Browsing by Author "van Rensburg, Willem Tobias Boy"
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- ItemA conceptual framework for municipal decision making in a complex context : the Hessequa case(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-03) van Rensburg, Willem Tobias Boy; Rabie, Babette; Hofmeyr, Jannie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.ENGLISH SUMMARY: Municipal decision makers have to realise their constitutional objectives within a volatile, unpredictable, complex and uncertain contextual environment. Decision-making processes based on a reductionist paradigm are inadequate to address the current complexity. The complexity paradigm is more appropriate to address complex decision issues in this context. Decision making should be based on a proper understanding of contextual complexity, municipal decision-making processes, and the adaptive capacity of the municipality. Theories of systems and complexity, decision making, leadership, organisations, and governance inform the study. The qualitative, single-case case study is based on interview and focus group data, document searches, observations, and field notes. Decision-making practices from 2011 to 2021 were investigated. Multiple complementary perspectives are applied to study the internal and external municipal context at different levels of causality. Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software, in combination with a manual process, was used to analyse transcribed data. The study integrates important findings on the municipal context, decision-making processes, and the adaptive capacity of the municipality in a conceptual framework for decision making. Multiple perspectives reveal features of the municipal context that are not visible when only a single perspective is applied. Study findings confirm that the municipal context is indeed complex. Shortcomings of the contextual analysis that informs current municipal decision making are exposed. Suggestions for improvements are made. The thematic analysis exposed critical sub-processes and structural aspects that influence decision making within the political arena of the municipality. Some processes may potentially be misused to manipulate decision making. Generally accepted myths that result in conservative decision making are identified. A novel framework to evaluate the adaptive capacity of complex systems is devised and applied. This framework exposes strengths and weaknesses of the municipal adaptive capacity in terms of twelve dimensions at, and across three interrelated levels of causality. The adaptive capacity of the municipality co-determines its ability to implement its decisions. A novel framework for municipal decision making is devised based on the empirical findings and literature review. This framework links ongoing environmental scanning and analysis, strategic foresight, strategy development and planning with municipal decision making. The framework addresses the need for collaboration and innovation to enhance adaptive capacity. It provides for adaptive spaces to enhance adaptive capacity. Feedback processes inform organisational learning and effective governance of decision processes. The framework matches decision strategies with the nature of contextualised decision issues in terms of the law of complexity. This law states that the complexity of any system must at least match the complexity of the issues that confront the system. Institutionalisation of the framework should address deficiencies of current decision processes. The framework may serve as a normative model for municipal decision making. The key finding is that Hessequa municipality does not actively address complexity. Municipalities may benefit a lot if decision makers enrich their decisions through the application of a complexity perspective. Much public value may be added by taking proper care of complexity during decision processes. Currently decision making is hampered by a limited awareness and understanding of complexity and a lack of resources and infrastructure to address it. Findings from this study primarily apply to Hessequa municipality but can be generalised and extended with care and caution to municipalities within similar contexts. This study makes an important contribution to academic literature on municipal decision making in South Africa. First, it demonstrates how multiple complementary perspectives provide a rich contextual understanding of a complex system, such as a municipality, in its context. Second, it demonstrates how the application of a complexity perspective can reveal aspects of municipal decision making that a simple linear approach cannot uncover. Third, it proposes a novel framework for evaluating the adaptive capacity of a complex adaptive system, such as a municipality. Fourth, it demonstrates how a novel framework for municipal decision making not only captures much of the key information that is required for decision making but also serves as a resource to address the complexity that confronts a municipality. Application of both frameworks may have practical value for the municipality and public value for its residents.