Chapter 1 3 2 1
Chapter 1 3 2 1
Chapter 1 3 2 1
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
MANILA
IN QUIAPO, MANILA
A Thesis
Añasco, Jennilou J.
Castor, Khriestineille A.
Jimena, Wally P.
Mollaneda, Angelika P.
Sanguyo, Maelaine M.
March 2023
ii
ABSTRACT
The aim of this research is to assess the effectiveness of using cash flow management
practices of micro food retail businesses in Quiapo, Manila and its significance in effective
research method from a sample of thirty (30) purposively selected micro food retail
the Frequency Count and Percentage Distribution, Weighted Mean, One-way Analysis of
Variance (ANOVA), and Ranking. The findings of the study revealed that cash flow
management practices are one of the crucial component of businesses’ daily operations and
based on the assessment of its effectiveness in micro-sized food retail businesses in Quiapo,
Manila, it is concluded that overall, Cash Flow Management (CFM) practices have a
data repository, global cash visibility, positioning and reconciliation, and tracking and
optimization.
However, minority of these entities are still having difficulties in tracking, planning, and
forecasting their cash flow making it hard for them to compare, manage, and understand
financial documentation and records to find and prevent discrepancies leading to fraud and
errors. This is due to lack of skills and knowledge among micro-sized businesses in
software for managing their cash flow, which makes it difficult for them to accurately
DEDICATION
This research paper is dedicated to our family, especially our parents, who have
encouraged and accompanied us in this process with much love, support, and unwavering
effort to see us realize our dreams, which are also their dreams.
instilled core values in us and continues to challenge us to pursue personal and professional
development.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
A thesis paper like this would be impossible to complete without the help of several
people. We are grateful for all those who helped make it possible and want them to know
how much their words were appreciated throughout the entire process.
We would like to express our deep and sincere gratitude to Mr. Lester P. Acoba,
our thesis adviser, who has been instrumental in guiding us with this paper; he provided us
with valuable advice and essential information that was needed to complete our research.
We would also like to thank our respondents who have given their consent for full
participation in the survey we conducted, which has made the research study achieve its
smooth completion. To our statistician, Mr. Adulfo R. Arevalo, whose help is greatly
appreciated, with his knowledge and technical expertise, we were able to complete the
statistical treatment of data in our thesis paper with ease under his supervision.
Our grateful thanks are also extended to our respectable professors and panelists,
Ms. Araceli J. Angeles, Ms. Tessie C. Cua and Mr. Daryl M. Geraldo, for letting our
defense be an enjoyable moment, and providing us with brilliant suggestions and comments
Finally, praises and thanks to God, the Almighty, for His showers of blessings
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TITLE PAGE i
APPROVAL SHEET ii
CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY iii
CERTIFICATE OF EDITING iv
ABSTRACT v
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
LIST OF TABLES viii
LIST OF FIGURES x
xi
Chapter
I THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND 1
Contextual Background 1
Theoretical Framework 4
Conceptual Framework 5
Statement of the Problem 7
Hypothesis 8
Scope of Delimitation of the Study 8
Significance of the Study 9
Operational Definition of Terms 10
Research Instrument 24
Data Gathering Procedure 25
Data Analysis 26
Statistical Treatment of Data 27
REFERENCES 65
APPENDICES
vii
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Conceptual Framework 6
1
Chapter 1
The Problem and Its Background
This chapter provided an overview of the study, including the theoretical and
conceptual framework, statement of the problem, significance of the study, scope and
create employment opportunities by utilizing limited available resources and encourage the
expansion of new jobs in a city or municipality. Based on the list of establishments of the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2020, there is a total of 952,969 Micro, Small, and
88.77% (850,127) of total MSME establishments. Most of the Micro businesses can be
found in the National Capital Region (NCR) with 201,123 (21.10%) business
growing, entrepreneurs still have a lot of survival difficulties. These include limited access
to capital, financial literacy, and managerial expertise regarding the cash of the business.
According to Agyapong and Muntaka (2012), many of these businesses are run intuitively,
guided by common sense and the entrepreneur’s individual experiences, rather than
following a formal business plan. As a result, they often find it difficult to compete with
larger, better resourced, and professionally managed companies. Almost none of the
businesses conduct any kind of cash budgets or forecasts, do not conduct bank
2
reconciliations, and do not monitor their cash flows on a real-time basis (Bruwer et al.,
2015).
Effective financial decisions are the outcome of accurate and reliable cash
management practices, which are essential to the survival, expansion, and profitability of
knowledge all play a significant role in whether a business succeeds or fails (Gawali &
Gadekar, 2017).
When a company fails to recognize the value of managing cash, issues with cash
management practices occur. Enterprises that do not manage their cash flow will not be
aware of any losses, presuming any existence. Upon realizing their loss and the need to
recover, the businesses then apply for a loan from the bank. If there is a cash shortage, this
may make the owner unable to manage their cash, resulting in the closure of the business
as they are unable to increase their cash to cover the losses and are unable to pay their debts
According to research done by U.S. Bank, issues about the enterprise’s cash flow
is a significant factor in small business failure. In their study, a small business fails 82% of
the time due to poor cash flow management or a lack of understanding of cash flow. It has
also been noted in a study by Asian Development Bank that over 70% of Philippine
MSMEs experienced cash flow issues, prompting owners to borrow money from friends
and family to keep their businesses afloat. Additionally, the research done by Patel (2010)
shows that cash management is crucial for business sustainability, future planning, and
profitability. The application of fundamental cash flow principles will help firms prepare
3
for unforeseen circumstances. Effective cash management not only boosts a business's
chances of survival but also helps it attract investors who can fund its expansion as
investors pay close attention to a company's cash flow, which in turn reflects its cash
It is proved in the study conducted by Gawali & Gadekar in 2017, that financial
and outflows may result in financial difficulties and holding inadequate amounts of cash
or cash equivalent interrupt the normal flow of the business activities that may prompt them
to dissolve. Therefore, the cash flow management currently used by this enterprise has
prompted the present researchers to conduct a study to assess the effectiveness of cash flow
Manila. The research focused on how extensively the selected microenterprises that are
currently doing business in the city manage their cash flow. The cash management
practices of Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) have been the subject
of several studies in various cities and regions both inside and outside the Philippines
(Anoos, et al., 2020; Bautista, 2020; Banupriya & Venkadesh, 2019; Jangkholam & Singh,
2021). However, many of these studies are generalized, there has not been thorough
Region (NCR), particularly in Quiapo, Manila. Given that the government in the
sector in terms of their cash flow management practices in order to provide feedback and
recommendations.
4
Theoretical Framework
Effective cash flow management is a crucial factor in the success and financial
health of an enterprise. Positive cash flow is a key indicator of financial health and
implementing effective strategies for managing working capital can provide a competitive
advantage.
management and operate a successful and financially healthy business, enterprises should
focus on the four pillars of cash flow management. First is the connectivity and data
repository. It is important for businesses to gather and store all relevant bank transactions
and financial information in a centralized location. This allows them to easily access and
analyze the data, which can inform decision-making and help identify any potential issues.
The second pillar is global cash visibility, which requires real-time visibility into the
business’ global cash position in order to make informed strategic decisions. By reporting
on cash flow and forecasting future needs, businesses can better understand their financial
position and plan. Third is positioning and reconciliation which entails identifying cash
surplus and deficit, making investment and borrowing decisions, and reconciling
records, businesses can ensure that they are making the most informed decisions about how
to allocate resources. The fourth pillar is tracking and optimization. Keeping track of all
bank account details, including signers and account balances, is essential for effective cash
flow management. Additionally, optimizing the number and structure of bank accounts can
help businesses minimize fees and maximize returns on excess cash. By adopting these
four strategies, enterprises can effectively manage their cash flow and make informed
financial decisions.
