Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree M-Tech: Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / This dissertation reports on an empirical evaluation of citizen satisfaction with e-government information services provided by Southern African Development Community (SADC) governments, since citizens perceive service quality as an effective indicator of e-government shortfalls. Few studies have been conducted in SADC countries to empirically evaluate the satisfaction of regarding e-government services. An e-government satisfaction model was applied, which is a non-linear framework with interactive quality proxies. A total of 364 respondents was used for data collection. An analytic modelling technique of Partial Least Squares (PLS) was used to predict the factors that most influence citizen satisfaction with e-government information services provided by SADC governments. The resulting model fits the data with a high goodness of fit (GoF) of 0.62 and a model predictive power (R2) of 0.60 for the global model. In addition, the results of this study show that perceived quality is the most influential factor affecting citizen satisfaction with e-government information services, followed by citizen complaint handling and then citizen expectation. Finally, this study used PLS to rank the SADC countries involved in this study in terms of which country is offering the best level of e-government information services and customer satisfaction. The results indicate that South Africa was ranked highest and Tanzania lowest.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In order to enhance human resource development in the public service, the South African Government launched its first human resource development strategy in 2002. This strategy was implemented over a period of four years. It was subsequently followed by another strategy, called the Human Resources Development (HRD) Strategic Framework Vision 2015, which was published by the Department of Public Service and Administration (the DPSA) in 2008. One of the pillars of the latter strategy, which is also the focus of this study, is organizational support systems. The aim of this study was to determine whether the Chief Directorate: Strategic Health Programmes (CD:SHP) successfully implements, as designed in the departmental HRD plan, the three strategic interventions related to organizational support systems. The objectives were to – assess the alignment of the organizational support systems in the Chief Directorate with the overall departmental organizational support systems (as stated in the HRD plan); - identify factors that hamper proper implementation of the departmental organizational support systems in the Chief Directorate; and - propose key strategic interventions to ensure successful implementation of the departmental organizational support systems. The organizational support system pillar has eleven strategic interventions, but, due to resources constraints, only three were investigated. These are: - to promote effective human resource planning in terms of demand for skills and training in public sector organizations; - to strengthen structures, systems and processes for the performance management and development in the public service; and - to groom and foster in-house capacity through effective career planning and talent management in departments of government. The process/implementation evaluation approach, with semi-structured interviews and questionnaire, was employed for this study. A mixed methodology, which covered the breadth of the quantitative method and the depth of the qualitative method, was used in this study. The findings indicated that the CD: SHP is not successfully implementing the pillar as designed by the departmental HRD plan. Among others, the following were identified as responsible for poor implementation: - lack of policy, strategy or guideline on HRD; - understaffed HRD units; - lack of coordination and cooperation between and among the stakeholders responsible for HRD (e.g. Human Resource Management( HRM), Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) and line managers); and - abdication of the performance management responsibility vested in managers. Key strategic interventions proposed to remedy the situation, among others, include: - reviewing the structure of the HRD directorate and filling, as a matter of urgency, all vacant posts; - reviving the committee responsible for coordinating HRD activities; - implementing and coordinating all HRD activities, from the HRD directorate, aimed at developing workplace skills plans and the effective utilization of personal development plans; - developing the blueprint for succession-planning and staff-retention strategies; and - assuring that PMDS becomes one of the key performance areas of all supervisors and managers in the Chief Directorate and that, regarding non-compliance, consistent sanctions be applied across all levels. