theory: In this research, the theory section looks at various concepts that come up when analyzing the consequences of working capital management for company value and the factors that influence a company’s working capital management performance. I have therefore chosen the most common concept for the theory section. I have also tried to create a theoretical understanding for the company’s sensitivity to a workable WCM policy Analysis: In the analysis of the research findings, I employed qualitative approach to the data analysis whereby the impacts of the poor WCM on the company were discussed in depth. Conclusion: The findings corroborate the postulation of Weston et al that a company’s investment in working capital is a substantial percentage of its total investment. In case of VGC Telecoms, it is as high as 65 percent. An inefficient and ineffective management of this investment will result in slow pace of development and ultimately to the business failure. The performances of the company in the different spheres of working capital management were scored as follows:- • Cash management – 65.4 percent • Inventory management - 78.6 percent • Trade credit management and financing decisions - 60.0 percent This is an average performance of 68 percent. That is, the company’s performance is above average. This is a good performance. The financial statements as interpreted reinforce the validity of this result. The liquidity ratios are high; the collection period is short; and the cash cycle is not quite expansive. This makes it possible to sustain sufficient cash flow for the smooth running of the business. The management of working capital impacts on liquidity, investment portfolio and profitability. All these three factors are decisive in the growth or failure of a business. Hence, good performances in working capital management affects these decisive factors favourably and thus, contribute to growth and success of the business.

M. Tech. (Department of Cost and Management Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / Working capital management is an important aspect in the business in order to meet its daily activities. Permanent working capital, temporary working capital, gross working capital and net working capital are four types of working capital. The construction industry, as compared to any other industry, plays an important role in the economic growth of the country. The construction industry is regarded as the largest employer in the labour market and appropriate management of liquidity is essential. Construction contracts are divided into lump sum contracts, unit price contracts and cost plus a fee contracts and have the following role players: employer, employer’s representative, professional team, contractor, sub-contractor and adjudicator. This study analysed the relationship between working capital management and financial performance of JSE listed construction companies during the period 2009-2019. Annual financial statements, which included statement of financial position and statement of financial performance of all listed construction companies during the period 2009-2019 were extracted from the external database (IRESS) to obtain the data needed for statistical analysis. This study used a quantitative research method to analyse the relationship between working capital management and financial performance. Multiple linear regression and correlation analysis were used in this study with inventory conversion period (ICP), average collection period (ACP) and average payment period (APP) as independent variables and return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and gross operating profit (GOP) as dependent variables, in order to analyse the relationship between working capital management and financial performance of JSE-listed construction companies during the period 2009-2019. Results of this study indicated that working capital management has little or no influence on the financial performance of JSE-listed construction companies, therefore, this indicates that listed construction companies in South Africa need to manage their working capital properly by putting some new policies in place on their accounts payables and receivables, in order to have a relationship between working capital management and financial performance.