5
In the study's context, the four cash flow management strategies mentioned above
can be applied by micro-sized food retail businesses. These businesses, like any other
business, need to effectively manage their cash flow to survive and thrive. Micro-sized
food retail businesses must pay attention to their cash flow, as they may have more limited
resources and financial flexibility compared to larger businesses. Cash must be properly
supervised when it comes to credit and collection, accounting systems and processes must
available.
understanding the cash flows, as well as by utilizing a variety of strategies and methods
that are aimed at accelerating cash receipts and improve the use and optimization of cash.
By adopting effective cash flow management practices, these businesses can make the most
environment.
Conceptual Framework
The study was anchored to the study of Maduekwe (2015) regarding the usage of
management accounting tools and practices, understanding their purpose and effectiveness
retail businesses in Quiapo, Manila, a conceptual model was presented based on our
6
research question and micro businesses' reviewed literature. The conceptualized research
•Profile of micro-
enterprises
•Years of operation
•Number of
employees
•Capitalization
•Form of Organization •Analysis of data •Effectiveness of using
through: cash flow management
• Assess the practices in micro, food
effectiveness of CFM •Micro-enterprises' retail businesses in
practices in terms of: profile data collection Quiapo, Manila and its
significance in
• Connectivity and Data •Questionnaire effective management
Repository of business and
decision-making.
• Global Cash Visibility •Statistical and
• Positioning and scientific treatment
Reconciliation
• Tracking and
Optimization
• Challenges
encountered in cash
flow management
Figure 1
Conceptual Framework
The dependent variable considered for this research study was the effectiveness of
cash flow management practices in terms of micro food retail businesses decision making.
Moderating variables are micro food retail businesses profile that includes information
about the years of the business operations, number of employees, capitalization, and form
of organization. The independent variables are how the business assesses the effectiveness
7
of cash flow management in terms of connectivity and data repository, global cash
The study aimed to ascertain the effectiveness of cash flow management practices
a. Years of operation
b. Number of employees
c. Capitalization
d. Form of Organization
2. How do the respondents assess the effectiveness of CFM practices in terms of the
following aspects?
their Cash flow management when they are grouped according to profile?
Based on the formulated statement of the problem, the following hypothesis was
Ha: There is a significant difference in how the respondents assess the effectiveness
The study focused on the effectiveness of cash flow management practices on the
decision-making of micro food retail businesses in Quiapo, Manila. The respondents to this
study were the owners of micro food retail businesses with fewer than ten employees in
Quiapo, Manila. The study’s instrument was a validated questionnaire, which served as the
foundation for developing an effective study on the effectiveness of cash flow management
Due to the broad coverage of the retail industry, this study only focused on food
retail businesses. The researchers chose food retail because many of the businesses are in
this industry. It also concentrated on the barangays surrounding the Quiapo Church because
they believe that gathering data from many locations will take a long time if the study area
includes microenterprises from all over Metro Manila and nearby cities.
Owners/Managers/Decision-makers
9
marketplace. Deliberately adapt and embrace comprehensive, externally focused cash flow
management practices that are driven by strategies and deliver financial information to
efficiently develop and track the organization’s plan, allowing management to have
Suppliers
This study would alleviate the suppliers of food retail to further invest in the
industry. It would aid in their cost-benefit analysis as to how much they would gain in this
industry.
Creditors
This research would give creditors ideas and relevant information to assess the
Customers
This study would benefit the customers that consume food retail products as part of
their everyday life. It would help to maximize the quality of the service and products, and
Future Researchers
This study would help the student researchers to be aware and knowledgeable about
the cash flow management practices in the food retail industry. This study may also serve
10
as a guide and reference for the students undertaking similar studies and can be used in
Definition of Terms
The terms listed below are defined further, either operationally or conceptually:
assets including those arising from loans but exclusive of the land on which the business
entity’s office, plant and equipment are situated, shall not be more than three million pesos
(P3,000,000.00).
Cash flow. The net amount of cash and cash equivalents transferred into and out of a
business is called cash flow. Inflows are represented by cash received, whereas outflows
Cash management. As stated by Kevin Hillstrom and Laurie Collier Hillstrom in the
Encyclopedia of Small Business (2002), cash management is a broad term that refers to the
Connectivity and Data Repository. Collecting and saving transaction records and data
organization decides what future actions to take given a set of objectives and available
Global Cash Visibility. Reporting of cash to fulfill strategic goals (High Radius, 2022).
Microenterprises. According to Magna Carta for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises
(RA 6977, as amended by RA 8289, and further amended by RA 9501), Micro Enterprises
are those enterprises with total assets of not more than P3,000,000. Micro enterprises can
Positioning and Reconciliation. Identifying when there is extra cash (surplus) or a lack
of cash (deficit), making decisions about how to use or acquire additional funds through
Retail Industry. As Barbara Farfan (2019) stated, retail industry is part of the economy
Tracking and Optimization. Keeping track of all account information, including the
names of signers, and optimizing the way accounts are set up and organized (High Radius,
2022).
Chapter 2
This chapter explored the literature that was relevant to the understanding of the
effectiveness of cashflow management practices and interpreting the results of this study.
Industry
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The Philippines has a thriving food retail scene that includes a diverse range of
sellers such as street vendors, wet and dry markets, sari-sari shops, grocery stores,
supermarkets, hypermarkets, etc. which have maintained sales value growth despite limited
operations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Statista, 2023). The face of business
in the various cities and municipalities throughout the Philippines, or commonly known as
the Public Market, broaden the availability of nutritious, and low-cost foods. And as we
can observe, some consumers are even highlighting the local culture of their communities.
A walk through a Filipino open market may have seemed difficult. However, as you begin
taking each aspect into account, you'll discover how crucial each premise is (Marpa, 2022).
Various public industries put emphasis on a wide range of product classifications, and it
includes retailers that were continuously thriving in the market. Retailers of snacks,
chocolates and candies, fresh vegetables and rice, frozen foods, as well as some kakanin
store can be seen and are all available in the public market of Quiapo, Manila.
enterprises in the local market are single proprietorship without any employees and all of
them are engaged in the wholesale and retail trade sector. In conformity to that, research
studies have indicated that the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of micro
business enterprises is low. Additionally, it also showed that while accounts receivable and
inventory management were highly correlated with economic and social sustainability,
Management Accounting tools offers strategies that could have an impact on decision-
making and business performance. Although it is common for enterprises to strive towards
business stability, many still fail to address the global financial crisis resulting to business
failure (Bruwer, 2010). Thus, to be able to venture and stay in the market, further reports
showed that business owners should obtain the skills to analyze and use effective cash
management.
As Abioro (2013) said, mere availability of cash without proper management does
not necessarily translate into favorable performance for companies, that is why it is crucial
to adapt effective cash management for better performance as there exists a significant
In the study conducted by San-Jose, Iturralde, and Maseda (2008), it was concluded
that cash management is a culture that forms part of the strategy of an organization and
with proper knowledge of managing cash inflows and outflows, the firm is more likely to
throughout each phase of the business operating cycle. As depicted in Almaree, et al.
(2015), it is evident that SMME managers and/or owners regard cash budgets as important
to make sound business decisions in terms of planning, monitoring, and managing a firm’s
Keown, et. Al. (1998) emphasized that several strategies should be used in cash
flow management. Assuring the availability of sufficient amounts of cash for conducting
business operations, providing accurate accounting for cash receipts, cash disbursements,
and cash balance, forecasting the need for borrowing, and preventing excessively
14
substantial amounts of cash from sitting idle in bank accounts that produce no income.
the use of cash, as well as the right matching of resources with actual cash expenditure. As
part of the cash management strategy, business enterprises must build a positive
The Financial Management Theory of Brigham & Ehrhardt (2013), which claims
that a manager’s decisions determine the success or failure of any firm, also touched the
idea regarding effective financial decisions as an outcome of accurate and reliable cash
management practices. Success, however, can only be achieved with the use of effective
Many micro enterprises still do not adhere to the general standard for effective cash
management, even though all these practices have had a significant impact on an
organization's ability to grow and expand. According to a prior study done in South Africa,
new micro businesses rarely employ financial planning and control, financial analysis, or
their financial transactions without following the correct accounting standards. Given their
business owners will produce a proper financial record in accordance with Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles (Nadzr et al., 2016). It was noticed in the study conducted
in Manipur, India, by Jangkholam & Singh (2021) that the necessity of keeping simple
financial records is still essential for the process of making wise financial decisions.
