Drivers of Institutional Performance: Risk-Aware Culture in Philippine Private Higher Education

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between risk-aware culture and institutional performance in private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in the Philippines. Using a quantitative cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 346 respondents across institutional, managerial, and individual level in Region 1. The research measured seven dimensions of risk-aware culture adapted from COSO (2017) and ISO 31000 frameworks. Descriptive statistics revealed high risk awareness across all dimensions (overall M = 3.393). Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated strong positive relationships between risk-aware culture and performance at all organizational levels (r = .712 to .745, p ¸.01), with an overall correlation of r = .924. Multiple regression analysis identified leadership commitment (β = .447), communication (β = .425), and resource allocation (β = .404) as the only significant unique predictors of institutional performance, collectively explaining 96.9% of the variance. Governance structure, regulatory pressure, and external pressure were not significant independent predictors, indicating that internal organizational mechanisms outweigh external compliance pressures. These findings extend organizational culture and institutional resilience theories by demonstrating that risk-aware culture operates differently across organizational levels. Practical implications emphasize the need for visible leadership commitment, transparent communication systems, and strategic resource allocation to enhance institutional effectiveness in Philippine PHEIs.