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering het in 2002 sy eerste menshulpbronontwikkeling (MHO)-strategie vir die staatsdiens in werking gestel om die uitbouing van dié hulpbron te bevorder. Hierdie strategie is oor ‟n vier jaar periode geïmplementeer en in 2008 opgevolg deur nog een, naamlik die Visie 2015 Strategiese Raamwerk vir Mensehulpbronontwikkeling (SRM), soos gepubliseer deur die Departement Staatsdiens en Administrasie (DPSA). Een van laasgenoemde strategie se steunpilare, wat ook die hooffokus is van hierdie studie, is organisatoriese ondersteuningstelsels. Die doelwit van hierdie studie was om te bepaal of die Hoofdirektoraat: Strategiese Gesondheidsprogramme (H:SG) sukses behaal met die implementering van programme, soos uiteengesit in die departementele MHO-plan se drie strategiese intervensies, veral met betrekking tot die organisatoriese ondersteuningstelsels. Die doel was om – te bepaal hoedanig die gerigdheid is tussen die organisatoriese ondersteuningstelsels in die Hoofdirektoraat en die algemene departementele ondersteuningstelsels (soos uiteengesit in die MHO-plan); - te identifiseer watter faktore behoorlike implementering van die departementele organisatoriese hulpsisteme in die Hoofdirektoraat belemmer; en - strategiese sleutelintervensies voor te stel wat suksesvolle implementering van die departementele organisatoriese hulpstelsels sal verseker. Die organisatoriese ondersteuningstelsel-pilaar het elf strategiese intervensies, maar, as gevolg van beperkings op beskikbare bronne, is net drie ondersoek. Hierdie intervensies is nodig om: - die beplanning van effektiewe mensehulpbronontwikkeling, in terme van die bestaande behoefte na vaardighede en opleiding in openbaresektor organisasies, te bevorder; - strukture, sisteme en prosesse vir prestasiebestuur en ontwikkeling in die staatsdiens te versterk; en - bestaande kapasiteit ten opsigte van mensekapitaal voor te berei, touwys te maak en te koester, deur effektiewe loopbaanbeplanning en talentbestuur binne regeringsdepartemente. Die proses/implementering evaluasie-benadering, met gedeeltelik gestruktureerde onderhoude en vraelyste, is vir hierdie ondersoek gebruik. ‟n Gemengde metodiek, wat die wydte van die kwantitatiewe metode en die diepte van die kwalitatiewe metode inspan, is vir hierdie studie aangewend. Die bevindings het aangedui dat die H:SG nie daarin slaag om die betrokke pilaar, soos deur die departementele MHO-plan ontwerp, te implementeer nie. Die volgende redes is, onder andere, geïdentifiseer as verantwoordelik vir die swak implementering: - gebrek aan beleid, strategie en leiding ten opsigte van MHO; - onderbemande MHO-eenhede; - gebrek aan koördinasie en samewerking tussen belanghebbendes (asook onderling) wat verantwoordelik is vir MHO (byv. Mensehulpbronbestuur (MHB), Prestasiebestuur en Ontwikkelingsisteem (PBOS) en lynbedtuurders); en - afstandoening van hulle prestasiebestuursverpligtinge wat aan bestuurders opgedra is. Strategiese sleutelintervensies wat voorgestel word om die situasie te herstel, sluit o.a. in: - die hersiening van die struktuur van die MHB-direktoraat en, as ‟n saak van dringendheid, die vul van alle vakante poste; - die herinstelling van die komitee verantwoordelik vir die koördinering van MHO-aktiwiteite; - die implementering en koördinering van alle MHO-aktiwiteite van die MHO-direktoraat, sodat vaardighede by die werkplek ontwikkel word en die effektiewe aanwending van persoonlike ontwikkelingsplanne plaasvind; - die ontwikkeling van ‟n bloudruk vir personeel opvolgbeplanning en strategieë om personeel te behou; en - die versekering dat PBOS een van die sleutel prestasie-areas sal wees wat alle supervisors en bestuurders in die Hoofdirektoraat sal toepas en, in geval van nalatigheid in hierdie verband, strafmaatreëls op alle bestuursvlakke toegepas sal word.

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.

Thesis (MPA (School of Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Information and communication technologies are rapidly changing the future of public administration. The desire to become part of the “Information Age” has instigated a worldwide transformation process that puts information and communication technologies at the heart of government processes and practices. One strategy that embraces these technologies is electronic government (e-government). The ability to provide government services and information online is becoming a benchmark for governments in both developed and developing nations. E-government has arrived in South Africa and slowly it is starting to shape our lives. Improved service delivery, access to information, an open and transparent form of government and the ability to participate in certain government activities are just some of the advantages that e-government has to offer. Although disparities in access and education levels remain a constant hindrance in South Africa, the e-government strategy does have the potential to promote community development. By providing an opportunity to learn a new skill, gain new information and participate in your local government activities, e-government has the potential to empower local citizens thereby promoting community development. The acquisition of new knowledge is a vital tool in today’s modern society. Therefore, through the provision of new knowledge e-government is a strategy for the future.