Keeping business records and practicing good record keeping techniques to maintain
15
accurate financial records of transactions is highly relevant, and many researchers and
business owners suggest it. However, from the study conducted by Myeko and Madikane
(2019), the results revealed that a substantial percentage of their respondents still failed to
establish appropriate record keeping practices and did not know about the significance and
Franco and Haase (2010) in their study on failure factors in small and medium-
sized firms, identified a lack of qualifications and experience possessed by SME founders
or managers as serious constraints on SME growth. All too frequently, bad cash
management systems have caused small business owners to liquidate or reorganize their
operations because they cannot afford to neglect the distinct value of excellent cash
management. According to Bagchi (2013), firms, particularly SMEs, often fail to meet their
operational targets due to a lack of cash flow. This is because they are continually in need
of cash and bank deposits to cover their regular running expenses. Many organizations
confuse cash management and profitability. Cash management, according to him, is the
tracking of cash flows into and out of the business. Resulted also in the study by Aren and
is essential for any firm to get a better overview of the financial situation inside and outside
of the organization. Since cash is the primary form of payment for Micro Enterprises,
research studies have focused more on understanding the value of cash budgets when
making business-related decisions. This was especially true given that, at least in theory,
cash budgets allow micro business managers to plan, monitor, and control their company’s
16
cash flows. Unfortunately, it was discovered that survey participants did not effectively use
cash budgets, particularly because they did not perceive, understand, or use cash budgets
(Almaree, et al., 2015). Particularly, as stated by Gyebi and Quain (2013), implementing
According to a Ciriaco (2018) literature review, business owners believe that for
cash management practices, businesses set the minimum cash balance based on historical
data. In terms of cash inflows, they consistently use the practice of recording all
transactions to determine the business' daily cash flows and monitoring the cash daily to
check net income or sales. However, because their practices are entirely manual, recording
or tracking them takes time. Having an established budget plan, on the other hand, seemed
to have the smallest perception of cash outflows because certain respondents were unable
to execute a systematic approach for their expenditures. The study also showed that, in
terms of cash inflows and corresponding profile variables, there was no substantial
treasury single account and centralized government bank accounts, the ability to forecast
cash flows accurately, the utilization of short-term financing tools, and the ability to invest
excess capital reserves. As stated by Cangoz and Secunho (2021), establishing a sound
cash management framework with the basic features is beneficial to every business. In
addition, they also mentioned that many business entities had to deal with unanticipated
revenue declines and dramatically increased public spending due to monetary economic
management system is more crucial than ever. Additionally, from a recent article by
Asokan (2022), it is important to regularly monitor the cash flow and plan of time. A
continuous cash deficit can soon cause issues for businesses and, in the worst-case
situation, lead to bankruptcy. As such, a cash shortage should always be taken more
seriously and addressed as soon as possible. Lack of cash is not the only source of problems
for a business; excessive cash may also be harmful. Having too much cash on hand might
It was also concluded on the study gathered by Barbosa (2021) that Micro and
Small Businesses (MSEs) frequently use financial management practices like costing and
budgeting but merely practiced the utilization of internal control, working capital
management, and long-term financing. Financial management systems were present but
were just being used for experience. It was also depicted that the management of MSEs
does not follow accepted standards on financial management and control due to the lack of
crucial too. There is a great deal of opportunity for long-term returns if you invest in the
right places. The ability of the cash you invest to increase substantially over time is one of
the key advantages of making investments (Mint, 2022). The benefits of investing are
investment type, returns offer a consistent income. It offers wholesome long-term profits
for investments with a significantly longer scope. In connection with it, from a theory of
entrepreneurial types, debt may be expensive too and should also be considered, especially
if it comes from cash advance businesses that have high rates of interest. By managing your
borrowing, you'll have more cash to spend on the things that are essential to business or to
18
save for the upcoming years. Having adequate knowledge about the basic but important
practices in business plays a significant role that could either make the business grow or
expand.
how frequently enterprises fell victim to continuous financial instability, which caused the
demise of many of them, particularly in the early years of existence. Furthermore, a study
on small businesses in Cabanatuan City, Philippines, with a focus on cash and accounts
payable management found that most of them are still in the startup phase and pay their
suppliers with cash, checks, and other bank services. However, most of them lack sufficient
knowledge of cash management specifically to their accounts payable, which led to the
An article states that cash flow management involves using a company’s working
capital in the most effective way possible by integrating with multiple data sources, such
as banks and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, to record and analyze expected
and actual bank transactions to prevent unexpected or false transactions. It also involves
reconciling the previous day’s cash position and having a comprehensive view of the
company’s cash positions across all departments (HighRadius, 2022). In addition, the
article also states that cash flow management involves managing intercompany balances
and notional pools and reducing excess cash on hand. It is important to accurately and
timely track cash inflows and outflows. Given the uncertain and volatile nature of markets
and cash flows, it is important for enterprises to implement cash flow management
From a related study by Adeoti and Asabi (2018), due to a lack of accounting
expertise and the high cost of hiring qualified accountants, it was revealed that MSEs don't
challenging for the business owners to accurately assess their earnings. The owners or
management heavily blamed a lack of competence in this area for the failure to keep proper
records. The study also showed that MSE managers and owners were very eager to learn
more about how to maintain accurate records of their company's transactions. And from
Muchira (2007), their finding revealed that record-keeping procedures have a substantial
impact on the performance of micro firms. Also, the results showed that cash daybook has
a higher beta score than either of the other micro enterprise performance practices. This
leads to the conclusion that (cash daybook, sales daybook, and purchase daybook). In
accordance with this, the study suggests that governments, non-governmental institutions,
training on business record keeping in order to develop the habit of keeping a complete and
Synthesis
Cash is the most crucial current asset for the operation of a business. It is both the
fundamental input needed to keep a business operating continuously and the final output
anticipated to be realized by selling the services or goods produced by the company. Since
cash is the lifeblood of any business, as stated by the Chartered Institute of Management
objective of cash management is to maintain a healthy cash flow for efficient business
operations. It is also asserted that the significance of managing corporate cash has led to
20
the advancement of cash management. Cash deficiencies will only cause the firms’
operations to be disrupted, and cash surpluses will just sit idle with no positive impact on
implementing Cash Management. Cash management practices are necessary for business
improve overall firm performance, and achieve their underlying goals. Furthermore, it also
helps business practitioners address the discrepancy in business operations regarding the
development and profitability for mitigating risk and effective decision-making and
management of cashflows.
literatures, it can be ascertained that cash management encompasses all actions and
is still liquid and able to fulfill its financial responsibilities and based on the recent studies,
this is accomplished by the efficient management of cash inflows and outflows, cash
balances, and cash transfers among a sector of many businesses. Cash management is an
Businesses will succeed when they comprehend and put into practice the principle of
efficient cash management. Implementing a sound cash management system will enhance
consumer trust, and improve financial risk management. In summary, any corporate
organization's cash management system must be functional and efficient to retain liquidity
Chapter 3
Research Method
research locale, respondents of the study, population and sample size, samples and
Research Design
questions using empirical data and determining the type of research design used in making
decisions about the overall objectives and approach of research. It helps to ensure that the
methods used match the aims and use the right kind of analysis of the data.
research involves collecting and analyzing data in numerical form to identify patterns,
make predictions, test relationships, and generalize results to a wider population. Survey
research is a method of collecting data from a specific group of people or items representing
a larger population. By studying a sample of the population, the results can be generalized
to the entire population. In other words, only a part of the population is studied, and the
Descriptive method was used in this study. This method of research entails
specific group or phenomenon. The researchers collected data on how respondents assess
22
the effectiveness of cash flow management practices and analyzed it using the descriptive
This also provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that these
Research Locale
This study examined the effectiveness of cash flow management practices on the
the center of the city. The researchers were able to gather and acquire sufficient data
because micro food retail businesses in Quiapo, Manila were more common, suitable, and
applicable for the study, as the researchers observed an increase in the number of food
The place has also served as a focus of commerce due to the numerous businesses
that have opened there and are owned and operated by Filipinos from all different
backgrounds. Given their limited resources, these businesses face financial viability and
success challenges.
