Thesis (M.B.A. (Rhodes Investec Business School)) - Rhodes University, 2008. / Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Business Administration in the Rhodes Investec Business School (RIBS)

Teilw. zugl.: Darmstadt, Techn. Univ., Diss., 2005

Thesis (M.P.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the New Information Economy, government institutions must reorganise themselves to leverage their resources for sustainable growth and to compete in the global market place. According to some authors, successful organisations tend to be those that rely on their ability to innovate, use information constructively and leverage employee competencies to create sustainable growth rather than focusing on buildings and machines. In this research, the effective use of an Information Orientation Strategy for the improvement of service delivery in the South African government departments and in the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in particular, will be investigated. Some private organisations and a few public organisations have learned to use information effectively to achieve higher business performance. However, a sizeable number of public organisations are still operating within the paradigm of the old economy. The latter organisations, through their leadership, must learn to ensure that information is used to compete effectively throughout the organisation. They must start to collect information about the activities of their: competitors, clients and alliance partners in order to improve services, grow partnerships, and to respond to clients and customers in a more intelligent and speedier manner. The change in the effective use of information in an organisation starts at the top - that is, with the mindset and attitude of senior management. They need to start viewing information as a valuable resource which through interaction with information capabilities, form an information orientation (IO), which can predict and improve business performance. In order to attain a mature IO, an organisation must concurrently improve all the dimensions of the IO paradigm, namely: information management practices, information technology practices and information behaviours and values. The drive to a mature IO must be people-centred, to ensure that such people are predisposed to a culture of proactive use of information and sharing. This requires leadership to: develop corporate information values and behavioural norms; demonstrate such information behaviours in conducting their duties; provide competency training for improving skills and knowledge and link the two to performance management; introduce incentives and monetary and non-monetary rewards to reinforce the new values. This, in turn, will pave the way for the implementation of good information management practices and the use of information technology to support new initiatives. An organisation, by following this path, will be able to attain a higher IO and from this, an improved level of business performance such as: a superior organisational image and reputation, better service innovation, superior financial performance and greater business/service growth. The transition to the IO paradigm must commence with leadership providing an overarching information strategy to map out how the organisation intends to create value from its information-based assets. In the process of developing an information strategy, senior management must, amongst other aspects, evaluate the organisation’s strategic and capability mix, review the relationships between the strategic priorities and information capabilities, and determine how they will replace some of the traditional/outdated organisation capabilities and to implement an informationcapabilities maximisation effect. Most importantly, it must set the agenda for action and ensure its implementation and renewal. Information, as an important resource for an organisation, requires a strategy of its own. It is no longer feasible in the New Information Economy to manage successfully without a fully integrated information strategy on how an organisation will generate value from its information assets. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die Nuwe Informasie Ekonomie word daar van organisasies verwag om hulself te herorganiseer om sodoende die hefboom effek van hul hulpbronne in die globale mark omgewing optimaal te benut vir ‘n kompeterende voordeel. Volgens sommige skrywers, word suksesvolle organisasies gekenmerk as diesulkes wat voortdurend staatmaak op hul vermoëns om te innoveer, om informasie konstruktief te gebruik en om hul werknemer bevoeghede te hefboom om volhoubare groei te bewerkstellig eerder as om staat te maak op geboue en masjinerie. Sommige private sektor organisasies en ‘n klein aantal publieke sektor organisasies het al geleer om beter besigheidsprestasie te bereik deur informasie effektief te gebruik. Daar is egter nog ‘n groot aantal publieke sektor organisasies wat nog steeds hul besigheid bedryf binne die paradigma van die ou ekonomie. Laasgenoemde organisasies moet deur beter leierskap leer om informasie regdeur die organisasie vlakke te gebruik om effektief te kan meeding. Hulle moet begin deur informasie te versamel oor die aktiwiteite van hulle konkurente, kliënte en alliansie vennote om sodoende beter dienslewering te verseker en om vennootskappe met kliente te groei vir die ontwikkeling van slimmer en vinniger metodes. Die verandering na ‘n fokus op die effektiewe gebruik van informasie in ‘n organisasie begin bo, m.a.w. die houding en ingesteldheid van senior bestuur t.o.v. informasie gebruik. Dit is nodig dat hierdie sektor, toenemend informasie as ‘n waardevolle hulpbron, waardeur interaksie met informasie vermoëns, ‘n informasie oriëntasie (IO), wat prestasie kan voorspel en verbeter, gevestig kan word. Vir ‘n organisasie om ‘n volwasse IO te bereik, moet so ‘n organisasie gelykmatig aan al die dimensies van die IO paradigma, naamlik, goeie informasie bestuurs praktyk, goeie informasie tegnologie praktyk en goeie gedrag en waardes t.o.v. informasie, voldoen. Die strewe na IO volwassenheid moet egter mens-gesentreerd wees, om te verseker dat werknemers van ‘n organisasie voortdurend bedag sal wees op ‘n pro-aktiewe kultuur t.o.v. die gebruik en verdeling van informasie. Om dit te kan vermag sal leierskap benodig word wat, ko-operatiewe informasie waardes en gedrag in die uitvoering van pligte beklemtoon; wat bevoegdheidsopleiding vir die verbetering van bedrewenheid en kennis sal voorsien; wat koppeling met prestasie van voorafgaande sal instel en wat insentiewe en vergoeding, beide finansieel en nie-finansieel, vir die uitleef van die nuwe waardes sal aanbied. Op sy beurt sal dit die weg baan vir die implementering van goeie informasie bestuurspraktyk en die gebruik van goeie informasie tegnologie om steun te gee aan die nuwe inisiatiewe, bewerkstellig.‘n Organisasie wat hierdie strategie volg om ‘n beter IO en ‘n beter besigheidsprestasie te behaal sal dan daadwerklik ook ‘n superieure organisasie beeld en reputasie, beter dienslewerings innovasie en beter besigheidsgroei demonstreer. Die oorgang na die IO paradigma moet by leierskap begin; leierskap wat ‘n oorhoofse informasie strategie, wat aandui hoe die organisasie van plan is om hierdie waarde uit sy informasie-gebaseerde bates te kan skep, daar sal stel. Gedurende die informasie strategie ontwikkelings proses moet senior bestuur onder andere die organisasie se strategiese vermoëns mengsel evalueer en die verwantskappe tussen die strategiese prioriteite en die informasie bevoegdheid evalueer en dan bepaal hoe hulle van die tradisionele/uitgediende vermoëns gaan vervang om ‘n informasie vermoënsmaksimaliserings effek te verkry. Baie belangrik is die daarstelling van ‘n agenda vir aksie en om die implementering vir hernuwing daarvan te verseker. Kortliks gestel, informasie as ‘n belangrike hulpbron en bate vir die organisasie verdien ‘n strategie van sy eie. Dit is nie meer moontlik om in die era van die Nuwe Ekonomie suksesvol te bestuur sonder om ‘n geïntegreerde strategie van hoe die organisasie waarde uit sy informasie bates wil genereer daar te stel nie. In hierdie navorsing word die effektiewe gebruik van ‘n informasie oriëntasie strategie vir die verbetering van dienslewering in die Suid Afrikaanse publieke sektor in die algemeen en in die Department of International Relations and Cooperation, meer spesifiek, ondersoek.