Thesis (MPA (School of Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / m-Government or mobile-Government is seen as part of e-Government and an additional channel for the delivery of public services and information to the citizen. This study critically examines and evaluates the extent to which the Provincial Government Western Cape has adopted m-Government and implemented related services. A survey conducted by Kirsten (2006) on the adoption and readiness of mobile technology by businesses in South Africa was used as the foundation of this study to determine the level of readiness in the Provincial Government Western Cape. Managers and technical staff within the Province’s information and communication technology component, the Centre for e-Innovation, were interviewed and asked to complete the survey. The study found that, although there is a relatively high degree of adoption with regard to various aspects of mobile and wireless technology, there are many obstacles and barriers that need to be overcome in order to achieve a higher level of m-Government maturity or readiness. The study makes various suggestions on how to overcome these barriers. The most important suggestion is to develop a holistic approach to the adoption of m-Government. Plans for adoption should be incremental to ensure that small victories that can be built on are achieved; the involvement of key stakeholders is also essential.

Thesis (MPA (Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Electronic government or e-Government has become a global phenomenon and is seen as a tool to strengthen the performance of government and public administration. An efficient and effective state administration is a necessary requirement for economic and social development. This study describes to what extent the e-Government policy of the PGWC compares with other e-Government policies internationally and in particular the Australian e-Government policy. South Africa as a young democracy can use the transformational power of the e- Government approach to the benefit of government, business and the citizens of the country if this approach is applied appropriately. e-Government offers the opportunity to improve public services and can even reduce the gap that exists between those who are computer literate and those who are not. E-Government in the PGWC is still in the beginning phases compared to e- Government in Australia, which has developed rapidly over the last decade. The PGWC can learn from the Australian e-Government development process, with Australians being regarded as one of the leading e-Government nations in the world, according to the United Nations Organisation. Even though the e-Government policy of the PGWC and the Australian e- Government policy use a comparatively similar approach within the demographic boundaries in which they exist, it was found that the socio-economic challenges of South Africa as a developing country, still have an enormous influence on the optimal application of the e-Government policy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Elektroniese regering of e-Regering het ‘n wêreldwye verskynsel geraak en kan gesien word as ‘n maatstaf vir die versterking van regeringsoptrede en publieke administrasie. ‘n Effektiewe en doeltreffende staatsadministrasie is ‘n noodsaaklike vereiste vir ekonomiese en sosiale ontwikkeling. Hierdie studie beskryf tot watter mate die e-Regeringsbeleid van die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering met ander internasionale e-Regeringsbeleide vergelyk, veral met betrekking tot die e- Regeringsbeleid van Australië. As ‘n jong demokrasie kan Suid-Afrika die transformerende invloed van die eregerings benadering tot die voordeel van die regering, besigheid en die burgers van die land gebruik indien hierdie benadering korrek toegepas word. e-Regering bied die geleentheid om publieke dienste te verbeter en kan selfs die bestaande gaping vernou tussen diegene wat rekenaargeletterd is en diegene wat nie rekenaargeletterd is nie. e-Regering in die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering is nog in ‘n betreklike vroeë stadium vergeleke met e-regering in Australië waar dit oor die laaste dekade snel ontwikkel het. Die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering kan vanuit die ontwikkelingsproses van die Australiese e-Regering leer, daar Australië deur die Verenigde Volkere-organisasie as een van die voorste e-Regeringnasies in die wêreld beskou word. Selfs al toon die beleide van die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering en die van Australië ‘n relatief eenderse benadering tot e-Regering binne die demografiese grense waarin hulle bestaan, is gevind dat die sosio-ekonomiese uitdagings van Suid-Afrika as ‘n ontwikkelingsland steeds ‘n enorme invloed op die optimale aanwending van e-Regering het.