Exploring the non-pecuniary costs of the administrative burden of public procurement : a case of the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works

Date
2021-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Understanding non-compliance to legislation that governs procurement in public entities requires knowledge of how rules are experienced by those who implement them. This study is an exploration of the non-pecuniary costs of the administrative burden of public procurement, using the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) as a case study. Administrative burdens are perceived by those who experience them through various non-pecuniary costs. This study aims to identify variables contributing to these costs and link them to the efficiency and effectiveness of procurement implementation. A qualitative research design was used in this study and the research was exploratory. A sample of nine (9) respondents was selected through purposive sampling to participate in the study. Two data collection methods were used: semi-structured interviews, and the researcher’s documented observations and personal experiences following an autoethnographic approach. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, using the deductive approach. The findings indicate that the extent to which administrative burdens are experienced by public procurement officials is indicative of the efficiency and effectiveness of the implementation of procurement regulations and policies. Furthermore, challenges with the implementation of SCM and procurement regulation and policy were revealed. These challenges include, inter alia, noncompliance with SCM policy and regulations because of lack of procurement planning, a lack of knowledge and skills, shortage of operational capacity, outdated operating systems, low staff morale and motivation. In addition, effective leadership and management, integrated ICT solution and the professionalisation of SCM personnel were found to be key success factors to manage these challenges and improve procurement implementation. The limitations of the study were its sample size and the use of one organisation as a case study. Future research in other public entities would be beneficial in broadening insights into this research phenomenon. The study provides empirical evidence which would contribute to the body of knowledge and address the gap in this research area.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Om nie-voldoening aan wetgewing wat die verkrygingsfunksie in staatsondernemings reguleer te verstaan, moet verstaan word hoe die reëls beleef word deur diegene wat dit implementeer. Hierdie studie is ’n ondersoek na die niegeldelike koste van die administratiewe las wat met staatsverkryging geassosieer word met die Wes-Kaapse Departement van Vervoer en Openbare Werke (DVOW) wat as ’n gevallestudie gebruik word. Administratiewe laste word waargeneem in verskeie niegeldelike kostes deur amptenare wat dit ervaar. Die doel van hierdie studie is om veranderlikes te identifiseer wat bydra tot hierdie kostes en tot watter mate dit die effektiewe en doeltreffende implementering van verkrygingsregulasies en -beleid beïnvloed. ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp is in hierdie studie gebruik en die navorsing was ondersoekend van aard. ’n Steekproef van nege (9) respondente is deur doelbewuste steekproefneming gekies om aan die studie deel te neem. Twee datainsamelingsmetodes is gebruik, naamlik semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude, en die navorser se gedokumenteerde waarnemings en geleefde ervaringe deur ’n outoetnografiese benadering te volg. Tematiese ontleding is gebruik om die data aan die hand van die deduktiewe metode te ontleed. Die bevindings dui daarop dat die mate waartoe staatsamptenare in beheer van verkryging administratiewe laste ondervind, ’n aanduiding is van die effektiwiteit en doeltreffendheid van die implementering van verkrygingsregulasies en -beleid. Dit het ook uitdagings met die implementering van regulasies en beleid ten opsigte van voorraadkettingbestuur en verkryging blootgelê. Hierdie uitdagings sluit onder meer in nie-nakoming van voorraadkettingbestuursbeleid en -regulasies weens ’n gebrek aan verkrygingsbeplanning, ’n gebrek aan kennis en vaardigheid, ’n tekort aan operasionele kapasiteit, verouderde bedryfstelsels, en lae personeelmoreel en -motivering. Daar is ook bevind dat doeltreffende leierskap en bestuur, geïntegreerde inligtingskommunikasietegnologiestelsels en die professionalisering van voorraadkettingbestuurspersoneel deurslaggewend is om hierdie uitdagings suksesvol te bestuur en die implementering van verkrygingsregulasies en -beleid te verbeter. Beperkings van die studie was die steekproefgrootte en die feit dat net een organisasie as ’n gevallestudie gebruik is. Toekomstige navorsing in ander staatsondernemings kan voordelig wees om insigte in hierdie navorsingsfenomeen te verbreed. Die studie verskaf empiriese bewyse wat ’n bydrae sal lewer tot die bron van kennis asook leemtes ten opsigte van hierdie navorsingsgebied.
Description
Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
Keywords
Public administration -- Western Cape (South Africa), Administrative burden -- Western Cape (South Africa), Western Cape (South Africa). Department of Transport and Public Works -- Procurement, Industrial procurement -- Western Cape (South Africa), Moral damages (Civil law) -- Western Cape (South Africa), Non-Pecuniary Costs -- Western Cape (South Africa), UCTD
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