Challenges and opportunities associated with cost management to improve the performance of family-owned educational institutions in Cabinda

This article, Challenges and Opportunities Associated with Cost Management to Improve the Performance of Family-Owned Educational Institutions in Cabinda, aims to address the research question: why can the challenges and opportunities associated with cost management improve the performance of family-owned educational institutions in Cabinda? As a preliminary assumption, it was hypothesized that such challenges and opportunities, when well understood and leveraged, have the potential to significantly contribute to the improvement of organizational performance in these institutions. To validate these assumptions, we set out to measure the performance indicators associated with the cost management practices of the family-owned institution Colégio Bueia e Filhos, located in the municipality of Cabinda. This was supported by data collection techniques, namely structured interviews, complemented by specific instruments such as activity sheets, cost driver maps, and budget structuring frameworks. Additionally, the activity-based costing (ABC) system and benchmarking were applied. Due to limitations in the financial data of other institutions, benchmarking focused primarily on budget management practices. The results, analyzed in conjunction with the theoretical framework, revealed that improving cost management contributes to greater financial predictability and control, enhanced profit margins, better-informed strategic decisions, increased market competitiveness, and expansion capacity. These findings confirm the initial hypothesis that identifying the challenges and opportunities associated with cost management improves the performance of family-owned educational institutions in Cabinda.