Esta dissertação defende a função das Agências Reguladoras na busca dos Direitos Fundamentais - especificamente os sociais ou prestacionais - de forma difusa e concentrada. Estas agências se fundamentam nas funções constitucionais do Estado e possuem como instrumentos de efetivação de controle os Processos Administrativos Punitivos, os Termos de Ajustamento de Condutas, as Ouvidorias e as Audiências Públicas. Neste trabalho é analisado o histórico dos Direitos Fundamentais, sua tipologia e função, as formas de Estado, sua função e a reforma administrativa do Estado como fortalecimento dos direitos fundamentais, ressaltando o papel da Ouvidoria Pública. Como estudo de caso foram analisados os Processos Administrativos Punitivos de uma Concessionária de Energia Elétrica para verificar o papel das Autarquias Especiais e seus instrumentos de concretização de Direitos Humanos, sob o pálio de um novo Direito Administrativo que autoriza o gestor a atuar em um espaço público dúctil / This dissertation defends the act of the Regulatory Agencies to achieve social or prestational fundamental rights in a diffuse and concentrated way. These agencies are based on the constitutional functions of the State and have as instruments for effecting control the Punitive Administrative Processes, the Terms of Conduct Adjustment, the Ombudsman and the Public Hearings. This work analyzes the history of Fundamental Rights, its typology and function, the forms and function of the State, the administrative reform of the State as strengthening the rule of fundamental rights, emphasizing the importance of the Ombudsman Office. As a case study we analyzed the Punitive Administrative Processes of an Electric Energy Concessionary to verify the role of the Special Autarchies and its instruments to implement the Human Rights, under a New Administrative Law that authorizes the manager to act in a ductile public space

Doctorat en sciences psychologiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

A normative theory of public administration grounded in the Constitution is examined in practice from individual, institutional and situational perspectives. This theory argues that public administrators should use their discretionary power in order to maintain the balance of powers among the three branches of government in support of individual rights. The role of serving multiple constitutional masters simultaneously is captured by the concept of subordinate autonomy. The individual level of analysis describes the process by which a variety of public administrators at several levels of government have illustrated constitutional subordinate autonomy in their careers. The institutional perspective examines how public administrators can be influenced by the agencies in which they operate, and how these factors interplay with the constitutional model. The situational perspective presents classic dilemmas commonly faced by public administrators that are relevant to the constitutional model. The case studies presented illustrate the usefulness and limitations of this normative theory by examining several factors which guide and restrain public administrators as they struggle with contentious issues and use their discretion to influence the direction of public policies and programs. / Ph. D.