The study’s respondents were the owners or managers of a micro food retail
business in Quiapo, Manila, or those in charge of managing or operating their cash inflows
and outflows. A micro food retail business must have between one (1) and nine (9) active
employees. The respondents for the said study were chosen by the researchers based on
Sampling Design
All the participants were chosen using convenience and purposive sampling. The
sampling was also used to filter the respondents included in the study by the researchers.
Respondents were chosen on purpose, with the specific requirement that they be a
registered micro food business in Quiapo, Manila, with one (1) to nine (9) active
employees. It was an appropriate approach for this study because it is widely used in
quantitative research to identify and select information-rich cases in order to make the best
Research Instrument
questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed with the research objectives and questions
In accordance with the research study's objective, the questionnaire was divided
into three sections. The first section requested demographic information from respondents.
This was done to determine the demographic or background information pertaining to the
microenterprises being surveyed and included questions such as the number of years that
capitalization, and the form of the business. The second section elicited responses
concerning the CFM practices of the microenterprises to assess its effectiveness in terms
of connectivity and data repository, global cash visibility, positioning and reconciliation,
24
and tracking and optimization. The third section elicited responses about the most common
problems encountered by the micro food retail business throughout its operation.
The quantitative questions were interpreted using a Five Point Likert Scale and the
effectiveness of cash flow management practices was validated in the following aspects:
connectivity and data repository, global cash visibility, positioning and reconciliation, and
tracking and optimization. The respondents rated the effectiveness of CFM practices on a
Disagree" (SD).
Adjective
Weighted Point Interval Symbol Used
Equivalent
food retail businesses in CFM were ranked from highest to lowest, with 1 being the highest
In the conducted survey, the owners, managers, and other employees who are
responsible for the cash management of the business provided information on the
25
related research. The purpose of the questionnaire was fully explained, and certain terms
and concepts were also clarified for those who had difficulty comprehending them. The
participants were assured that their responses would be kept confidential. Furthermore, the
format and nature of the questionnaire, as well as purpose and its expectations, and the time
All answers or responses were kept with their consent for encoding purposes,
resulting in accurate data. The survey questionnaire distributed by the researchers was
gathered, and the responses of the respondents were analyzed together to determine the
results regarding the effectiveness of cash flow management practices on the decision-
Data Analysis
of validity and reliability must be present. Researchers ensured that the research questions
were properly defined, and all questions were valid and relevant for the research topic.
The researchers gathered and compiled the results in a systematic manner using
various office tools e.g., Microsoft Forms, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word. The
researchers were able to clearly assess the acquired data in this manner. Moreover, the
researchers ensured that data was collected, completed, assessed, and evaluated.
This research study’s data was analyzed using descriptive analysis. Similar data
was methodically categorized and recorded before being analyzed. In general, the analysis
26
enabled the researchers to describe, illustrate, or summarize data points from the survey
questionnaire, segment the data for analysis, and utilize a coding scheme to depict the
stated phenomena.
selected respondents. The data was then organized and classified according to the research
method and the problems being studied. The data was tallied, coded, tabulated, and
of people who responded to a specific item and was used to organize and present
survey questionnaire.
2. Weighted Mean. This refers to the sum of the product score multiplied by the
frequency divided by the number of cases. This was used to present the
27
M = ∑X / n
Where: M = Mean
∑X = Sum of Observation
n = Number of Observation
significant difference between how the respondents assess the effectiveness of cash
profile.
𝑀𝑆𝑇
𝐹=
𝑀𝑆𝐸
∑𝑘𝑖=1(𝑇𝑖2 / 𝑛𝑖 ) − 𝐺 2 /𝑛
𝑀𝑆𝑇 =
𝑘−1
∑𝑘𝑖=1 ∑𝑛𝑗=1
𝑖
𝑌𝑖𝑗2 − ∑𝑘𝑖=1(𝑇𝑖2 /𝑛𝑖 )
𝑀𝑆𝐸 =
𝑛−𝑘
Where F is the variance ratio for the overall test, MST is the mean square
due to treatments/groups (between groups), MSE is the mean square due to error
28
is the grand total of all observations, ni is the number in group i and n is the total
number of observations.
4. Ranking. This was used to describe the positional importance of an item. It was
the order of values or scores from highest to lowest. In this study, participants'
responses about the most common challenges encountered by micro food retail
Chapter 4
This section presented a comprehensive analysis of the data collected and results
from (30) thirty purposively selected micro food businesses around Quiapo, Manila.
Research Question 1 What is the profile of Micro-sized Food Retail Enterprises in terms
of:
1.1 Years of Operation
1.2 Number of Employees
1.3 Capitalization
1.4 Form of Organization
Table 1
Frequency and Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to
Years of Operation
businesses surveyed in Quiapo, Manila, 50% (15) have been operating for 10 years or
more. Meanwhile, 17% (5) have been operating for less than three years, 10% (3) for 4-6
years, and 23% (7) for 7-9 years. This distribution of years of operation suggests that the
area has a mix of both new and established businesses, which could have implications for
their cash flow management practices and challenges encountered. For instance, more
30
established businesses may have had more time to develop and refine their cash flow
Table 2
Frequency and Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to
Number of Employees
retail businesses in Quiapo, Manila. It revealed that most micro-food retail businesses in
Quiapo, Manila have a small number of employees, with 70% or out of 21 respondents
indicating a number between 1 and 3, and most of them were owners who also manage
both the business and its processes. Meanwhile, 23.3% (7) have 4-6 employees, and only
6.7% (2) have 7-9 employees. This suggests that the businesses in the area are primarily
Table 3
Frequency and Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to Capitalization
Quiapo, Manila. Most businesses (25 out of 30, or 83.3%) reported having less than
31
capitalization between P1,000,001 and P2,000,000, and two businesses (6.7%) reported
This data suggests that the surveyed businesses in Quiapo, Manila are primarily
small and may have limited resources to invest in their operations. Jasra et al. (2011)
emphasized that financial resources are the most important factors that affect the success
of SMEs and on which the whole business depends. This could potentially impact on their
cash flow management practices and overall financial health, as businesses with less
capitalization may face greater difficulty in managing their cash flow effectively.
Table 4
Frequency and Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to
Form of Organization
businesses in Quiapo, Manila. All the businesses surveyed (30) reported being organized
as sole proprietorships. Additionally, all businesses indicated that they were registered
This data suggests that micro-sized food retail businesses in Quiapo, Manila tend
and small enterprises. The BMBE program, which provides incentives and benefits to
Table 5
Table 5 above showed the respondent’s assessment of the effectiveness of cash flow
processes, obtained a weighted average of 4.47. Based on the weighted mean score result
of 4.37, most respondents strongly agreed that cash flow management help their business
monitor cash flow status in real-time. On the other hand, respondents with a total weighted
score of 3.90 agreed that sharing cash flow information with the relevant stakeholders such
as team members, vendors, and financial institutions was simple. For an average weighted
mean of 2.63, most of the respondents also strongly agreed that a company’s cash flow
history and trends are readily and easily accessible information. Most of the respondents
that the researchers interviewed also strongly agreed that their cash flow management
33
practices enable accurate tracking and forecasting of the company’s cash flow with a total
greater transparency, better use of capital, quicker decision-making, and better insights into
their cash position." This aligned with the data gathered, which suggests that while there
are areas for improvement in terms of ease of retrieval and accuracy of tracking and
particularly in terms of gathering and storing transactions and information, is agreed upon
Table 6
Effectiveness of CFM Practices in terms of Global Cash Visibility
weighted average score of 4.27 indicates that micro businesses agreed that cash flow
management aids in identifying risk factors to improve and enrich business processes and
34
unlock potential growth opportunities. In assessing the timely and effective anticipation
and response to changes in the financial performance of the business, many respondents
agreed with a total weighted mean of 4.20. With a weighted mean of 4.07, most
microenterprises agreed that effective cash flow management enables businesses to identify
forecasting and planning for financial needs to reduce the risk of financial difficulties such
as liquidity shortages or overdrafts. Musah and Ibrahim (2014) revealed that some business
owners rely on their memory rather than keeping proper books of accounts. Also, most
SMEs do not keep complete accounting records because of lack of accounting knowledge
Additionally, micro businesses disagreed that cash flow management allows for the
strategic objectives with a weighted mean of 2.53. As many small and medium-sized
businesses still use manual recording, it is difficult to assess the extent to which the SME
has experienced business development because financial records are not clear and accurate.