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Organisation development is one of the. most important management tools used by organisations to assess themselves and their environment and to revitalise and to rebuild their strategies, structures and processes to manage change. The purpose of this study is to establish an understanding of what organisation development is and how it works, and to identify and explain the legislative and other aspects that influence the decision-making process with regard to organisation development interventions within the public service. In addition to this, the author explains the development and current reality of organisation development in the Western Cape Provincial Administration. A current burning issue in the context of public legislation and other directives in the public service is that managers want to be empowered to manage their own resources. The issue of centralisation or decentralisation of the organisation development function is a major source of dissension within the Western Cape Provincial Administration. The main purpose of this study is to provide a body of knowledge on whether organisation development is centralised or decentralised and what factors need to be considered regarding this issue. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Organisasieontwikkeling is een van die belangrikste bestuursmiddele wat deur organisasies gebruik word tydens assessering van die organisasie en van die omgewing, en om nuwe lewe in hulle strategieë, strukture en prosesse te blaas en dit te herbou ten einde verandering te kan bestuur. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om 'n begrip te verkry van wat organisasieontwikkeling is en hoe dit werk, en om wetgewing en ander aspekte wat die besluitnemingsproses oor intervensies ten opsigte van organisasieontwikkelings binne die staatsdiens beïnvloed, te identifiseer en te verklaar. Voorts sit die skrywer die ontwikkeling en huidige realiteit van organisasieontwikkeling in die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Administrasie uiteen. 'n Vraagstuk wat tans baie aandag geniet binne die konteks van openbare wetgewing en ander voorskrifte in die staatsdiens, is dié van bestuurders wat bemagtig wil word om self hulle hulpbronne te bestuur. Die vraagstuk van sentralisering of desentralisering van die organisasieontwikkelingsfunksie is 'n belangrike bron van meningsverskil binne die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Administrasie. Die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsing is om 'n kennisgeheel te voorsien rakende die vraag of organisasieontwikkeling gesentraliseer of gedesentraliseer is en watter faktore ten opsigte van hierdie kwessie in ag geneem moet word.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this research is to describe how the reform of public finance undertaken in South Africa since 1999 has furthered the principles of new public management (NPM). The first part of the research outlines the history of public sector reform in South Africa in general, with particular emphasis on public finance. It also discusses how reform was initiated and supplemented by the principles of new public management with the adoption of the Public Finance Management Act, No. 1 of 1999 (PFMA, 1999). This is followed by a deep analysis and detailed discussion of key indicators and the mode of their collection. The final phase consists of a description of how new public management principles have impacted public finance management since 1999. The study concludes with recommendations for further research and for practice and policy. The results tend to show how some principles of NPM have furthered public finance reform in some areas while others are still lacking. However the lack of sufficient data results in gaps in the findings: this lack of data makes it difficult to portray a clear picture of the extent to which principles of NPM have been fully implemented. Thus one of the recommendations is that certain indicators should be investigated further to understand the phenomenon better; it is probable that in a few years sufficient data will be available to allow for trend assessments. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om te beskryf hoe hervorming van openbare finansies sedert 1999 in Suid Afrika onderneem is ten einde die beginsels van ‘nuwe openbare bestuur’ te bevorder. Die eerste gedeelte van die navorsing fokus op die Suid-Afrikaanse openbare sektor hervorming geskiedenis in die algemeen, met spesifieke fokus op openbare finansies. Dit beskryf hoe die Openbare Finansiële Bestuurswet, No 1 van 1999 (PMFA, 1999) hervorming en die beginsels van ‘nuwe openbare bestuur’ bevorder het. Dit word gevolg deur ‘n diep en deeglike bespreking van kern indikatore en die wyse waarop data versamel is. Die finale fase behels ‘n beskrywing van die bedra van openbare finansiële bestuur hervorming sedert 1999 tot die bevordering van ‘nuwe openbare bestuur’ beginsels. Die studie sluit af met aanbevelings vir praktyk en beleid asook verdere navorsing. Die resultate toon dat sommige van die beginsels van ‘nuwe openbare bestuur’ bevorder is deur openbare finansiële hervorming, terwyl ander steeds agterweë bly. ‘n Tekort aan genoemsame data lei egter tot leemtes in die bevindinge: die tekort aan data maak dit moeilik om ‘n duidelike prentjie te vorm oor die mate waartoe die beginsels van ‘nuwe openbare bestuur’ ten volle geïmplementeer is. Een van die kern aanbevelings is dus dat spesifieke indikatore verder ondersoek moet word om die verskynsel beter te verstaan; dit is waarskynlik dat genoegsame data in die toekoms koers berekenings moontlik sal maak wat verdere begrip sal bevorder.