Thesis (MPA (School of Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The Republic of South Africa has drawn increasing attention from the international community for its new approaches towards solving a variety of problems and thus enhancing good governance in Africa in general. Such problems include, but are not limited to, poverty and systemic corruption. The constitutional and legislative frameworks that underpin governance in municipalities are identified and explained. These constitutional and legislative frameworks include the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (RSA, Act 108 of 1996) and the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (RSA, Act 56 of 2003). The manifestations and consequent dangers of poor governance as well as strategies to instil good governance in municipal functionaries are also identified. The manifestations of poor governance include poor financial management, ill-advised appointments and misguided patriotism in service delivery. The consequences of poor governance in local government include high incidents of violence, decline in municipal service payments and the consequent deterioration in service delivery. It is herein argued that municipal functionaries must be able to identify the manifestations of bad governance for them to serve as effective whistle-blowers. The role of the national integrity system as a strategy for combating the manifestations of bad governance is also identified. The national integrity system refers to the holistic approach (or various strategies) for instilling good governance amongst municipal functionaries. These include an anti-corruption strategy for local government (also known as “a local government integrity system”), constitutional strategies and exemplifying ethical behaviour by municipal functionaries. Constitutional strategies include the Auditor-General and the Public Protector. It is argued that preventing unethical conduct such as corruption assists in raising municipal revenues and thus towards improved service delivery. The study concludes by asserting that big, corrupt actors must be named and punished to convince an already cynical citizenry that the avowed anti-corruption drive is more than just lip service. It is, accordingly, important that one of the “first big fish” should preferably come from the governing party to ensure that the party is not accused of protecting its members against charges of corruption.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The practice of public-sector strategic planning has gained dominance in public sector management in imitation of the concept of strategy in military science and later of the practice of strategic planning in the private sector. Its institutionalisation in the public sector should be welcomed as a positive development. The policy and regulatory framework instils a culture of cooperative governance through the promotion of effective intra- and inter-governmental relations that assume a developmental approach to planning. It is this culture that sets parameters within which the practice of strategic planning should be managed in the public sector. Strategy alignment is critical in achieving cooperative governance in strategic planning, as is shown in this study. The study sought to establish the extent to which the existing strategic planning guidelines could be manipulated to achieve alignment between the provincial and local spheres of government. A qualitative study was performed. It relied on both a non-empirical literature review and an empirical investigation to generate its data. Interviews were conducted with representatives of a sample of four Provincial Departments and seven different Municipalities drawn from the three categories of Local Government, namely metropolitan, local and district Municipalities. The Eastern Cape Provincial Government structure with its composite Municipalities constituted the case selected for this study. The study revealed that strategic planning in the province assumes different formats ranging from basic and medium-term to comprehensive and long-term, as well as sector- and project-specific strategic planning processes. The public sector strategic processes are politically influenced, taking their tone from political directives, but driven mainly by administrators. Whereas the active participation of politicians in shaping integrated development plans (IDPs) as the principal strategic plans for Municipalities is acknowledged, the concern that politicians at a provincial level are playing a limited role in shaping Provincial Departments’ strategic plans remains relevant. It is vital that the political governance centre in the province; namely the premier’s office, should take charge of coordinating strategic planning and should be responsible for the alignment efforts of the government structures in the province. Strategic planning plays a significant role in defining the organisational growth path of every public-sector organisation, as well as the management of public resources, financial and non-financial. This study advocates for learning as a central organisational value and recommends that the existing strategic-planning guidelines be improved to embody a cooperative governance approach. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die toonaangewende posisie wat strategiese beplanningspraktyk in die openbare sektor, binne die kader van bestuur in die openbare sektor, verwerf het, het beslag gekry weens die nabootsing van strategiese beplanningskonsepte eie aan die militêre wetenskapsmilieu. Dit is later versterk deur navolging van strategiese beplanningsmodelle uit die privaatsektor. Die institusionalisering van strategiese beplanning in die openbare sektor moet as ’n positiewe ontwikkeling verwelkom word. Beleidstelling en ’n reguleringsraamwerk vestig ’n sterk korporatiewe verantwoordelikheidsin. Dit word bewerkstellig deur die bevordering van effektiewe intra- en interregeringsvehoudinge, wat ’n ontwikkelingsbenadering tot beplanning veronderstel. Hierdie kultuur omskryf die raamwerk vir die toepassing van strategiese beplanning in die openbare sektor. Soos hierdie ondersoek aandui, is ’n voorvereiste vir deelnemende bestuur, wanneer daar strategies beplan word, koördinering van strategie. Die ondersoek het ten doel gehad om te bepaal tot watter mate bestaande strategiese beplanningsriglyne aangepas kon word om gerigdheid tussen provinsiale en plaaslike regeringsfere te bewerkstellig. ’n Kwalitatiewe ondersoek is gedoen, gebaseer op navorsingsdata verkry uit sowel ’n nie-empiriese literatuurstudie as ’n empiriese ondersoek. Onderhoude is gevoer met verteenwoordigers van ’n monster werknemers, saamgestel vanuit vier provinsiale departemente en sewe verskillende munisipaliteite. Die volle spektrum van plaaslike regeringsinstellings is gedek, naamlik metropolitaanse, plaaslike en distriksmunisipaliteite. Die provinsiale regeringstruktuur van die Oos-Kaap en sy saamgestelde munisipaliteitstrukture vorm die basis vir hierdie gevallestudie. Die ondersoek het aangedui dat strategiese beplanning in hierdie provinsie verskeie vorme aanneem; dit wissel in formaat van basies en mediumtermyn tot omvattend en langtermyn, asook sektorale en projekspesifieke strategiese beplanningsprosesse. Die strategiese proses van die openbare sektor word polities beïnvloed deur die politieke ondertoon teenwoordig in direktiewe, maar dit is hoofsaaklik administrateurs wat die agenda bepaal. Alhoewel die aktiewe betrokkenheid van politici in die daarstelling van geïntegreede ontwikkelingsplanne (GOP’s), die hoof strategiese planne vir munisipaliteite, erken word, is daar steeds rede tot kommer dat politici op provinsiale vlak slegs ’n beperkte rol vervul as dit kom by die skep van die provinsiale departemente se strategiese planne. Dit is van kritieke belang dat die kern van politieke bestuur, naamlik die kantoor van die premier, in beheer van die koördinering van strategiese beplanning moet wees en verantwoordelikheid sal aanvaar vir die koördineringspogings van regeringstrukture in die provinsie. Strategiese beplanning speel ’n betekenisvolle rol wanneer die organisatoriese ontwikkelingspad vir elke openbare sektor instelling uitgestippel word, asook by die bestuur van openbare bronne; sowel finansieel as nie-finansieel. Hierdie ondersoek maak voorspraak vir die beklemtoning van kennisontwikkeling as ’n sentrale organisatoriese noodsaak en beveel aan dat bestaande strategiese beplanningsriglyne sodanig aangepas word dat dit ’n koöperatiewe bestuursplan vir beter deelnemende bestuur beliggaam.