With this, it is difficult for the company to implement a more efficient system that will
indicating that cash flow management practices is effective in making informed strategic
decisions and that understanding and knowing the cash position is critical for the business.
Table 7
35
Table 7 above showed the respondent’s assessment of the effectiveness of cash flow
weighted mean of 4.53, only a slight adherence was found on the standards which some of
the respondents strongly agreed that their cash flow management practice help them
understand the company's current financial position and making informed decisions on
resource allocation. The respondents, with a total weighted mean of 4.03, agreed that the
organization identify financial deficits through cash flow management and use those
deficits to make borrowing decisions. The assessment based on the first statement resulted
in a weighted average score of 3.83 indicating that some of the respondents agreed that
cash flow management enables their business to discover cash excess for investment
decision-making.
Several of the respondents disagreed that it is easy for them to compare financial
records to find and correct discrepancies, with a weighted mean of 2.63 indicative of
including poor business and investment decisions, regulatory fines, and bankruptcy. The
36
flow management and control practices. Because of this, they frequently neglect to make a
cash budget, fail to keep track of their cash receipts and payments. His research also
showed that effective cash management is a crucial skill for entrepreneurs to possess to
Moreover, the respondents with a weighted mean of 2.47 disagreed since their cash
flow management practice deemed to be inefficient to identify each cash surplus or deficit
consistently and accurately in the business' financial records. This is because these
microenterprises do not record frequently, and these microenterprises are unable to keep
track of their financial records. The study conducted by Bruwer et. al. (2015) revealed that
most of these entities do not prepare cash budgets or forecasts, do not conduct bank
reconciliations, and do not monitor their cash flows on a real-time basis. Many
microenterprises also take a passive approach to their cash management and only rely on
manual processes or simple accounting to manage their cash even as their businesses grow
(Enow, 2015). These enterprises eventually experience cash flow issues that result in their
Overall, the positioning and reconciliation got a total weighted average score of
3.50 indicating that cash flow management practice is highly effective in terms of
identifying cash surplus and deficit, making investment, or borrowing decisions, and
positive relationship with cash flow management practices, which indicates that enterprises
that have more efficient cash flow management practices perform better.
Table 8
Effectiveness of CFM Practices in terms of Tracking and Optimization
Table 8 above showed the respondent’s assessment of the effectiveness of cash flow
mean of 4.40 is computed for the statement, it simplifies the tracking of all accounts, saves
time in managing them. With a response rate of 4.30 weighted mean, respondents strongly
agreed that their cash flow management practices improve the transparency and
accountability of the business accounts. The second statement assessing whether the
resolution of issues with business accounts obtained a total mean of 4.03 in which most of
Furthermore, based on the weighted mean score result of 2.63, most respondents
disagreed that cash flow management enables better understanding and management of
the financial documentation and records of the business. While it is true, based on many
38
literatures, that cash flow management makes most businesses operate better, in this case
it is no doubt that some micro businesses were experiencing some difficulties when dealing
with the business’ cash transactions. Myeko and Madikane (2019) research had results that
revealed that most of their respondents failed to adopt appropriate record keeping practices
and were unaware of the significance and role of record keeping in their businesses. Due
to a lack of skills and knowledge, most small, micro, and medium-sized businesses do not
use proper recording practices and do not understand the critical role of notetaking in
business.
And lastly, with a total score of 2.57 in the computed weighted mean, it indicates
that some participants also disagreed about the cash flow management practices in terms
of identifying and implementing financial controls to prevent fraud and error, since it is
not easy for them. According to Lusardi (2008), financial illiteracy not only affects
decision-making but contributes to poor planning, bad borrowing behavior, and error in
controlling the cash management of the small business. In later research, Aladejebi and
Oladimeji (2019) found that SMEs have fewer anti-fraud measures and smaller resources
to prevent and recover from financial fraud. Making them more vulnerable to fraud and
error.
score of 3.59 showing how most of the respondents agreed, indicating that the cash flow
management practices are somehow highly effective in terms of tracking and optimization
of business accounts.
Research Question 3 Is there a significant difference in how the respondents assess the
effectiveness of their cash flow management when they are grouped according to
profile?
39
Table 9
ANOVA Results on the Test of Difference of the Assessment of the Effectiveness
of CFM when Grouped According to Years of Operation
Computed
Lead Variable Decision Conclusion
P-Value
Connectivity and Data Repository 0.0002 Reject H0 Significant
Global Cash Visibility 0.0001 Reject H0 Significant
Positioning and Reconciliation 0.0001 Reject H0 Significant
Tracking and Optimization 0.0001 Reject H0 Significant
The present study was conducted to determine if years of operation influence the
were assigned into four conditions: 0 to 3 years, 4 to 6 years, 7 to 9 years, and 10 years
upward. Based on the results presented, it appears that there are significant differences in
the Connectivity and Data Repository response across the four different conditions, as
indicated by the F-value of 9.39 and p-value of 0.0002 which is lower than the 0.05 level
of significance.
A significant difference was also observed with respect to Global Cash Visibility,
the computed F value is 12.7, p = 0.0001 which is lower than the 0.05 level of significance.
Therefore, the researchers should reject the null hypothesis as there are differences among
the conditions. The result with respect to Positioning and Reconciliation, F (3,26) = 25.5,
when they are grouped according to years of operation. Computed F value of 17.2, p =
0.0001 which is lower than the 0.05 level of significance, which suggests that to reject the
null hypothesis and conclude that there is a significant difference in the respondent's
Overall, the results suggest that there are significant differences in the assessment
of micro food retail businesses regarding four distinct aspects of Cash Flow Management,
40
namely Connectivity and Data Repository, Global Cash Visibility, Positioning and
Reconciliation, and Tracking and Optimization. These results provide evidence to suggest
that years of operation are a meaningful factor in determining the effectiveness of cash
Table 10
ANOVA Results on the Test of Difference of the Assessment of the Effectiveness
of CFM when Grouped According to Number of Employees
Computed
Lead Variable Decision Conclusion
P-Value
Connectivity and Data Repository 0.0004 Reject H0 Significant
Not
Global Cash Visibility 0.479 Accept H0
Significant
Positioning and Reconciliation 0.002 Reject H0 Significant
Tracking and Optimization 0.008 Reject H0 Significant
Based on the results presented, a significant difference was observed with respect
to Connectivity and Data Repository when they are grouped according to the number of
employees. The F value (2,27) is 10.41, p = 0.0004 which is lower than the 0.05 level of
significance, it indicates that there is significant difference between the group assessment.
