Dissertation (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 1994. / One copy microfiche. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Decision-making, the process of choosing between alternatives, is the single most important
function within any organisation whether it be in the private or public sector. Local
government is located in a unique dynamic political, economic, social and technological
environment and provides services to the community within this environment through the
transformation of resources. The transformation process relies on a series of decision-making
processes to ensure the continuation of this transformation process.
The decision-maker in local government is faced with ever-increasing demands for basic
collective services with a diverse population with different and increasing needs, expectations
and interests. Constitutional reform has also made an impact on local government as it will
have to be representative of the community which it serves for legitimacy purposes.
These external and internal influences will impact on the decision-makers whose success will
be dependent upon whether they are able to improve the general welfare of the community.
In view of the scenario sketched above it is clear that decision making is more complex in
the public sector environment as it is value-laden.
Various decision-making models and techniques have been propagated to assist the decisionmaker
in the search for the best alternative. This process is referred to as optimisation. These
models and techniques do not however, ensure that the envisaged outcome of the decision
will be achieved because of the dynamic and changing environment within which local
government is located. In view of this uncertainty there has been a tendency for decisionmakers
to make decisions which satisfy the circumstances prevailing at that particular point
in time (satisficing) which is not always effective.
No attempt has been made to provide the decision-maker with a set of norms or rules to be
applied which could be of assistance either individually or collectively to arrive at a more
effective decision. In order to assist the decision-maker to arrive at a more effective decision,
this research attempts to ascertain quantitatively which norms or criteria should be applied
so as to achieve the prime purpose of the mission which is to improve the general welfare
of the community. The research will also attempt to take into account the diverse interests,
needs, values and perceptions of the community as well as the subjective bias and perceptions
of the decision-makers themselves.
The purpose of this study/research is to determine the increased possibility of more effective
decision-making through the application of applicable normative criteria against the
background of an open systems environment, as sketched above. A case study approach was
adopted whereby two actual decisions were identified and evaluated according to selected
applicable normative criteria. The evaluation was undertaken by the decision-makers
themselves (i.e. selected local authority) as well as three representative control groups within
the wider community of the selected local authority. The results were computed
quantitatively through the application of an appropriate selected statistical model which could
measure factual and value-laden judgements, as to the extent of application of these
normative criteria. The results were developed from the responses received from the actual
four participatory groups. The analysis and conclusions will be based on the quantified
results arising from the evaluation of the two decision-cases in question. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Besluitneming, synde die proses om een van verskillende altematiewe te kies, is die
belangrikste funksie in enige onderneming, hetsy in die privaat- of openbare sektor.
Plaaslike regering vind plaas in 'n unieke en dinamiese politiese, ekonomiese, sosiale en
tegnologiese omgewing waarbinne dienste aan die gemeenskap gelewer word deur die
omskepping van hulpbronne. Die omskeppingsproses steun op 'n reeks
besluitnemingsprosesse om die voortsetting daarvan te verseker.
Die besluitnemer in plaaslike regering staar voortdurend hoër eise vir basiese
gemeenskapsdienste in die gesig van 'n uiteenlopende bevolking met toenemende en
verskillende behoeftes, verwagtinge en belange. Grondwetlike hervorming het ook 'n invloed
op plaaslike regering, deurdat dit verteenwoordigend moet wees van die gemeenskap wat dit
bedien om as wettig erken te word.
Hierdie eksteme en interne faktore sal die besluitnemers, wie se sukses sal afhang daarvan
of hulle die algemene welsyn van die gemeenskap kan verbeter, beinvloed. Gesien in die lug
van die feite hierbo vermeld, is dit duidelilk dat besluitneming in die openbare sektor meer
ingewikkeld is, deurdat ander waardes ook in ag geneem moet word.
Verskeie besluitnemingsmodelle en tegnieke is voorgestel om die besluitnemer te help om die
beste keuse te maak. Die proses word na verwys as optimalisering. Die modelle en tegnieke
kan egter nie verseker dat die beplande resultaat van die besluit behaal word nie, as gevolg
van die dinamiese en veranderende omgewing waarbinne plaaslilke regering funksioneer.
Hierdie onsekerheid lei daartoe dat besluitnemers neig om besluite te maak wat die heersende
omstandighede op enige spesifieke tydstip bevredig, wat nie noodwendig effektief is nie.
Daar was geen poging om die besluitnemer te voorsien van neergelegde standaarde of reels
wat hom, individueel of gesamentlik, van hulp sou wees om 'n meer effektiewe besluit te
neem nie. Ten einde die besluitnemer van hulp te wees om 'n meer effektiewe besluit te
neem, probeer hierdie ondersoek kwantitatief vasstel water standaarde of maatstawwe
toegepas behoort te word om die hoofdoel, synde die verbetering van die algemene welsyn
van die gemeenskap, te bereik. Die ondersoek sal ook poog om die uiteenlopende belange,
behoeftes, waardes en waarnemings van die gemeenskap, sowel as die subjektiewe
vooroordeel en gewaarwordinge van die besluitnemers, in ag te neem. Die doel van hierdie
studie/navorsing is om vas te stel wat die moontlikheid van meer effektiewe besluitneming
is, deur die toepassing van geskikte normatiewe maatstawwe teen die agtergrond van 'n oop
omgewing, soos hierbo uiteengesit. 'n Gevallestudie benadering is gevolg, waar twee
werklike besluite geidentifiseer en evalueer is in ooreenstemming met etlike toepaslike
normatiewe maatstawwe. Die evaluering is gedoen deur die besluitnemers self (synde 'n
uigesoekte plaaslike regering) sowel as drie verteenwoordigende kontrole groepe binne die
breer gemeenskap van die gekose plaaslike regering. Die resultate is kwantitatief bereken
deur die toepassing van 'n geskikte statistiese model, wat feitlike en waardebepalings kon
meet, om die omvang van die toepassing van die normatiewe maatstawwe vas te stel. Die
resultate is ontwikkel van die terugvoering ontvang van die vier deelnemende groepe. Die
analise en gevolgtrekking is gegrond op die eindresultate wat uit die evaluering van die twee
betrokke gevallestudies vloei.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/58405 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Ballard, Harry Herbert |
| Contributors | Schwella, E., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 206, 40, [15] p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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