Embedded within the notably constrained American state, how can regulatory agencies ensure that enforcement goals are met? Some analyses suggest that this is not so easily done; rather, constraints on agencies' formal administrative powers are said to threaten their capacity for effective regulation. But recent scholarship contends that such accounts underestimate the pivotal and oftentimes `hidden' regulatory role played by less formal mechanisms of enforcement, such as private litigation. Building on this revisionist strain, this dissertation project closely examines the ways in which constrained agencies look outside themselves - and their formally granted administrative authority - for enforcement power by developing incentive structures that motivate private actors to engage in litigation that advances regulatory goals. Through an historical analysis of the development of the regulatory capacity of three agencies - the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Office of Equal Opportunity at HUD - this project uses qualitative and quantitative approaches to explore how and when regulatory agencies choose to focus their limited resources on mobilizing private enforcement of public policy. First, using a careful examination of agency and presidential archival materials, I specify the mechanisms by which agency actors promote private litigation and uncover the institutional and political conditions under which this legal enforcement strategy is employed over time. And then, from these archival observations, I construct original quantitative measures capturing the deployment of these legal enforcement strategies, and conduct statistical analyses to confirm the success of agency efforts to encourage private litigation over time. Ultimately, by reconsidering how to integrate informal mechanisms of enforcement, like agency-motivated private litigation, into theories of bureaucratic regulation, this research contributes to our practical understandings of day-to-day agency behavior and to our conceptions and assessments of state capacity, more broadly.