The respondent’s assessment of Global Cash Visibility Resulted in a P value of 0.479, and
an F value (2,27, F = 0.75) that is lower than the critical value. The results indicate that the
researchers must accept the null hypothesis and conclude that there is no significant
than the 0.05 level of significance, it suggests that to reject the null hypothesis and conclude
Reconciliation. The result with respect to Tracking and Optimization, computed F value
41
(2,27) is 5.82, and p = 0.008 shows that there is a significant difference in the respondent’s
Based on the results presented, it can be concluded that there are significant
practices in micro food retail businesses when they are grouped according to the number
Tracking and Optimization were found to have significant differences among the groups.
assessment of Cash Flow Management effectiveness in Global Cash Visibility. The result
indicates that the benefits of having effective cash flow management in terms of Global
Cash Visibility are not limited to larger businesses, and even small businesses can benefit
from such practice. This also suggests that the size of the business, in terms of the number
of employees, does not have a significant impact on how effective the respondents perceive
their Global Cash Visibility practices to be in managing their cash flow. The result also
suggests that it does not have a significant impact on how well the businesses can track and
Table 11
Based on the results presented, it appears that there are significant differences in
the Connectivity and Data Repository response across the three distinct groups of
Capitalization. As indicated in the table, the p-value is 0.0002 and F (2,27) = 11.69, It
suggests that the researchers should reject the null hypothesis and conclude that there is a
The table shows that there is no statistically significant difference between the
groups with respect to Global Cash Visibility. The F-value equals to 1.391 is less than the
critical F-value (2,27) of 3.354, indicating that there is not enough evidence to reject the
null hypothesis that the means of the groups are equal. Additionally, the P-value of 0.266
is greater than the conventional alpha level of 0.05, which further supports the conclusion
that there is no significant difference between the groups. Therefore, we can infer that the
independent variable (Capitalization) being tested did not have a significant effect on the
The computed F-value (2,27) of 6.44 and p-value of 0.005 suggests that the null
hypothesis can be rejected, and there is a significant difference in the respondent's response
relating to Positioning and Reconciliation. This means that the two groups being compared
differ significantly in terms of their perceptions of these concepts. The result for Tracking
and Optimization shows that there is a significant difference in the respondent's assessment
when they are grouped according to Capitalization. The F-value (2,27) of 3.76 is greater
than the critical value, and the P-value of 0.036 is less than the alpha level of 0.05,
Overall, the results suggest that there are significant differences in the perceptions
of Connectivity and Data Repository, Positioning and Reconciliation, and Tracking and
Optimization among the three groups of businesses with various levels of capitalization.
suggests that the size of the business, as measured by its capitalization, does not have a
significant impact on how well the businesses can track and monitor their cash flow across
its operations.
Table 12
P1,000,00- P2,000,001-
0.533 0.426 ns
P2,000,000 P3,000,000
The study used the Bonferroni Post-hoc Test to compare the means of different
groups based on their assessment of four factors related to the effectiveness of cash flow
management practices. These factors include Connectivity and Data Repository, Global
Cash Visibility, Positioning and Reconciliation, and Tracking and Optimization. The aim
was to determine whether there were significant differences in the perceptions of these
The post-hoc test showed that micro food retail businesses that have been operating
for 0 to 3 years (M=2.84) scored significantly lower in Connectivity and Data Repository
compared to those who have been operating for 10 years or more (M=4.04), p < 0.008.
Additionally, micro food retail businesses that have been operating for 7 to 9 years
(M=3.34) also scored significantly lower in Connectivity and Data Repository compared
to those that have been operating for 10 years or more (M=4.04), p < 0.008. The test also
revealed that micro food retail businesses that have been operating for 0 to 3 years
(M=2.48) scored significantly lower in Global Cash Visibility compared to those who have
been operating for 10 years or more (M=3.96), as well as those who have been operating
Furthermore, micro food retail businesses that have been operating for 0 to 3 years
who have been operating for 10 years or more (M=4.12), p < 0.008. The same was true for
micro food retail businesses that have been operating for 7 to 9 years (M= 3.22) compared
to 10 years or more (M=4.12), p < 0.008. Test also revealed that micro food retail
businesses that have been operating for 0 to 3 years (M=2.60) scored significantly lower in
46
Tracking and Optimization compared to those who have been operating for 10 years or
This implies that the micro food retail businesses that have been operating for less
than 10 years, particularly those that have been operating for 0 to 3 years and 7 to 9 years,
have lower scores in various aspects of cash flow management compared to those that have
been operating for 10 years or more. These aspects include connectivity and data
repository, global cash visibility, positioning and reconciliation, and tracking and
optimization. This indicates that newer businesses are not as well equipped to handle their
cash flow effectively as more established businesses. They may lack the necessary systems
or processes to collect and store financial data, monitor their cash positions, identify cash
exceptions, and optimize their cash flow. Which further support the study done in South
Africa that new micro businesses rarely employ financial planning and control, financial
Therefore, the result suggests that the effectiveness of CFM practices is dependent
on how long micro food retail businesses are in operation. The longer a business operates,
the more they are aware and informed of the effectiveness of CFM practices. Effectively
manage and utilize it for effective decision-making, allowing it to operate for longer
periods of time.
Micro food businesses with different numbers of employees and different amounts
Connectivity and Data Repository, Positioning and Reconciliation, and Tracking and
compared to those with 4 to 6 employees (M=4.09) p < 0.017, while those with 7 to 9
employees (M=4.70) had the highest assessment compared to the other group, p < 0.017.
0.017, while for Tracking and Optimization, those with 1 to 3 employees (M=3.32) had
p < 0.017, and those with 7 to 9 employees (M=4.40), p < 0.017. It implies that as micro
food retail businesses grow in terms of employee count, their cash management practices
tend to become more effective and efficient. Businesses with more employees tend to have
better control over their cash flow, which allows them to make more informed decisions
regarding their financial activities. According to the study of Suminah et al. (2022), an
increase in employees can affect the profitability or the income of the business. This is in
line with the results presented that the lower the number of employees that a business has
the more they overlooked the effectiveness of proper CFM practice in the profitability and
success of the business. While global cash visibility did not show a significant difference
among the different employee groups, this does not necessarily mean that it is not
important. Businesses of all sizes should prioritize having real-time visibility into their
For businesses with different amounts of capital, those with less than P1,000,000
capital (M=3.38) had significantly lower assessments of Connectivity and Data Repository
capital (M=4.60). Additionally, for Positioning and Reconciliation, those with less than
48
P1,000,000 capital (M=3.31) had significantly lower assessments compared to those with
those with less than P1,000,000 capital (M=3.44) had significantly lower assessments
compared to those with P1,000,001 to P2,000,000 (M=4.53). The significance level for all
comparisons was less than the Bonferroni adjusted alpha level, p < 0.017. It suggests that
businesses with less than P1,000,000 in capital face significant challenges in effectively
managing their cash flow. The data indicates that these businesses have lower assessments
of connectivity and data repository, global cash visibility, positioning and reconciliation,
and tracking and optimization compared to businesses with higher amounts of capital. This
may be due to limited resources and capabilities to invest in advanced cash flow
management systems and processes. Which further in line with the study of by Suminah et
al (2022), having greater capital used and the easier a business get capital, it will result
management for businesses of all sizes, as even minute variations in capital levels can have
Businesses with lower capital levels may benefit from investing in automated accounting
systems or seeking external support from financial experts to improve cash flow
management.
Table 13
Overall ANOVA Results on the Test of Difference of the Assessment of the
Effectiveness of CFM
Grouped By df F P value Significance Result
Years of operation 3 45.45 0.001 Significant H0 Rejected
26
Number of Employees 2 7.29 0.003 Significant H0 Rejected
49
27
Capitalization 2 3.73 0.037 Significant H0 Rejected
27
Table 13 shows that there is a significant difference in the overall mean scores
across the four groups based on years of operation. The value of F-statistic (45.45) is larger
than the critical value (2.98) and the p-value of 0.001 is much smaller than the significance
level of 0.05. This suggests that we can reject the null hypothesis that there is significant
difference in the mean scores among the four groups. These results provide evidence to
suggest that years of operation are a meaningful factor in determining the effectiveness of
cash flow management among micro-sized food retail businesses in Quiapo, Manila.