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Successful strategy execution remains critical for any organisation. Yet many organisations seem to have difficulties in implementing their strategies, especially in the public sector. This study explores the role of middle managers in executing organisational strategies in the local government sector. The study adopted a qualitative research method and followed a case study strategy, using a local authority council (LAC) in Namibia. Using semi-structured individual interviews, I interviewed 10 middle managers, selected through applying purposive sampling and representing diverse characteristics of the target group. I introduced a theoretical framework consisting of four research focus areas to guide the study: the value-adding role of middle managers, the key enablers for middle managers to execute strategies successfully, the key processes they follow and the key tools they use to implement corporate strategies. I also conducted a critical literature review on the above focus areas. The findings suggest that middle managers interpret, communicate and translate organisational strategic goals into actions in their value-adding role as champions, synthesisers, facilitators and implementers. The results of the research study also indicates that communication and the availability of resources are key enabling factors, whereas systems, structures, policies and communication channels are key processes impacting on the middle managers' effective implementation of corporate strategies in this LAC. In the same vein, resources – information technology (IT) in particular, performance management systems and laws – were found to be the key tools. Some disconfirming evidence also emerged from the study, suggesting that some middle managers play a value-subtracting role, characterised by disruptive behaviour and being bogged down in routine duties. This research study is, at best, an explorative one, as it used a limited sample. Further research is necessary to gain more in-depth insights about the different roles of middle managers and their influence on strategy generation and implementation versus the role of top/senior managers. As the study employed a case study design, the generalisability of the findings is also limited to this LAC. Further, while I aimed to give a trustworthy account of the experiences of the research participants, many factors may have interfered with the processes of fair collection and interpretation of data, including personal emotional involvement with the topic, presuppositions formed from reading the literature, and various aspects of the interaction with the research participants. Further research is therefore needed to validate the assumed relationships that are expressed in the thematic map. This study is of value to the LAC in that, in the present context of this organisation, top management formulate the organisational strategic goals (vision, mission, strategic thrusts and objectives), with little involvement of middle managers. The study records the views of middle managers, indicating that there is a gap between the agenda setting and leadership of top managers and the observed roles of middle managers. Yet, effective strategy execution requires constant feedback, commenting on and questioning the strategy in order to facilitate understanding. Middle managers thus correctly argue that continuous dialogue and interaction with senior managers increases the alignment of their tactical initiatives with top management's conception of corporate strategy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suksesvolle strategieuitvoering bly van deurslaggewende belang vir enige organisasie. Tog is dit oënskynlik vir menige instansie moeilik om hulle strategieë ten uitvoer te bring, veral in die openbare sektor. Hierdie studie ondersoek die rol van middelvlakbestuurders in die toepassing van organisatoriese strategieë in die plaaslike regeringsektor. Met behulp van ʼn kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode en ʼn gevallestudieontwerp, is ʼn Namibiese plaaslike regeringsraad ('n sogenaamde LAC) onder die loep geneem. Semi-gestruktureerde afsonderlike onderhoude is met tien middelvlakbestuurders gevoer, welke tiental deur doelgerigte steekproefneming gekies is en die diverse kenmerke van die teikengroep verteenwoordig. Die studie word gerig deur ʼn teoretiese raamwerk met vier navorsingsfokusgebiede, naamlik die waardetoevoegingsrol van middelvlakbestuurders; die kerninstaatstellers vir middelvlakbestuurders om strategieë suksesvol in werking te stel; en die kernprosesse wat middelvlakbestuurders volg, sowel as die kerninstrumente wat hulle gebruik om korporatiewe strategieë uit te voer. ʼn Oorsig van kritieke literatuur is ook op elk van voormelde fokusgebiede onderneem. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat middelvlakbestuurders, in hulle waardetoevoegingsrol as kampvegters, sintetiseerders, fasiliteerders en toepassers, organisatoriese strategiese doelwitte vertolk, oordra en in dade omskakel. Die navorsing bevind ook dat kommunikasie en die beskikbaarheid van hulpbronne kerninstaatstellers is, terwyl stelsels, struktuur, beleid en kommunikasiekanale die kernprosesse is wat middelvlakbestuurders se doeltreffende inwerkingstelling van korporatiewe strategieë in die LAC onder beskouing beïnvloed. In dieselfde trant blyk hulpbronne – veral inligtingstegnologie, ʼn prestasiebestuurstelsel en wette – die kerninstrumente te wees. Die studie lewer egter ook teenstellende bewyse op dat sommige middelvlakbestuurders inderwaarheid ʼn waardeverminderingsrol speel, omdat hulle ontwrigtend optree en in roetinetake vasval. Hierdie navorsingstudie is hoogstens ondersoekend, met ʼn beperkte steekproef. Verdere navorsing is dus nodig om ʼn dieper insig in die verskillende rolle van middelvlakbestuurders en hulle invloed op die formulering en inwerkingstelling van strategie teenoor dié van top-/senior bestuurders te verkry. Aangesien die studie van ʼn gevallestudieontwerp gebruik maak, is die veralgemeenbaarheid van die bevindinge ook beperk tot die onderhawige LAC. Voorts, hoewel die studie 'n betroubare weergawe van die navorsingsdeelnemers se ervaringe probeer gee, kon verskeie faktore met die prosesse van billike datainsameling en datavertolking ingemeng het, wat persoonlike betrokkenheid by die onderwerp, vooronderstellings uit die literatuur, en vele aspekte met betrekking tot wisselwerking met navorsingsdeelnemers insluit. Die aangenome verhoudinge in die tematiese kaart moet dus deur middel van verdere navorsing bekragtig word. Die studie is van waarde vir die betrokke LAC, aangesien die topbestuur van die organisasie tans die organisatoriese strategiese doelwitte (visie, misie, strategiese fokuspunte en oogmerke) sonder veel oorleg met middelvlakbestuurders bepaal. Middelvlakbestuurders kon dus deur hierdie studie ook húlle menings lug, waaruit duidelik blyk dat daar ʼn gaping is tussen topbestuurders se agendabepaling en leierskap, en die waargenome rolle van middelvlakbestuurders. Doeltreffende strategieuitvoering verg egter deurlopende terugvoering oor, kommentaar op, en bevraagtekening van die strategie ten einde werklike begrip in die hand te werk. Middelvlakbestuurders het dus gelyk dat voortdurende gesprekvoering en wisselwerking met senior bestuurders nodig is om te verseker dat taktiese projekte op middelvlak in pas is met die topbestuur se gedagtes oor korporatiewe strategie.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / In an environment characterised by dwindling resources and citizens’ expectations relentlessly increasing, public sector organisations face many challenges to improve service delivery. This is further exacerbated by the failing confidence and public trust that result from leaders not leading with values. Recent research has illustrated that the importance of good leadership across the public sector is critical for building effective countries. Additionally, research has also shown that public sector organisations embracing value-driven cultures are able to achieve far greater performance and overcome some of the current challenges in the environment. The purpose of this research study was therefore to gain insight into the relationship between value-based leadership and organisational performance. The study was conducted within the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport and considered the importance of values to senior managers, how value congruency was achieved and how this related to the achievement of organisational performance. A detailed study of the literature in the field of leadership, values and organisational performance has provided various researchers’ opinions on these subjects, namely how values affects organisation performance. Information was obtained from the various documents available within the broader public sector. The target population for this research included the Head of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) and his senior managers. The fourth chapter of this assignment discusses the results obtained from the primary data collected through the questionnaires sent to senior executives as well as the interviews conducted with the head of department (HOD) and senior managers of DCAS. The conclusions from the research results are discussed in Chapter 5. The findings of this study will contribute significantly to better inform public policy practitioners, departments and leadership on the role of value-based leadership and how it could greatly enhance performance within organisations. The study concluded that the senior managers of DCAS attribute great importance to values and could illustrate this through living these values. The research also revealed that leadership places great emphasis on implementing a detailed strategy to achieve value congruency within the organisation. Finally, the research concluded that DCAS is a value-based organisation and as a result infuses core values into all activities of employees, thereby resulting in the excellence they have achieved as a public sector organisation.