A significant difference was also observed when the respondents are grouped
according to the number of employees. Since the p-value of 0.003, which is less than the
significance level of 0.05 and the F-value of 7.29 is greater than the critical F-value of 3.35,
The preceding results were somehow reasonable as micro businesses were usually
not large in numbers, having a micro-sized business means they also had a minimum
income only. And managing cash and the micro business does not necessarily need many
employees. In fact, micro businesses, in accordance also to research, must implement cost-
adjusting staff members' status from permanent to momentary based on their needs and
sales revenue.
The results show that there is a significant difference in the means of response when
significant F-statistic (F = 3.73 p = 0.037). The F-statistic value exceeded the critical F-
50
value (F crit = 3.35), indicating that the null hypothesis can be rejected. The results of the
analysis indicate that there is a significant difference in the mean scores of the three groups
The proper control of cash or capitalization is crucial in ensuring that there are
sufficient funds to support a business' operations. The availability of cash flow allows
companies to meet their obligations on time and to pay suppliers, which can result in cash
businesses to effectively manage their incoming and outgoing cash. Companies that
manage their cash flow effectively tend to perform better financially. In general, making
Research Question 4 What are the challenges encountered by Micro-sized Food Retail
Enterprises in cash flow management?
Table 14
Ranking on the Challenges Encountered by Micro Food Retail Enterprises in CFM
Indicators WM Rank
Limited cash reserves and insufficient working
3.97 5
capital.
Inability to effectively forecast and manage
2.80 3
seasonal fluctuations in sales and revenue.
Difficulty in managing and tracking inventory and
3.87 4
expenses.
Lack of financial/accounting expertise. 2.43 2
Pricing pressure to keep prices low to compete
1.90 1
with larger competitors.
Table 14 shows the challenges encountered by the respondents in their cash flow
management practices based on their actual performance where rank 1 is the most common
and rank 5 is the least. From the table presented, the most common challenge faced by the
51
respondents is pricing pressure to keep prices low to compete with larger competitors, with
a rank of 1 and a weighted mean of 1.90. The second most common challenge is the lack
of financial/accounting expertise, with a rank of 2 and a weighted mean of 2.43. The third
most common challenge is the inability to effectively forecast and manage seasonal
fluctuations in sales and revenue, with a rank of 5 and a weighted mean of 2.80.
The fourth most common challenge is difficulty in managing and tracking inventory
and expenses, with a rank of 4 and a weighted mean of 3.87. Finally, the least common
challenge is limited cash reserves and insufficient working capital, with a rank of 3 and a
These results are consistent with the results of the study of Cant and Wiid (2013)
who stated that one of the major constraints to SME business success is the wrong pricing
strategies being implemented. Small to micro and medium enterprises must learn from
Furthermore, there are also SMEs who consider manual recording more effective
because the size of the business activity is relatively small. In addition, most SMEs believe
that the business they are involved in is a small one that is only run to meet their daily
needs (Rahmawati & Puspasari, 2017). Mannan et. al. (2022), also stated that companies
used accounting knowledge for business operations, but not for systematic accounting.
They only compile it as far as they know without separating it into reports and do not make
Overall, the challenges faced by the respondents in their cash flow management
practices suggest that they need to improve their financial and accounting expertise to
better manage their limited resources and respond to the pricing pressure imposed by larger
52
competitors. They also need to improve their inventory and expense management practices
and their ability to forecast and manage seasonal fluctuations in sales and revenue.
53
Chapter 5
This chapter presents the research results summary and discusses the conclusions
drawn from the data. Additionally, the researchers will give recommendations based on the
study's outcomes that can be used to inform future research or practical applications.
Summary of Results
The research focused on micro-sized food retail businesses in Quiapo, Manila, and
found that 50% of the businesses had been operating for 10 years or more, while the
majority (70%) had between 1 and 3 employees. Additionally, 87% of the surveyed
resources to invest in operations. All the businesses surveyed were organized as sole
proprietorships, with registration under the Barangay Micro Business Enterprise (BMBE)
program.
making in terms of the four aspects, namely connectivity and data repository, global cash
visibility, positioning and reconciliation, and cost control and forecasting, was evaluated
In terms of connectivity and data repository, most respondents strongly agreed that
CFM helps them in monitoring their business’ cash flow status in real-time and has an
Respondents also agreed that sharing cash flow information with relevant stakeholders was
simple. However, there is room for improvement in terms of ease of retrieval and accuracy
In terms of global cash visibility, most microenterprises agreed that their CFM
practice identifies opportunities for cost reduction and efficiency. They also agreed that
timely and effective anticipation and response to changes in financial performance was
possible. Respondents agreed that CFM aids in their practice to identify risk factors to
enhance and enrich business processes and unlock potential growth opportunities.
However, micro businesses disagreed because their CFM practice does not have a better
forecasting and planning for financial needs to reduce the risk of financial difficulties and
CFM helps them understand the company's current financial position and make informed
decisions on the allocation of resources. They also agreed that their CFM practice enables
the business to discover cash excess for investment decision-making. Respondents also
agreed that the organization can identify financial deficits through CFM and use those
deficits to make borrowing decisions. However, respondents disagreed since their CFM
practice was deemed inefficient in identifying each cash surplus or deficit consistently and
55
not easy for them to compare financial records to find and correct discrepancies.
Lastly, in the aspect of tracking and optimizing, most respondents agreed that their
cash flow management practices were effective in tracking and optimizing accounts,
resolution of issues. However, respondents disagreed that cash flow management practices
helped them in understanding and managing financial documentation and records and
identifying and implementing financial controls to prevent fraud and error. This is due to
lack of skills and knowledge among micro-sized businesses in adopting appropriate record-
keeping practices.
The study aimed to determine if the years of operation, number of employees, and
capitalization influences the effectiveness of cash flow management (CFM) in micro food
The respondents were grouped into different conditions, and their assessments of
CFM were compared. The results showed significant differences in the assessment of CFM
in different aspects such as Connectivity and Data Repository, Global Cash Visibility,
Positioning and Reconciliation, and Tracking and Optimization, when grouped according
observed in four different aspects when grouped according to the years of operation of
micro food retail businesses. However, there is no significant difference in the response in
Repository, Positioning and Reconciliation, and Tracking and Optimization response when
grouped according to number of employees and capitalization. Overall, the study provides
evidence that years of operation and capitalization or number of employees are meaningful
factors in determining the effectiveness of CFM among micro-sized food retail businesses
in Quiapo, Manila.
The researchers compared the perceptions of micro food retail businesses on four
factors related to the effectiveness of cash flow management practices: Connectivity and
Data Repository, Global Cash Visibility, Positioning and Reconciliation, and Tracking and
Optimization. The Bonferroni Post-hoc Test was used to analyze the differences among
different groups based on the duration of operation, number of employees, and amount of
capital.
The results showed that micro food retail businesses that have been operating for a
shorter duration (0 to 3 years) had significantly lower scores on Connectivity and Data
Repository, Global Cash Visibility, Positioning and Reconciliation, and Tracking and
Optimization compared to those who have been operating for a longer duration (10 years
or more). Similarly, micro food retail businesses that have been operating for 7 to 9 years
also had significantly lower scores on Connectivity and Data Repository, Positioning and
Reconciliation compared to those who have been operating for a longer duration. The
findings suggest that the effectiveness of cash flow management practices is dependent on
the duration of a business's operation. Businesses that have been operating for longer
periods of time are more likely to have developed effective cash flow management
practices, allowing them to manage their finances more efficiently and make informed
strategic decisions.
57
The study also found that businesses with different numbers of employees and
different amounts of capital significantly differ in their assessments of the four factors.
employees had the highest assessment. Similarly, businesses with less than P1,000,000
Positioning and Reconciliation, and Tracking and Optimization compared to those with
higher amounts of capital. It suggests that as micro food retail businesses grow in terms of
employee count, their cash management practices tend to become more effective and
efficient. Businesses with more employees tend to have better control over their cash flow,
which allows them to make more informed decisions regarding their financial activities.
Similarly, businesses with higher amounts of capital have better cash management
practices, likely due to their resources and capabilities to invest in advanced cash flow
management systems and processes. However, all businesses, regardless of size, should
prioritize having real-time visibility into their global cash position in order to make
The overall results indicated a significant difference in the mean scores among the
four groups based on years of operation, number of employees, and capitalization. The
researchers rejected the null hypothesis, these results provide evidence that years of
the effectiveness of cash flow management among micro-sized food retail businesses.
competitors. Additionally, limited financial and accounting expertise and insufficient cash
reserves and working capital were also major obstacles. Difficulties in managing and
tracking inventory and expenses also posed a significant challenge. Although forecasting
and managing seasonal fluctuations in sales and revenue were the least common
Conclusions
This study clearly shows that cash flow management practices are a crucial
component of businesses’ daily operations and that their significance cannot be ignored.
Businesses are more likely to succeed and prolong their operation in the market when they
recognize and put into practice the idea of effective cash flow management.
1. The result of this study suggests that micro-sized food retail businesses in Quiapo,
Manila are primarily small, with limited capitalization and a small number of
and registered under the BMBE program. These positively impact the respondents’
cash flow management practices by allowing them to save on taxes and other costs,
as well as providing access to financial assistance programs that can help them
manage their cash flow effectively. These also establish credibility and legitimacy,
which can be important for building trust with customers and suppliers.
59
The data also indicates that most of the respondents have been operating for
10 years or more, with most operating with 1-3 employees and reporting less than
P1,000,000 in capitalization. These results have implications for their cash flow
may have had more time to develop and refine their cash flow management
sized food retail businesses in Quiapo, Manila, it is concluded that overall, cash
global cash visibility, positioning and reconciliation, and tracking and optimization.
3. Based on the results and Bonferroni post-hoc test, it shows that there is a significant
difference on how the respondents assess the effectiveness of their cash flow
management when they are grouped according to their profile. The groups that were
of the respondents.
60
assessment of their cash flow management. The Bonferroni post-hoc test revealed
that there are significant differences in the means of response for the different
Repository is determined by the length of time micro food retail businesses are in
with lesser years of operation, fewer employees, and lower amounts of capital may
find it difficult to collect and organize data and make it available for use. It is
concluded that the longer a business has been in operation (10 years or more), the
higher the number of employees (7-9 employees), and the average to high amount
P3,000,000) the business has, even if the employees are lacking in formal
accounting knowledge, the more efficiently and effectively they gather and store
data transactions and information, enabling them to easily access and analyze data
also determined by the length of time micro food retail businesses have been in
operation. Businesses with less experience or that are newer in operation may
struggle with reporting on their cash flow, real-time cash visibility, risk mitigation,
and forecasting future needs to better understand their financial position and fulfill
Positioning and Reconciliation that newer businesses or those that have been in
61
operation for a shorter period of time face difficulties in identifying when there is
a cash surplus or deficit, verifying and reconciling the amount of cash with the
balances shown in their financial records, if any, and making decisions about how
compared to micro businesses that have been operating for longer period. Also,
are efficient and effective in aggregating their cash balance and transaction
information to ensure that there are enough resources to cover business needs such
as meeting obligations and that they are making the most informed decisions to get
Tracking and Optimization revealed that the longer the business has been in
operation, the higher the number of employees, and the average amount of capital
business accounts and optimizing the way accounts are set up and organized.
Therefore, the results suggest that micro food retail businesses should take
into consideration their profile when managing their cash flow. For instance, those
who have been operating for a shorter period or have lower capitalization may need
processes.
4. Micro-sized food retail enterprises face several challenges in managing their cash
flow effectively. The most common challenge is pricing pressure, which is likely
due to the need to compete with larger competitors. The lack of financial and
62
accounting expertise is also a significant challenge, indicating the need for training
and support in this area. Additionally, limited cash reserves and insufficient
working capital, difficulty in managing and tracking inventory and expenses, and
the inability to effectively forecast and manage seasonal fluctuations in sales and
Recommendations
Based on conclusions drawn and within the scope of the study, the researchers proposed
1. Taking into consideration that the effectiveness of cash flow management (CFM)
practices in terms of the four aspects, namely connectivity and data repository,
global cash visibility, positioning and reconciliations, tracking and optimization are
(a) Micro-sized food retail businesses should monitor and evaluate their cash flow
improvement. This can be done through regular financial analysis and reporting, as
(b) Micro-sized food retail businesses should take advantage of technological advances
that can improve their cash flow management. This includes utilizing free
accounting software, such as the Peddlr APP, which can be downloaded to any
smartphone and even operates offline. A process like this can increase efficiency
and improve data accessibility. It can ensure the owners that the decisions they
(c) Micro-sized food retail businesses should carry out segregation of duties, as
cash flows. By assigning various tasks to different personnel, this can improve the
key internal control intended to minimize the occurrence of both erroneous and
2. Taking into consideration that the cash flow management (CFM) practices are
a group consisting of microenterprises around the same area and within the same
expertise in cash flow management. They can hire someone and share the funds to
pay with other microenterprises. By doing this, the cost will not much burden them
and the financial professionals can help them improve the accuracy and consistency
recommend:
(a) Micro-sized businesses should perform a competitive pricing analysis and establish
a solid pricing process that will enable them to differentiate their pricing across
(b) Micro-sized businesses should determine the amount of cash that is most
appropriate for the level of activity and organize the timing of pertinent payments
64
daily operations. This will guarantee that there is always a stock of the products
available and notify employees when there is no more supply. Hence, the
enterprises may take action to sell them before they become obsolete or damaged.
(d) Micro-sized businesses should allow cash discounts for early paying customers,
they can also develop a policy which hinders debtors to purchase more goods before
previous debts are settled and avail themselves of special deals discounts from their
suppliers.
The researchers strongly recommend that the results of the current study be
validated by future researchers by comparing the result of the effectiveness of cash flow
This study focused on micro food retail businesses in Quiapo, Manila. The
researchers further encourage future studies that can be undertaken among the businesses
Future research can be carried out using different methodologies, resources, and
techniques. Future research could also explore strategies to enhance the adoption and
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APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
Instruction: Please read carefully and check the corresponding boxes for your answer(s)
III. Capitalization
Less than P1,000,000
P1,000,001 – P2,000,000
P2,000,001 – P3,000,000
III. Positioning and Reconciliation (Identify cash surplus and deficit, make
investment/borrowing decisions, and reconcile exceptions)
Statements 5 4 3 2 1
IV. Tracking and Optimization (Tracking all account details including signers
and optimizing the number and structure of accounts)
Statements 5 4 3 2 1
What are the challenges encountered by Micro-sized Food Retail Enterprises in cash
flow management? (Rank according to the most common to least common challenges that
the business encountered; 1 being most common and 5 being the least)
Limited cash reserves and insufficient working capital.
Inability to effectively forecast and manage seasonal fluctuations in sales and
revenue.
Difficulty in managing and tracking inventory and expenses.
Lack of financial/accounting expertise.
Pricing pressure to keep prices low to compete with larger competitors.
Jennilou J. Añasco
Phone: +63 9957166919
Email: anascojj@students.national-u.edu.ph
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jennilou-añasco
Address: Malabon City, Philippines
EDUCATION
79
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
AWARDS
SKILLS
Khriestineille A. Castor
Phone: +63 9393904922
Email: castorka@students.national-u.edu.ph
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/khriestineille-castor
Address: Caloocan City, Philippines
EDUCATION
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
SKILLS
COURSES
Wally P. Jimena
81
EDUCATION
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
SKILLS
Angelika P. Mollaneda
Phone: +63 9958191709
82
Email: mollanedaap@students.national-u.edu.ph
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/amllnd
Address: Taguig City, Philippines
EDUCATION
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
AWARDS
SKILLS
Maelaine M. Sanguyo
Phone: +63 9759210037
Email: sanguyomm@students.national-u.edu.ph
83
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/maelaine-sanguyo
Address: Pampanga City, Philippines
EDUCATION
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
SKILLS
AWARDS